Scriptural support for the Lord's Supper being a means of grace?

Brian Kooshian · #1 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 04:10 PM

I apologize if this seems like a really basic question, but I am wondering where we Reformed folk get the doctrine that the Lord's Supper is a means of grace. I don't find the word "grace" anywhere near any of the passages about the Lord's Supper. Is this an example of a doctrine that is implied, rather than explicitly stated? If so, where is it derived from?

Contra_Mundum · #2 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 04:28 PM

I think, in order to understand what is meant by "means of grace" in such a context, you should ask the question: "Does God give anything to his people, or do his people receive anything spiritual from him, in the eating of the Lord's Supper?" If the answer is "yes", then God's grace (his blessing, his nourishment for our souls, himself) is the essence of what is presented. Hence the Supper is a means for the faithful to take-in the grace of God.

Scriptures: how about 1 Cor. 10:16. And 1 Cor. 11:28--there, the opposite of grace, judgment, is spoken of as the penalty of unworthy participation.

Hope this gives you some "food" for thought...
Blessings,

Davidius · #3 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Contra_Mundum

Scriptures: how about 1 Cor. 10:16. And 1 Cor. 11:28--there, the opposite of grace, judgment, is spoken of as the penalty of unworthy participation.

Can we also say that when Jesus tells the disciples to take and eat his body which was broken for them it has something to do with "taking in" the benefits of salvation? I'm not implying some sort of ex opere operato efficacy...just wondering whether that passage can be used in any way other than Zwinglian or Roman.

Contra_Mundum · #4 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 04:50 PM

Certainly.
I think I thought of those as kind of obvious, but Brian having missed the forest for the trees, so to speak, I thought it reasonable to suggest other verses that speak of "blessing" and "judgment" as specific presents associated with the meal. Then we can come back to Jesus own testimony, and acknowledge that he speaks of HIMSELF as the present.

But you are right on, David.

Brian Kooshian · #5 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 05:02 PM

Thanks for the food for thought.

I understand is that the Lord's Supper does not confer "special grace" or "regenerating grace" (ala Rome), but rather, "sanctifying grace".

Would it then be accurate to say that we are made more Christ-like through participation in Lord's Supper, because in it we express our unity with the body of Christ, and with His sufferings for that body?

Davidius · #6 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Kooshian

I understand is that the Lord's Supper does not confer "special grace" or "regenerating grace" (ala Rome), but rather, "sanctifying grace".

Would it then be accurate to say that we are made more Christ-like through participation in Lord's Supper, because in it we express our unity with the body of Christ, and with His sufferings for that body?

Sounds right to me. When we partake with faith and the giving of the sacrament is attended with instruction, we receive sanctifying grace.

Contra_Mundum · #7 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 05:22 PM

The WLC Q/A express the whole matter in full over 168-175. Here are two:

Quote:

Question 168: What is the Lord’s Supper?
Answer: The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death is showed forth; and they that worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace; have their union and communion with him confirmed; testify and renew their thankfulness, and engagement to God, and their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the same mystical body.

Question 174: What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper in the time of the administration of it?
Answer: It is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, that, during the time of the administration of it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance, diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions, heedfully discern the Lord’s body, and affectionately meditate on his death and sufferings, and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their graces; in judging themselves, and sorrowing for sin; in earnest hungering and thirsting after Christ, feeding on him by faith, receiving of his fullness, trusting in his merits, rejoicing in his love, giving thanks for his grace; in renewing of their covenant with God, and love to all the saints.

Calvibaptist · #8 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Kooshian

I understand is that the Lord's Supper does not confer "special grace" or "regenerating grace" (ala Rome), but rather, "sanctifying grace".

Would it then be accurate to say that we are made more Christ-like through participation in Lord's Supper, because in it we express our unity with the body of Christ, and with His sufferings for that body?

A related question: If the Lord's Supper is a means of sanctifying grace in this way, how is it any different than Christian fellowship (certainly a means of sanctifying grace), reading the Word (ditto), public worship, prayer, or any other thing that God has commanded us to do that sanctifies us?

Contra_Mundum · #9 (**permalink**) 05-19-2007, 07:10 PM

Some people use the language "means of grace" (assuming they like it at all, not everyone does, sounds too "RC" for them) for everything, essentially sacralizing everything.

We are talking about the particular work of God ministered through his church. Fellowship is important, but there is a special fellowship that is effected through the Lord's Supper. That is our fellowship with one another through the Lord Jesus Christ. In the forefront is our union with Christ.

We (Reformed) generally speak of 1) the Word, 2) Sacrament, snd 3) Prayer as the means of grace. And the grace being referred to is special grace, as Robert Reymond puts it:

Quote:

Specifically, of that "grace of God that brings salvation [and that] teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age" (Titus 2:11-12).... Saving grace is not so integrally or inexorably related to the sacraments that there can be no salvation without them. In no sense is saving grace either in kind or in degree, denied to the Christian who in God's providence never has the opportunity to receive baptism or commune with the Lord at his table.

S.T. p.913

Jeff_Bartel · #10 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calvibaptist

A related question: If the Lord's Supper is a means of sanctifying grace in this way, how is it any different than Christian fellowship (certainly a means of sanctifying grace), reading the Word (ditto), public worship, prayer, or any other thing that God has commanded us to do that sanctifies us?

I think of the Lord's supper as a visible form of the gospel itself. I think the Heidelberg Catechism is helpful in explaining this (note the underlined portions especially):

Quote:

Q75: How is it signified and sealed to you in the Holy Supper that you partake of the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross and all His benefits?
Q75: Thus: that Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread and to drink of this cup in remembrance of Him, and has joined therewith these promises:[1] first, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup communicated to me; and further, that with His crucified body and shed blood He Himself feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, as certainly as I receive from the hand of the minister and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, which are given me as certain tokens of the body and blood of Christ.
1. Matt. 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; I Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-25; 12:13

Q76: What does it mean to eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ?
A76: It means not only to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the forgiveness of sins and life eternal;[1] but moreover, also, to be so united more and more to His sacred body by the Holy Spirit,[2] who dwells both in Christ and in us, that, although He is in heaven [3] and we on earth, we are nevertheless flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone,[4] and live and are governed forever by one Spirit, as members of the same body are governed by one soul.[5]
1. John 6:35, 40, 47-48, 50-54
2. John 6:55-56
3. Acts 3:21; I Cor. 11:26
4. Eph. 3:16-19; 5:29-30, 32; I Cor. 6:15, 17, 19; I John 4:13
5. John 6:56-58, 63; 14:23; 15:1-6; Eph. 4:15-16

Q77: Where has Christ promised that He will thus feed and nourish believers with His body and blood as certainly as they eat of this broken bread and drink of this cup?
A77: In the institution of the Supper, which says: The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in My blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come. And this promise is also repeated by the apostle Paul, where he says: 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? Because there is one bread, so we being many are one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.[1]
1. I Cor. 11:23-25; 10:16-17

KMK · #11 (**permalink**) 05-20-2007, 03:11 PM

If you can get a hold of it, an awesome book is "The Mystery of the Lord's Supper" by Robert Bruce.