Luther's Small Catechism Part 27

_352. Will not G.o.d again receive us when we have broken the covenant of our Baptism?_

Yes; G.o.d has not broken His part of the covenant, and when we again turn to Him, He is always glad to receive us.

=Luke 15:20. He arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compa.s.sion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.=

_353. How does a repentant sinner get courage to return to G.o.d?_

He gets courage from considering the tender Gospel invitation of Christ, and from seeking G.o.d in prayer.

=Matt. 11:28. Come unto me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.=

_354. Does not also he who remains true to the covenant of his Baptism need repentance?_

Yes; he needs daily repentance and daily renewal. =See 250.=

_355. What does the baptizing with water signify?_

It signifies that the old man in us should, by daily sorrow and repentance, be drowned and die, with all sins and evil desires; and again a new man daily appear more and more, who shall live before G.o.d in righteousness and purity forever.

_356. What is meant by saying that the old man in us should die, and the new man appear more and more?_

Sin should be rooted out from us through daily sorrow and repentance, and our love to G.o.d and man should grow up within us more and more, so that it may appear in all our conduct that we have the mind of Christ.

=Rom. 6:4. We are buried with Christ by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.=

_357. What are the duties of sponsors?_

They should pray for the child whose baptism they have witnessed, they should remember the covenant of their own Baptism, and afterwards, as far as possible, see that the child is brought up in the fear of G.o.d.

PART FIVE.

THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER.

_358. What is the Lord's Supper?_

It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under bread and wine, inst.i.tuted by Christ Himself for Christians to eat and to drink.

_359. Repeat the Words of Inst.i.tution._

"=Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He brake it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is my body, which is given for you; this do in remembrance of me.=

"=After the same manner, also, when He had supped, He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; this cup is the New Testament in my blood, which is shed for you, and for many, for the remission of sins; this do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.="

_360. When did Jesus inst.i.tute the Lord's Supper?_

In the night in which He was betrayed to death; it is therefore called the Lord's Supper.

_361. Is it important to note the time when Jesus inst.i.tuted the Lord's Supper?_

Yes; for it shows the loving care of our Savior, who just before His suffering and death thought more of us than of Himself.

_362. What do we receive in the Lord's Supper?_

In and with the bread and the wine we receive the body and blood of Christ, which He gave up in death for us.

_363. How do you know this?_

Christ says concerning the bread: "Take, eat; this is my body."

Concerning the wine He says: "Drink ye all of it; this cup is the New Testament in my blood."

_364. What is meant by "New Testament" in this connection?_

Thereby is meant the new covenant which G.o.d has made and sealed with the blood of Jesus.

=1 Cor. 10:16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?=

_365. What, therefore, makes the bread and the wine a sacrament of the body and blood of Christ?_

G.o.d's own Word which is added to the bread and the wine; for as Luther says, "Bread and wine alone are but bread and wine; but being united with the Word of G.o.d, they are truly the body and blood of Christ.

For as the mouth of Christ speaks, so it is; He can neither lie nor deceive."

_366. For whom is the Lord's Supper intended?_

The Lord's Supper is intended for true Christians, who are of age and understanding to prove themselves.

=1 Cor. 11: 28. [R. V.] Let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.=

_367. What benefit do we have from the Lord's Supper?_

It is shown by these words: "Given and shed for you, for the remission of sins;" namely, 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.

_368. But does not the believer have the forgiveness of sins before he partakes of the Lord's Supper?_

Yes; the believer has the forgiveness of sins through Baptism and the Word.

_369. How, then, can the forgiveness of sins in a particular sense be connected with this sacrament?_

Because in the Lord's Supper we receive the body and blood of Christ, which were offered up for us, as a sure pledge of the forgiveness of sins.

_370. In what way does the believer get life and salvation through this sacrament?_

Through this sacrament the believer is brought into spiritual fellows.h.i.+p with his Lord and Savior, who imparts Himself to him and thus preserves and strengthens him in faith, hope, and love unto eternal life.

=John 6: 56. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.=