PCA Sacraments Lord's Supper Flashcards
What is the meaning of the Lord’s Supper?
Meaning of the Lord’s Supper:
WSC #96: The Lord’s Supper is a sacrament in which bread and wine are given and received as Christ directed, proclaiming His death. When received rightly, believers share in Christ’s body and blood by faith and grow spiritually in grace.
It symbolizes:
The Lord’s death – A reminder of Christ’s sacrificial death.
Believer’s participation in the crucified Christ – Union with Christ in His death.
Believer’s need for nourishment by Christ – Christ spiritually sustains and strengthens.
Believer’s union with one another – Fellowship with fellow believers in Christ.
It seals:
The great love of Christ to a believer – A reminder of His love and sacrifice.
The promises of the covenant for the believer – Assurance of God’s promises.
The blessings of salvation – A reminder of forgiveness, new life, and hope.
Profession of a believer – An outward declaration of faith and commitment to Christ.
In summary, the Lord’s Supper symbolizes and seals the believer’s union with Christ, His love, the benefits of salvation, and their fellowship with one another in the body of Christ.
What happens in the Lord’s Supper? Reformed View.
In the Reformed view, the elements (bread and wine) remain unchanged in substance but serve as signs that point to the spiritual realities they represent.
Christ is present in a mystical communion with believers, not physically but spiritually.
Believers share in spiritual communion with Christ as they partake, feeding spiritually upon Him—receiving the grace, strength, and nourishment Christ provides.
It serves as a means of grace for God’s people, helping them grow in faith and maturity, as they remember Christ’s sacrifice and receive His spiritual nourishment.
In summary, the Lord’s Supper is a spiritual feast where believers, by faith, commune with Christ and are spiritually nourished, even though the elements themselves remain unchanged.
What happens in the Lord’s Supper? Catholic View.
Roman Catholic View:
Transubstantiation: The bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ while maintaining the appearance of bread and wine.
Christ’s presence: Christ is physically present in the Eucharist. The bread and wine are no longer symbols but become the literal body and blood of Christ.
Sacrifice: The Eucharist is a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, with the elements being offered to God as an act of worship and for the forgiveness of sins.
What happens in the Lord’s Supper? Lutheran View.
Lutheran View:
The “Real Presence”: The bread and wine remain bread and wine, but Christ’s body and blood are truly present “in, with, and under” the elements.
Sacramental union: There is a mystical union of the body and blood of Christ with the elements, so that believers partake of both the physical bread and wine and the spiritual presence of Christ.
Spiritual nourishment: The Lord’s Supper strengthens and nourishes believers, affirming Christ’s benefits.
What happens in the Lord’s Supper? Zwinglian View.
Zwinglian (Reformed) View:
Symbolic view: The bread and wine remain purely symbolic. They are signs that represent the body and blood of Christ, but Christ is not physically or mystically present in the elements.
Memorialism: The Lord’s Supper is a memorial of Christ’s death, and the focus is on remembering Christ’s sacrifice and proclaiming it until He returns (1 Cor. 11:26).
Spiritual feeding: Believers spiritually feed upon Christ by faith, but the elements themselves do not change or convey any grace by their consumption.
Is Christ in any sense present in the Lord’s Supper? How?
Yes; Reformed (PCA) View:
Spiritual Presence: Christ is spiritually present in the Lord’s Supper. The elements (bread and wine) remain unchanged in substance, but believers partake in mystical communion with Christ.
By Faith: The Lord’s Supper is a means of grace, where believers are spiritually nourished and strengthened as they feed upon Christ by faith. This communion is not physical but occurs spiritually, as Christ is received through faith in the hearts of the participants.
How should believers celebrate the Lord’s Supper?
According to WSC 97, believers should approach the Lord’s Supper with self-examination to ensure they partake in a worthy manner. This involves:
Discerning the Lord’s Body: Believers should recognize the significance of the sacrament, understanding that the bread and wine represent Christ’s body and blood, which were sacrificed for their sins.
Faith Feeding on Christ: They should come in faith, believing that Christ is spiritually present and that the sacrament is a means of grace to nourish their faith.
Repentance: Believers should repent of any known sin, seeking to turn from it and pursue holiness, ensuring they are in right standing with God.
Love and New Obedience: They should approach with love for God and others, and a commitment to live in new obedience—walking in the way of Christ’s commands.
The purpose of this examination is to avoid partaking in an unworthy manner, which can lead to judgment (1 Cor. 11:27-29). Therefore, celebrating the Lord’s Supper should be done reverently, with faith, repentance, and a commitment to live in obedience to Christ.
WSC 97: “By examining whether we discern the Lord’s body, whether our faith feeds on him, and whether we have repentance, love, and a new obedience—so that we may not come in a wrong way and eat and drink judgment on ourselves.
How is “fencing the table” practiced during communion?
“Fencing the table” refers to the practice of guarding the Lord’s Supper to ensure that it is celebrated appropriately and reverently, in line with Scripture and church teaching. Here’s how it’s typically practiced:
Open to Believers in Christ: The table is open to all who have made a profession of faith and are members of a Bible-believing, evangelical church. This includes those who have professed faith in Christ, have been baptized, and are living in fellowship with the church.
It’s the Lord’s Table, Not a Denominational Table: The table is not a “Presbyterian table”; it is the Lord’s Supper, and the invitation to partake is extended to all who are genuinely in Christ, regardless of denominational affiliation, as long as they meet the scriptural qualifications.
Reminders from 1 Corinthians 11:27-30:
Profession of Faith: Paul warns that those who partake without making a profession of faith or understanding the significance of the sacrament bring judgment upon themselves (1 Cor. 11:27).
Unconfessed Sin or Conflict: Before partaking, individuals must examine themselves and not have unconfessed sin or be in conflict with a brother. If there is unresolved sin or relational strife, they are urged to reconcile first (1 Cor. 11:28-29).
Purpose: “Fencing the table” is done out of love and care for those who are partaking, ensuring that the sacrament is taken worthily, in a way that honors God and maintains the integrity of the church community. It is a reminder that the Lord’s Supper is a sacred act and must be approached with the proper faith, repentance, and reconciliation.
