Lord’s Day 29
Q78. Do the bread and wine actually turn into Christ's real body and blood?
No. Just as the water of baptism does not turn into Christ's blood and does not actually wash away sins — it is simply God's sign and promise — so also the bread of the Lord's Supper does not turn into Christ's actual body, even though it is called the body of Christ, as is the way sacraments speak.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Ephesians 5:26
“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”
Titus 3:5
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Matthew 26:26–29
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed , and brake , and gave to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”
Genesis 17:10–11
“This my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.”
Exodus 12:11, 13
“And thus shall ye eat it; your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it the LORD'S passover. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye : and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy , when I smite the land of Egypt.”
1 Corinthians 10:1–4
“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
Do the bread and wine actually turn into Christ's body and blood?
- 2
What does the catechism mean when it says the bread is called Christ's body "as is the way sacraments speak"?
- 3
Why does it matter whether the bread stays bread or turns into something else?
Illustration
When you look at a photograph of your grandparents, you might say "that's Grandma and Grandpa." You do not mean the paper became your grandparents. You mean the picture truly represents them. Sacraments speak that way. The bread is called Christ's body because it truly represents his body given for us. The bread remains bread.
Application
Talk with a parent about why Reformed churches believe the bread stays bread. The point is not what happens to the bread. The point is what Christ did with his actual body on the cross for you.