The Heidelberg Catechism

A. Those who are displeased with themselves because of their sins, but who nevertheless trust that their sins are pardoned and that their continuing weakness is covered by the suffering and death of Christ, and who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to lead a better life. Hypocrites and those who are unrepentant, however, eat and drink judgment on themselves.1 1 1 Cor. 10:19-22; 11:26-32

A. The Lord”s supper declares to us that our sins have been completely forgiven through the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ which he himself finished on the cross once for all.1 It also declares to us that the Holy Spirit grafts us into Christ,2 who with his very body is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father3 where he wants us to worship him.4 But the Mass teaches that the living and the dead do not have their sins forgiven through the suffering of Christ unless Christ is still offered for them daily by the priests. It also teaches that Christ is bodily present in the form of bread and wine where Christ is therefore to be worshiped. Thus the Mass is basically nothing but a denial of the one sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ and a condemnable idolatry.

A. Christ has good reason for these words. He wants to teach us that as bread and wine nourish our temporal life, so too his crucified body and poured-out blood truly nourish our souls for eternal life.1 But more important, he wants to assure us, by this visible sign and pledge, that we, through the Holy Spirit”s work, share in his true body and blood as surely as our mouths receive these holy signs in his remembrance,2 and that all of his suffering and obedience are as definitely ours as if we personally had suffered and paid for our sins.3

A. No. Just as the water of baptism is not changed into Christ”s blood and does not itself wash away sins but is simply God”s sign and assurance,1 so too the bread of the Lord”s Supper is not changed into the actual body of Christ2 even though it is called the body of Christ3 in keeping with the nature and language of sacraments.4

A. In the institution of the Lord”s Supper: “The Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, „Take, eat, this is my body which is for you.* Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, „This cup is the new covenant in my blood; Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord”s death until he comes.”1 This promise is repeated by Paul in these words: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”2 1 1 Cor. 11:23-26 2 1 Cor. 10:16-17 *Earlier and better manuscripts of I Corinthians 11 omit the words, “Take, eat.”

A. To be washed with Christ”s blood means that God, by grace, has forgiven my sins because of Christ”s blood poured out for me in his sacrifice on the cross.1 To be washed with Christ”s Spirit means that the Holy Spirit has renewed me and set me apart to be a member of Christ so that more and more I become dead to sin and increasingly live a holy and blameless life.2

A. In this way: Christ instituted this outward washing1 and with it gave the promise that, as surely as water washes away the dirt from the body, so certainly his blood and his Spirit wash away my soul”s impurity, in other words, all my sins.2

A. This reward is not earned; it is a gift of grace.2

A. It is not because of any value my faith has that God is pleased with me. Only Christ”s satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness make me right with God.1 And I can receive this righteousness and make it mine in no other way than by faith alone.2 1 1 Cor. 1:30-31

A. It means to accept with a believing heart the entire suffering and death of Christ and by believing to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.1 But it means more. Through the Holy Spirit, who lives both in Christ and in us, we are united more and more to Christ”s blessed body.2 And so, although he is in heaven3 and we are on earth, we are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone.4 And we forever live on and are governed by one Spirit, as members of our body are by one soul.5