St. Paul's Sarver
Coffee Talk 5.4.25
What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?
These words, “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins,” show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. -SC VI
The Benefits of Holy Communion
A. “The forgiveness of sins, which Christ won when he suffered in His body and the cross and shed his blood to redeems us, is now promised in his body and blood given to us to eat and to drink.” Expl. 331
Matthew 26:28 “for the forgiveness of sins.”
“For this reason we go to the Sacrament: there we receive such a treasure by and in which we gain forgiveness of sins. ‘Why so?’ ‘Because the words stand here and give us this. Therefore, Christ asks me to eat and drink, so that this treasure may be my own…’” -LC V:22
“Although the work is done and the forgiveness of sins is secured by the cross, it cannot come to us in any other way than the Word… Now the entire Gospel… the forgiveness of sins, and so on—are embodied by the Word in this Sacrament and presented to us.” LC V:31, 32
How might you sum up the above to someone who is curious about joining the Lutheran Church?
B. “Where sin is forgiven, there is life with God now and salvation everlasting.” Expl. 332
“Here in the Sacrament you are to receive from the lips of Christ forgiveness of sin. It contains and brings with it God’s grace and the Spirit with all his gifts, protection, shelter, and power against death and the devil and all misfortune.” LC V:40
How might knowing this enrich your experience at Communion this morning?
C. “As Christ gives us victory over sin and Satan in the Sacrament, he strengthens us for new life in him.” Expl. 333
Romans 8:10 “if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”
“The new life must be guided so that it continually increases and progresses. But I must suffer much opposition. For the devil is such a furious enemy. When he sees that we oppose him and attack the old man, and that he cannot topple us over by force, he prowls and moves about on all side (1 Peter 5:8). He tries every trick and does not stop until he finally wears us out, so that we either renounce our faith or throw up our hands and put up our feet, becoming indifferent or impatient. Now to this purpose the comfort of the Sacrament is given when the heart feels that the burden is becoming too heavy, so that it may gain here new power and refreshment.” -LC V:25-27
How can bodily eating do such great things?
Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: “forgiveness of sins.”
“It is the Word, I say, that makes and sets this Sacrament apart. So it is not mere bread and wine, but is, and is called, Christ’s body and Blood.” -LC V:10
How might you sum up this part of the Small Catechism?
We eat and drink by faith that Jesus’ words do and give what they say.
“Whoever believes the words has what they declare and bring… Because he offers and promises forgiveness of sin, it cannot be received except by faith. This faith he himself demands in the Word when he says, “given… and shed for you,” as if he said, “For this reason I give it, and ask you to eat and drink it, that you may claim it as yours and enjoy it.’ Whoever now accepts these words and believes that what they declare is true has forgiveness.” LC V:33-35
Food for Thought
Putting these two parts of the Small Catechism together, how could they encourage you to come to Sunday worship when you’re just not “feeling it”—when you’re tired, busy, discouraged, have an overgrown lawn, etc.?
How could you use this knowledge to minister to someone who is becoming disconnected from weekly worship?
“The Sacrament is given as a daily pasture and sustenance, that faith may refresh and strengthen itself so that it will not fall back in such a battle, but become stronger and stronger.” -LC V 24
“If you could see how many knives, darts, and arrows are every moment aimed at you, you would be glad to come to the Sacrament as often as possible. But there is one reason why we walk about so securely and carelessly, except that we neither think nor believe that we are in the flesh and in this wicked world or in the devil’s kingdom.” LC V:82
“He who is above says: If you want to be a Christian, if you want to have forgiveness of sins and eternal life, then come here! There stands your God; he offers you his body and blood, broken and shed for you. If you want to despise God and neglect the forgiveness of sins, then stay away. So I do not compel you, but Christ pleads with you lovingly. If you despise this, then you see to it! We are saying what your God is offering you.” AE 51:191