WCF 29 The Lord's Supper

Question 1

What are the purposes of the Lord’s Supper?

Answer 1

1. Perpetual remembrance of His sacrifice
2. Sealing benefits to true believers
3. Spiritual nourishment and growth in Him
4. Further engagement to duty to Him
5. Bond and pledge of communion with Him and each other

Question 2

What about intinction?

Answer 2

Dipping bread in wine– we are told to eat the bread and drink of the cup.

Question 3

What about sick and shut-ins?

Answer 3

“To none who are not present”

Minister and at least one elder can hold short worship service and include communion. Communion is not to be isolated from the rest of a worship service.

Question 4

What errors are refuted about Presence?

Answer 4

Nothing but a memorial; transsubtantiation

Question 5

How is Christ present?

Answer 5

Really present spiritually

Question 6

How is Lord’s Supper similar to baptism?

Answer 6

Author is God
Spiritual part is the same
Seal the same covenant
Dispensed by ministers
To be continued perpetually

Question 7

How is the Lord’s Supper different from baptism?

Answer 7

Baptism happens once only
Infants excluded
Self-examination mandated

Question 8

What is required of them that receive the Lord’s Supper?

Answer 8

Reverence, discern the body, meditate on His death and sufferings, stir self up to piety, rejoice, give thanks, renew covenant with God and love to saints.

Question 9

What about paedo-communion?

Answer 9

1 Cor 11:28 says to examine self. Lord’s supper is our pledge to God; it is efficacious while partaking. (Baptism is God’s pledge to us and is efficacious throughout life.) Morecraft makes a case that passover was only for believers–after bar mitzvah. Christ went to Jerusalem at age 12.