Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 28
There’s a sacred simplicity to bread and wine. But in the hands of Jesus, they do something astonishing: they become a sign and seal of the gospel.
This week’s catechism questions take us into the mystery and meaning of the Lord’s Supper. And from the start, it's important to say: our church does not believe the bread and wine become Christ’s literal body and blood, nor do we believe grace is imparted automatically through the act itself. We do not believe in transubstantiation or any kind of sacerdotalism—the idea that grace is distributed mechanically through ritual, apart from faith.
As part of the Evangelical Free Church of America, we hold to the centrality of the gospel and the authority of Scripture. The EFCA explicitly rejects transubstantiation (the Roman Catholic view that the bread and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ). And while the EFCA has historical roots in Scandinavian Lutheranism—where consubstantiation (the Lutheran view that Christ’s body and blood are present "in, with, and under" the elements) was common—it is not a view affirmed in EFCA doctrine or widely held in its churches today.
Instead, the EFCA permits a diversity of conviction when it comes to the nature of Christ’s presence in the Supper, provided that those views honor the gospel and do not elevate ritual above faith.
Some hold to the spiritual presence view, which affirms that Christ is truly present (not physically, but spiritually and powerfully) ministering grace to believers by the Holy Spirit during the Supper. This view, associated with Calvin and the Reformed tradition, sees the Supper as more than a symbol, but less than a physical presence.
Others hold to the memorial view, associated with Zwingli, which emphasizes the Supper as a symbolic act of remembrance, a God-ordained way of proclaiming Christ’s death and renewing our commitment to Him, but not a moment where grace is uniquely imparted.
Both views agree that the Supper is deeply meaningful, rooted in the gospel, and reserved for believers. In both, the Table is a place of humble faith, not ritual performance. And in both, Christ is central.
We do believe that when believers gather around the Lord’s Table in faith, God does something real. Christ nourishes us spiritually through the Holy Spirit. The Supper is not just a symbol; it’s a sign and seal of grace already given in Christ, and a vivid reminder that we live by His death.
Question 75
How does the Lord’s Supperremind and assure youthat you share inChrist’s one sacrifice on the crossand in all His gifts?
In this way:
Christ has commanded me and all believers
to eat this broken bread
and to drink this cup.
With this command He gave this promise:
First,
as surely as I see with my eyes
the bread of the Lord broken for me
and the cup shared with me,
so surely
His body was offered and broken for me
and His blood poured out for me
on the cross.
Second,
as surely as
I receive from the hand of the one who serves,
and taste with my mouth
the bread and the cup of the Lord,
given me as sure signs of Christ’s body and blood,
so surely
He nourishes and refreshes my soul for eternal life
with His crucified body and poured-out blood.
¹ Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26
What the Supper Is—and Isn’t
The Lord’s Supper is a gift given to the church, not as a new sacrifice, but as a reminder of the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus. The Heidelberg Catechism, like Scripture, takes great care to emphasize that the Supper does not re-offer Christ, nor does it add to what He has done. Instead, it proclaims His finished work.
Some may wonder how bread and wine can do all this. But that’s the point: they don’t, in and of themselves. God does. He uses these ordinary elements to direct our faith toward the One who died for us and now lives for us. The Supper doesn’t replace the gospel. It reinforces it, in a form we can taste and see.
We don’t come to the Table to earn anything. We come hungry, empty, dependent, and we receive what Christ alone provides.
Feeding Our Children Well
The Heidelberg’s pastoral vision reminds us that Christian growth is not only about what we learn, but also how we’re nourished. We eat to live, and spiritually, we eat by faith in Christ. The Supper is one of God’s appointed means to strengthen that faith.
In our church, we invite to the Table those who have made a credible profession of faith in Christ and have been baptized. For younger believers, this often involves a process of preparation and affirmation, ensuring that their participation is both meaningful and rooted in personal trust in Jesus.
What matters is not the eloquence of one’s faith, but the object of it. Jesus is enough. And this meal points us there again and again.
A Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the Table You have given to Your church. You don’t ask me to bring anything to it—only to come. Thank You that in the bread and cup, I see again Your body broken and Your blood poured out for me. Keep me from empty ritual or fearful hesitation. Nourish my faith, and feed my soul. Let this meal never be routine to me. Let it always remind me that grace is costly, and it has been paid in full. You are the host, and I am the guest. Help me to eat and drink in faith. Amen.
Daily Bible Readings
New Testament in a Year
July 13 – Acts 13:1–12
July 14 – Acts 13:13–52
July 15 – Acts 14:1–28
July 16 – Acts 15:1–21
July 17 – Acts 15:22–41
July 18 – Acts 16:1–15
July 19 – Acts 16:16–40
The Bible in a Year
July 13 – Psalms 1–3; Acts 13:1–12
July 14 – Psalms 4–6; Acts 13:13–52
July 15 – Psalms 7–9; Acts 14:1–28
July 16 – Psalms 10–12; Acts 15:1–21
July 17 – Psalms 13–15; Acts 15:22–41
July 18 – Psalms 16–17; Acts 16:1–15
July 19 – Psalms 18–19; Acts 16:16–40