TSW ~ Eric W. King "The Shepherds Way": The Literal Presence

The Literal Presence

By Eric William King

“Therefore, 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. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.” (1^st Corinthians 11:17-18)

We notice here that to participate in the Lord’s Supper “unworthily” is to sin against the LITERAL BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. No symbology alluded to here, plain and simple literal fact. So what is to take it in an “unworthy” fashion? Apostle Paul explains what the issue is here;

^“For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” (1^st Corinthians 11:29)

So plain and simply put not to recognize the literal presence in the sacrament is to take it in an unworthy fashion.

As true Christians we recognize the fact that Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is present with us at all times. We are always experiencing His presence. The sacraments bring His presence to us in a deeper fashion. At Baptism we are sealing our testimony and receiving the seal of the Holy Spirit in a special way. At the Lord’s Table we are experiencing not only the spiritual presence of our Lord but also the bodily presence of our Lord. At worship in assembly we are experiencing as a group the special presence of our Lord. There are many ways in which we experience the presence of the Lord.

Now many have asked if this means that we are to experience the “one time” sacrifice in the sense of another sacrifice of Christ. The answer is a loud “NO”. We recognize two types of sacrifice throughout Scripture. One is “sacramental” the other is “sacrifice”.

Apostle Paul is asking us to receive the confirmation of the literal sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins. We note here how “The Apology of the Augsburg Confession” expresses this Biblical reality;

“There are two, and only two, basic types of sacrifice. One is the propitiatory sacrifice; this is a work of satisfaction for guilt and punishment that reconciles God or placates his wrath or merits the forgiveness of sins for others. The other type is the Eucharistic sacrifice; this does not merit the forgiveness of sins or reconciliation, but by it those who have been reconciled give thanks or show their gratitude for the forgiveness of sins and other blessings received.” (Sacrifice, its Nature & Types)

Though we do not “merit” the forgiveness of sins by any actions on our part we RECEIVE THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS through the acceptance of what Christ has done and is doing through the sacraments. St Luther states it this way in the “Small Catechism”:

“The eating and drinking do not in themselves produce them (the blessings), but the words “for you” and “for forgiveness of sins”. These words, when accompanied by the bodily eating and drinking, are the chief thing in the sacrament, and he who believes these words has what they say and declare: the forgiveness of sins.”

So true obedience is the product of true salvation. Jesus commands us to “eat and drink” from His table and that we do.

“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1^st John 2:3,4)

I pray that if you are a Christian you are truly experiencing proper fellowship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May you continue your studies here at “The Shepherds Way” & “Nugget of Truth”.

Jesus is LORD,

Eric William King (April 16^th 2020)

Also read; "The Body and the Blood"