1. The Lord’s Supper/Communion HC Q/A 75-85

2. What is the Lord’s Supper A sign and a seal that confirms to me: Jesus’ body was offered and broken on the cross for me Jesus’ blood was shed for me to cleanse me of my sin As surely as I see the bread broken, and the cup with win Through his crucified body and shed blood, Christ nourishes my soul to everlasting life As surely as I eat the bread and drink from the cup A regular, public confession that you believe in Christ’s death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and that you belong to God’s people.

3. What does it mean eat and drink ‘the body and blood of Christ’? Embrace with a believing heart that what Christ Jesus did on the cross, he truly did for me and in my place It confirms my relationship with God – I belong to God and know that God provides and cares for me It confirms my relationship with God’s church – I am part of God’s church as I see other brothers and sisters eat and drink in remembrance of what Jesus has done for them also. A visible sign of an invisible reality – helps us to better comprehend what God has done for us in Jesus.

4. Bread and wine – real body and blood? No – just as water in baptism is not changed into blood of Christ Bread does not change into the body of Christ Wine does not change into the blood of Christ They are signs to show what God has done for us in Christ Why this symbolism? Bread and wine sustain our temporal lives (we need to eat) Crucified body and blood of Christ are the true nourishment we need for eternal life Assures us through the Holy Spirit, just as we eat the bread and the wine, we can be sure that Jesus really died for us and made satisfaction for our sins

5. Roman Catholic ‘Mass’ Lord’s Supper – one sacrifice of Christ has made full satisfaction for all our sins – by the Holy Spirit we are ‘ingrafted’ into Christ by faith such that what Christ did on the cross becomes a reality for us. RC Mass – No forgiveness of sins unless Christ is daily ‘re-sacrificed’ by priests, the bread and blood becoming the true literal body and blood of Christ. Problem: Mass denies that Jesus death on the cross was sufficient to pay for our sin – need to ‘re-sacrifice’ Jesus again and again…

6. Who can take part in the Lord’s Supper? Those who truly hate their sin (repentant) Those who also trust that they are forgiven because of what Jesus did Those who trust that Jesus’ death also covers their remaining sin Those who desire to strengthen their faith and amend their life Basically: All those who have repented of their sin, believed in Jesus’ death for their forgiveness and long to live a life that pleases God more and more.

7. Who should not take part in the Lord’s Supper? Those who by their confession and life show themselves to be unbelieving and ungodly. Confession – they do not confess and believe what the Bible teaches as summarised in the Apostles Creed and explained in the Heidelberg Catechism Life – they do not live a life of repentance and faith but continue to indulge in sin

8. Why should they not partake? The Lord’s Supper is only for the people of the Lord Should others partake of it, the covenant of God would be profaned and God’s wrath will be kindled against the whole congregation The Church is duty bound to exclude such people from the Lord’s Supper, and only allow those who in their profession and life show they belong to the Lord, to partake. Reason – the keys of the kingdom of heaven have been given to the church of God (Matthew 16:17-20).

9. Questions Who should decide whether or not someone can partake of the Lord’s Supper – the church elders or the individual themselves? “The church consists of everyone who believes in Christ, regardless of whether they are members of a faithful church or not.” Do you agree or disagree? How do you think should RC Bult determine who can and who cannot partake of the Lord’s Supper next week? What standard should be used to determine whether or not visitors can partake of the Lord’s Supper?

10. Should there be any requirements before someone is Baptised? Why/why not? Should there be any requirements before someone partakes of communion?

11. What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? Preaching of the gospel & church discipline/excommunication out of the church This opens (to believers) and shuts (to unbelievers) the kingdom of heaven Preaching the gospel – Those who repent and believe are really forgiven by God -Those who do not remain under God’s wrath for eternity Church discipline -Forbid the use of sacraments to those who ‘claim to be Christians’ but live as if they do not know God -Forbid the use of sacraments to those who keep living in public sin despite repeated warnings and admonitions -Exclude from membership of the church those who by profession and life do not live in repentance and faith -Receive into membership of the church those who by profession and life live in repentance and faith

12. Questions What are the keys of the kingdom of heaven? How does the gospel – the good news about salvation through Christ – close the kingdom of heaven to some? If people who are unfaithful are put under church discipline (excluded from use of sacraments), won’t that harden them all the more and drive them further from the church? What happens to a church body that neglects church discipline?