Westminster Confession, Chapter 29
Of the Lord's Supper
Our Lord Jesus, in the night wherein he was betrayed, instituted the sacrament of his body and blood, called the Lord's Supper, to be observed in his Church, unto the end of the world; for the perpetual remembrance of the sacrifice of himself in his death, the sealing all benefits thereof unto true believers, their spiritual nourishment and growth in him, their further engagement 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, as members of his mystical body.
Scripture references for paragraph 1
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
1 Corinthians 10:16-1716Is 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?
17Because 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.
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.
1 Corinthians 12:1313For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
In this sacrament Christ is not offered up to his Father, nor any real sacrifice made at all for remission of sins of the quick or dead, but only a commemoration of that one offering up of himself, by himself, upon the cross, 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 abominably injurious to Christ's one 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 9:2222According to the law, in fact, nearly everything must be purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Hebrews 9:25-2625Nor 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.
26Otherwise, 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.
Hebrews 7:23-2423Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
24But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
Hebrews 7:2727Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
Hebrews 10:11-1211Day after day every priest stands to minister and to offer again and again the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.
12But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 10:1414because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.
Hebrews 10:1818And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed.
Matthew 26:26-2726While 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.”
27Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
1 Corinthians 11:24-2624and 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.
The Lord Jesus hath, in this ordinance, appointed his ministers to declare his word of institution to the people, 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; but to none who are not then present in the congregation.
Scripture references for paragraph 3
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
Matthew 26:26-2826While 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.”
27Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 14:22-2422While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take it; this is My body.”
23Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Luke 22:19-2019And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.
1 Corinthians 11:23-2723For 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.
27Therefore, 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.
Acts 20:77On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Since Paul was ready to leave the next day, he talked to them and kept on speaking until midnight.
1 Corinthians 11:2020Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat.
Private masses, or receiving this sacrament by a priest, or any other, alone; as likewise the denial of the cup to the people; worshipping the elements, the lifting them up, or carrying them about for adoration, and the reserving them for any pretended religious use, are all contrary to the nature of this sacrament, and to the institution of Christ.
Scripture references for paragraph 4
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
1 Corinthians 10:66These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
Matthew 15:99They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”
Mark 4:2323If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”
1 Corinthians 11:25-2925In 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.
27Therefore, 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.
28Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
The outward elements in this sacrament, duly set apart to the uses ordained by Christ, have such relation to him crucified, as that truly, yet sacramentally only, 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.
Matthew 26:26-2826While 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.”
27Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 26:2929I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
1 Corinthians 11:26-2826For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
27Therefore, 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.
28Each 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 Christ's 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 sacrament; 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.
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.”
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.
1 Corinthians 11:24-2624and 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.
Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements in this sacrament, do then also inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally, but spiritually, receive and feed upon Christ crucified, and all benefits of his death: the body and blood of Christ being then not corporally or carnally in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet as really, 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 11:2828Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
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?
Although ignorant and wicked men receive the outward elements in this sacrament, yet they receive not the thing signified thereby; but by their unworthy coming thereunto are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord, to their own damnation. Wherefore all ignorant and ungodly persons, as they are unfit to enjoy communion with him, so are they unworthy of the Lord's table, and can not, without great sin against Christ, while they remain such, partake of these holy mysteries, or be admitted thereunto.
Scripture references for paragraph 8
Berean Standard Bible. Public domain text and source credits.
1 Corinthians 11:27-2927Therefore, 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.
28Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.
29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.
2 Corinthians 6:14-1614Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
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.
1 Corinthians 5:6-76Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?
7Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
1 Corinthians 5:1313God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:66Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us.
2 Thessalonians 3:14-1514Take note of anyone who does not obey the instructions we have given in this letter. Do not associate with him, so that he may be ashamed.
15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
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