Luther on reception of the Holy Sacrament

[TheCosmicGospel]

Luther from 1525 sermon. Enjoy.

For if you do even believe that the Sacrament is the body and blood of Christ, how are you made better? To what end does that profit you? The devil believes that too; but what does it help?

But when the faith comes that lays hold of the Word and says: These words Christ spoke and I believe they are true, and I am ready to die trusting in them, I am certain and sure that He is present, that He has given Himself to me and He is mine, also that I appropriate Him to myself, as if it were my own possession which God has bestowed upon me. This is far different from the other faith; for that gives you nothing, but this gives you and brings you, as you believe, all the treasures of which the words speak.

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

(cont. pt. II)

Therefore until the present time we have shown enough forebearance; but hereafter no one shall be given the Sacrament until it is known how he believes and that he is a vessel than can hold it, and knows how to give information concerning his faith.

Moreover it was necessary to do this, because the Sacrament is instituted in an outward form to the end that people may confess and prove their faith, in order that it may become manifest before the world. For before God it is enough that we believe in the Gospel, but now He wants us to remain upon the earth top serve the people and to confess before the world that fiath we have in our hearts by means of certain tokens, that is, by menas of baptism and the Lord's Supper.

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

(cont. pt. III)

We read in the Book of Kings, 1 Sa 4,3 f., when Israel warred itself against th Philistines and were defeated and put to flight, the elders of Israel said to the people: The reason God permitted us to suffer defeat was because we have not the ark of the covenant with us. Then they went and brought the ark; when they had now returned they cried in a hostile, triumphant way, so that their enemies almost feared and thought they had been defeated; but when they met one another, the Israelites were nevertheless again slain. What then was the cause?

The ark or chest was in their midst, where God was as surely as He was in the Lord's Supper; why would He not help them? Because they also made a work of merit. For they clung to it alone and had no faith; therefore God punished them and they were slaim worse than before. We do likewise, we cling only to our work, that we have received the Sacrament, and go ahead without any faith. Thus will also Satan, when the test comes, smite us worse than any time before.

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

(cont. pt. IV)

I know very well that this misuse of the Sacrament is, alas, a deeply spread evil; therefore we must indded bestir ourselves to root out the error and give the alarm to those who think it is enough for one to believe that the body and blood of Christ are present in the Lord's Supper.

True it is, the food is there; but you do not eat and enjoy it. Christ does not say in His words: Behold, there it is, there it lies; but He says: "Take ye," it shall be yours. It is therefore not the nature of the Sacrament that we should have Christ lying there; but tht we should make use of Him and His.

 

[seajoy]

I had not read that before. It makes one sit up and take notice. I must read it again before commenting further.

 

[seajoy]

(cont. pt. II)

Therefore until the present time we have shown enough forebearance; but hereafter no one shall be given the Sacrament until it is known how he believes and that he is a vessel than can hold it, and knows how to give information concerning his faith.

Moreover it was necessary to do this, because the Sacrament is instituted in an outward form to the end that people may confess and prove their faith, in order that it may become manifest before the world. For before God it is enough that we believe in the Gospel, but now He wants us to remain upon the earth top serve the people and to confess before the world that fiath we have in our hearts by means of certain tokens, that is, by menas of baptism and the Lord's Supper.

I know we are not to look on what Luther says in the same way as we do Scripture (obviously)but wow, this is wonderful stuff.

This particular part spoke to me. I'd like to be the "vessel that can hold it." We must take the Sacrament very seriously. No wonder you pastors look on this as such an awesome responsibility....because it is!

 

[KimLCMS]

Good info, Thank you Cosmic!

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

(cont. pt. V)

It is now necessary for every Christian to know this, so that he can tell, when asked, that he knows why he takes the Sacrament....First, that the words of Christ and the token of Christ's body and blood are the Lord's Supper. Secondly that he seeks to strengthen his faith and to console his consiences, so that we get out of ourselves and come to Christ. In this you must prepare yourself so that you may know how to make right use of the Sacrament; can you not do this, then the Lord's Supper should not be administered to you.

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

(cont. VI)

We have two blessings from the holy Sacrament. The one is that it makes us brethern and fellow heirs with our Lord Jesus Christ that thus He and we become one bread (ein Kuchen). The second is, that we become like, and one with all other believers and all are thus one bread, one cake.

When we eat the bread, then we all have the same food, you have just what I have, and there is no difference. We receive all that Christ has and is.

Now what has our Lord Jesus Christ and what is He able to do? His body and blood are without sin, full of grace, yea, the bodily dwelling place of the divine majesty. In brief, all that the Lord God has is Christ's, and all these possessions become here mine.

Therefore I am fully assured that Christ bestows upon me all the treasure that He has, and all His strength and authority. Thus His wisdom, truth and godliness take away and blot out all my sins; His eternal ife swallows up death for me; through His strength and influence I conquer Satan.

Here His innocence and my sins, my weakness and His strength are thrust together and all thus become one. If you are now one cake, as it were with Christ, what more do you wish? You have all in superabundance whatever your heart desires, and you are now sitting in paradise.

 

[seajoy]

It is good to see this posted. Anyone who comes here can read the importance of this Sacrament....me included.

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

(cont. VII)


21. Just so is it also among us, we all become one bread, one cake, and eat one another. You know when we make bread all the grains of wheat are crushed and ground, so that each grain becomes the flour of the others, they are then mixed together so that we see in a sack of flour all
the grains joined together, and that each has become the flour of the other, and no grain of wheat retains its own form, but each gives, the other its flour, and each loses its body, in order that the body of the many grains may become the body of one bread. The same way is it when we make wine, each grape mixes its juice with the juice of the other grapes, and each loses its form, so that there comes from it one drink. So should it also be with us.

When I become a public servant and serve you so that you enjoy my service whenever you need me, then I am thus your food; even as you enjoy your daily bread when you are hungry so that it helps and gives strength to your weak body and your hungry stomach. Therefore when I help and serve you in every time of need, then I am thus your bread. Again, art thou also a Christian, then thou dost in return act so that thou dost serve me with all thou hast, that all may be benefited and that I may enjoy the same as my meat or drink.

For example, am I a sinner and thou art pious through God's grace, then thou approachest me and sharest thy piety with me, thou prayest for me, intercedest in my behalf before God, and dost interest thyself in me as if thou wast in my place. Thus thou dost swallow by thy godliness my sins, as Christ devoured our sins. Thus thou eatest me; then I in return eat you.

 

[TheCosmicGospel]

(cont. VIII)


CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION.

24. This we have said for the present on the reception of the Lord's Supper; we will now speak a little on Confession and soon conclude. In confession certain words are also spoken, by which the minister absolves you as the representative of God; these same words we ought not to despise here. We will force no one to enumerate all his sins; still no one should go to the Lord's Supper who does not esteem the confession. But we have often preached on this; yet we wish now to say and admonish you: When you desire to confess, then be on your guard that you look to, and think about, your future more than your past life; and do not, as persons formerly did, go to confession because you were commanded to go once a year, by which the conscience was sorely oppressed, and especially, in that you were forced to relate all the details and the circumstances, when, how and where.

The people only thought of going through the form of confession and never cared how they might live better lives in the future. Therefore, we should turn this around, so that you be wholly concerned about your future; for all the sins you committed before are now forgiven. Therefore you are to see to it, how you may begin a different life, and that you grieve over, and are tired of, your former life.


25. Then be on your guard that you be thus disposed. If you are not, then it will not help you, even if you confessed all your life. For when you go and confess it should serve to the end that you be absolved and think about beginning to live another life; so that you may now say that your sins are forgiven, and God is gracious to you.

The pope commanded and by law forced people to go to confession every year at the time of the Easter festival when they went to the Sacrament, and all there confessed the sins they did during the entire year, and every year the same was to be repeated; when it should have been left free, only for the benefit of those who are prepared to begin a new life; then each may confess whenever he will.

The papists thought it was in our power and free will to be penitent over our sins and begin a different life; therefore they urged it with laws. But here they bring the people to the point that they must lie and say they are sorry for their sins when it is not true. Therefore see to it that you thoroughly grasp this part.

26. The other part that belongs in this connection is, that you hear with true faith the absolution, and doubt not that the words he speaks, to whom you confess, are spoken by God himself. For God thus humbled himself and condescended to lay his holy, divine Word in the mouth of man, so that the one confessing should in no way doubt that God himself said it.

Therefore we should receive it as if God himself did it. He did it for your good; for perhaps you might not stand it, if he spake to you directly. How you would run, yes, to the end of the world, if you heard that God himself was announced to speak there. This you have at home at your door. Why do you not then see it? And it is as sure here as there, yea, even surer. For here I have his promise, there I have it not. Therefore prepare yourself to the end that you may believe and think how to lead a different life; otherwise it is better for you to remain away from the Confession and the Lord's Supper. We will let it rest at this for the present and call upon God for grace.