The Ordinances of the Church Part 2 Ecclesiology The Ordinances of the Church Part 2

Catholicism hangs upon the lynchpin of the Mass.

This entire doctrine is based upon the misinterpretation of Jesus’ words on the night in which He instituted the Lord’s Supper. (Mat. 26:26-30) There is no reason whatsoever to believe that they did not recognize Christ’s use of a metaphor. Not one the disciples thought he was eating the physical body of Christ or drinking the physical blood of Christ, for the simple reason that Christ sat there before them body and blood intact. His body was not yet broken (1 Corinthians 11:24). His blood was not yet poured out at Calvary.

In fact, no one would have considered these elements transformed for at least three or four centuries until Augustine. If for no other reason (though there are several), it could be postulated that Augustine was the founder of the Catholic Church because he taught the doctrine of transubstantiation. Augustine taught, as does Catholicism, salvation is dependent upon participation in the mass.

It is absurd to suggest that the Scriptures teach cannibalism It is absurd to suggest that the Scriptures teach cannibalism. Further, the Catholic mass is a spiritual travesty which denies that Christ died once for all (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 7:27; 9:12, 26, 28; 10:10; Romans 6:10). The repeated sacrifice of the mass is tantamount to condemnation of Hebrews 6:6, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Luther attempted to moderate the Catholic doctrine concerning the Lord ’s Supper from a transformation into the literal body and blood of Christ to what he called consubstantiation. Denying the actual change of the elements into the body and blood of Christ, Luther nonetheless insisted that Christ was mystically present in the elements.

Participation at the Lord’s Table is an obedient act of worship in which believers do exactly what Jesus commanded; they remember Him. (1 Cor. 11:23-26)

As baptism commemorates the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the Lord’s Supper commemorates His sacrificial death and Second Coming. This is a church ordinance just as baptism. The congregation, meeting in session, partakes together in the communion or fellowship of the Lord’s Table. Herein is a recognition of a common salvation and unity of heart and purpose for the glory of God. (1 Cor. 10:16-21)

The participants at the Lord’s Table must be believers The participants at the Lord’s Table must be believers. It is impossible to remember someone that you have never known. As believers, there must be a purity of heart. (1 Cor. 11:27-32) Because the focus of this act of worship it is critical that the atmosphere be conducive to quiet reflection upon the person of Christ, upon the unfathomable love that occasioned His death, and upon the benefits of being in Christ.

Issues Frequency Open or Closed Integrity of the Service