An Explanation of Luther's Small CatechismLuther, Martin
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An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Luther, Martin
Lutheran Church -- Catechisms -- English
QUESTIONS.--1. By what different names is this sacrament known and why?
2. From what do we learn what the Lord's Supper is? 3. What is to be
said about the earthly elements? 4. When Christ gave His disciples the
bread and the wine, what did He say? 5. What do we receive, therefore,
in the Lord's Supper? 6. What is to be said about Zwingli's view? 7.
What is to be said about the Roman Catholic view, and what is it called?
8. What other false doctrine besides these two is to be rejected? 9. How
may the Reformed, Lutheran, and Roman Catholic doctrines of the Lord's
Supper be compared? 10. Is the true doctrine to be rejected because we
do not understand it?
SCRIPTURE VERSES.--I Cor. 10:16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is
it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break,
is it not the communion of the body of Christ?
READING.--The Institution of the Lord's Supper, Matt. 26:17-30.
II. _What benefits are derived from such eating and drinking?_
They are pointed out in these words: "given and shed for you, for the
remission of sins"; namely, through these words, the remission of sins,
life and salvation are granted unto us in the sacrament. For where there
is remission of sins, there are also life and salvation.
* * * * *
THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM THE LORD'S SUPPER.
The benefits offered in this sacrament and bestowed upon all who receive
it In faith ARE POINTED OUT IN THESE WORDS of the institution: "GIVEN
AND SHED FOR YOU, FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS." Accordingly, the benefits
are: "REMISSION OF SINS, LIFE AND SALVATION." For while only the
remission (forgiveness) of sins is mentioned in the institution, yet
WHERE THERE IS REMISSION OF SINS, THERE ARE ALSO LIFE AND SALVATION.
[Rom. 6:22] The Lord's Supper confers all the benefits which Christ
secured by His sufferings and death. [Eph. 1:7] Each communicant is
assured by the words of Christ Himself that the body which he receives
along with the bread was given for _him_, and that the blood which he
receives along with the wine was shed for _him_, for the remission of
_his_ sins. The promise of grace and forgiveness held out to all in the
Gospel is thus brought home to each individual in the Lord's Supper.
Each believing communicant is individually assured that Christ is _his_
Saviour, and that _he_ has the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation
through Christ's death.
* * * * *
III. _How can the bodily eating and drinking produce such great
effects?_
The eating and the drinking, indeed, do not produce them; but the words
which stand here, namely, "given and shed for you for the remission of
sins." These words are, besides the bodily eating and drinking, the
chief things in the sacrament; and he who believes these words has that
which they declare and set forth; namely, the remission of sins.
* * * * *
WHY THE LORD'S SUPPER HAS POWER TO CONFER SUCH BENEFITS.
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