The Lord’s Supper

Christ’s true body and blood, given for forgiveness.

The Lord's Supper is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. It is the ministration of His very Body and Blood. It gives exactly what it says: "the forgiveness of sins," as the words declare: "Given for you," and: "Shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," (Luke 22:19, 20; Matthew 26:28), and "This cup is the New Testament in My blood" (1 Corinthians 11:23; Jeremiah 31:31-34). In the Lord's Supper, we receive Christ's very body and blood into our mouths, not in a spiritual way, but truly, physically. This is a sacred mystery revealed in Scripture and believed by faith. Christ is truly present, not because of our faith, but because of His promise in the Word. Therefore, those who do not truly believe still receive Christ's body and blood in the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:27 ff.). Those who receive it unworthily, that is, in ignorance or impenitence, receive it to their judgment. For this reason, we practice Closed Communion. This is an act of love on behalf of the Church to protect people from receiving it unworthily and to their harm, and to ensure that all those who receive it receive the blessing the Lord intended: The forgiveness of sins.