# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S343
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

THEOLOGICAL DOCUMENTS

Theology and Practice of the Lord’s Supper

THEOLOGY
AND
PRACTICE OF

HE _

ORD’

A Repor of the
Commission on Theology and Church Relations
The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod
May 1983

Contents

Theology of the Lord's Supper
A Prologue
B_ The Setting in Holy Scripture
C The Testimony of Holy Scripture
1. The Real Presence
2. Tne Atonement
3. Tne Lord's Second Coming
4° The Church
5 The Scriptures

D ABnief Excursus on Communion Practice in tne Early Church?

E The Confessional Witness
Practice of the Lord's Supper
A Prologue
B_ Practice in Accord with the Words of Institution
1 Consecration
2 The Elements
a The Bread
b Tne Wine
c¢ Post-Communion Reverence
C Practice in Accord with the Doctrine of the Office of the
Public Ministry
{Tne Pastoral Office
2 Confession and Absolution
D_ Practice in Accord with the Doctrine of the Church
{Fellowship Considerations
2 Close Communion
3. Extracongregationat Services
Questions and Answers

1ODouua

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NAADOHOY

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MNN
Aad

Citations from the Lutheran Confessions are taken from Tne Book
of Concora edited by T G Tappert :Philadetpnia. Fortress Press. 1959)
The following abbreviations have been used

AC—Augsburg Confession

Ap —Apotogy of the Augsburg Confession

Ep —Eprtome of the Formula of Concord

FC —Formula of Concord

LC —Large Catechism

SA —Smalcald Articles

SC —Smali Catechism

SD—Solid Deciaration of the Formula of Concord

versanct

|. Theology of the Lord's Supper

A. Prologue

The true Christian church is brought into being by the Gospel :; Cor
118-31 cf especially vv 21-24: Apart from the preacning and teacning
of the Gospei. the church cannot exist The Lutheran Church believes
teaches. and confesses this truth The Holy Spirit works through the
Gospel in calling each of us from the darkness of tne Laws condemra-
tion into the night of Cnrists saving work ** Cor 123. Matt 1617)

Furtner. when one 15 Called into Christs kingdom by the Gospel
he she is incorporated into Chnsts community—tne church i1 Cor
1212-31, This whole action occurs without any merit on the believers
part. The sole glory is God's for so graciously cnanging us from dead
creatures to new creations in Christ 2 Cor. 5.17)

Thus the Gospel. which no human intellect could ever formulate
iGal 111-12). creates saving faith. Such faith incorporates us into the
body of Christ :1 Cor 1 and 12) Even as God calls out a people for
Himself by means of the Gospel. He guides that people by the Scriptures
The person wnom God has reaeemed. and addressed in the Gospel, now
joyfully seeks God's guidance 'n Christ's Word—the prophetic and apos-
tolic Scriptures iJonn 831-32)

It is in Crrists Word that the Christian Church receives the Lords
invitation Take and eat. this is my body ~ Since tne Gospel has kindled
faith in Cnnst. the church gladly obeys this command In order rightly to
foliow the Saviors guidance. one must understand the setting and the
words of the Lord's Supper

B. The Setting in Holy Scripture
The Lord's timing in instituting the Lord s Supper is most significant
He selected the night of the Passover meal as the Setting for this action
The Passover festival commemorated Gods detiverance of His people
from a prideful Pharaoh and recounted how God hac provided a means
to spare the firstborn sons of the Israelites as the angel of death passed
over the land slaying every firstborn son. A lamb was to be siain in each

star cnurcr frat s
ness Tnerefare a

Now aS (7 ey were eating J
roire csc pesarcsad Tane eat

accoroke t arc ga.e *
a Cup and wren ne nas

tert yOu | gra.
a trem ATS yOu nm, Fats

“fer ** 23-26

343