1689 London Baptist Confession, Chapter 30
Of the Lord's Supper
The Supper of the Lord Jesus, was instituted by him, the same night wherein he was betrayed, to be observed in his Churches unto the end of the world, for the perpetual remembrance, and shewing forth the sacrifice of himself in his death confirmation of the faith of believers in all the benefits thereof, their spiritual nourishment, and growth in him, their further ingagement in, and to, all duties which they owe unto him; and to be a bond and pledge of their communion with him, and with each other.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
1 Corinthians 11:2323For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
1 Corinthians 11:2424and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:2525In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:2626For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
1 Corinthians 10:1616Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 10:1717Because there is one loaf, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf.
1 Corinthians 10:2121You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.
In this ordinance Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at all, for remission of sin of the quick or dead; but only a memorial of that one offering up of himself, by himself, upon the crosse, once for all; and a spiritual oblation of all possible praise unto God for the same; so that the Popish sacrifice of the Mass (as they call it) is most abominable, injurious to Christs own only sacrifice, the alone propitiation for all the sins of the Elect.
Scripture references for paragraph 2
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Hebrews 9:2525Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own.
Hebrews 9:2626Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Hebrews 9:2828so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
1 Corinthians 11:2424and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
Matthew 26:2626While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
Matthew 26:2727Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
The Lord Jesus hath in this Ordinance, appointed his Ministers to Pray, and bless the Elements of Bread and Wine, and thereby to set them apart from a common to an holy use, and to take and break the Bread; to take the Cup, and (they communicating also themselves) to give both to the Communicants.
Scripture references for paragraph 3
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
1 Corinthians 11:2323For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
1 Corinthians 11:2424and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:2525In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:2626For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
The denyal of the Cup to the people, worshiping the Elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and reserving them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of this Ordinance, and to the institution of Christ.
Scripture references for paragraph 4
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Matthew 26:2626While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is My body.”
Matthew 26:2727Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
Matthew 26:2828This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 15:99They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”
Exodus 20:44You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath.
Exodus 20:55You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
The outward Elements in this Ordinance, duely set apart to the uses ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truely, although in terms used figuratively, they are sometimes called by the name of the things they represent, to wit the body and Blood of Christ; albeit in substance, and nature, they still remain truly, and only Bread, and Wine, as they were before.
Scripture references for paragraph 5
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
1 Corinthians 11:2727Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 11:2626For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
1 Corinthians 11:2828Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of Bread and Wine, into the substance of Christs body and blood (commonly called Transubstantiation) by consecration of a Priest, or by any other way, is repugnant not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason; overthroweth the nature of the ordinance, and hath been and is the cause of manifold superstitions, yea, of gross Idolatries.
Scripture references for paragraph 6
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Acts 3:2121Heaven must take Him in until the time comes for the restoration of all things, which God announced long ago through His holy prophets.
Luke 24:66He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you while He was still in Galilee:
Luke 24:3939Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
1 Corinthians 11:2424and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
1 Corinthians 11:2525In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible Elements in this Ordinance, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally, and corporally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified & all the benefits of his death: the Body and Blood of Christ, being then not corporally, or carnally, but spiritually present to the faith of Believers, in that Ordinance, as the Elements themselves are to their outward senses.
Scripture references for paragraph 7
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
1 Corinthians 10:1616Is not the cup of blessing that we bless a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
1 Corinthians 11:23-2623For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread,
24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
25In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
All ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with Christ; so are they unworthy of the Lords Table; and cannot without great sin against him, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto: yea whosoever shall receive unworthily are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord, eating and drinking judgement to themselves.
Scripture references for paragraph 8
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
2 Corinthians 6:1414Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
2 Corinthians 6:1515What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
1 Corinthians 11:2929For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
Matthew 7:66Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Source and edition
1689 London Baptist Confession. NonlinearFruit/Creeds.json, Unlicense. Creeds.json, English transcription
Unlicense. Source transcription.
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