Luther’s Small Catechism

by Dr. Martin Luther
Introduction The Ten Commandments The Creed The Lord’s Prayer Means of Grace The Sacrament of Baptism Confession The Sacrament of the Altar Daily Prayers Table of Duties Christian Questions with Their Answers Luther’s Preface
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From Luther’s Small Catechism © 2019 Concordia Publishing House, cph.org

The Power of the Sacrament of the Altar

The Power of the Sacrament of the Altar

The Power of the Sacrament of the Altar

Third

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: "forgiveness of sins."

The Central Thought

Jesus' words make eating a morsel of bread and taking a sip of wine a great and gracious feast rather than an empty ceremony. 

Why should we take Jesus at His word?

Read Mark 4:35--41. What does this miracle reveal about the power of Jesus' words? 

✠ As Christians, we confess that the words of our Lord Jesus do just what they say. "What Christ's lips say and speak, so it is" (LC V 14).

Because these words do what they...

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