The person of Christ and his presence in the Lord's Supper

Preface

All Christian believers have a common-central meeting place in Christ even though they may refuse to meet with one another at the Lord's Table. In Christ the Church-universal meets, whatever the name, nationality or social standing, whether male or female, bond or free, all are one in Christ Jesus. They all acknowledge Him as their Lord and Master, and their only Saviour. Him they worship as the Son of God and one with the Father. To Him they make confession of their sins in true penitence, trusting Him for forgiveness and salvation. To them the creed of the primitive Church remains, even as Christ ever remains the same. All seek His peace and guidance, and would abide in Him.

There is one Holy Catholic Church in spite of dissensions and all the imperfections of the members who compose it, because of their mystical and vital union with Christ. Hence the unity of the Church; for Christ said: "They shall become one flock, one shepherd"; and He prayed, "that they all may be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us."

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This unity of the one Church may be realized by all believers without an organic union and centralization of absolute power — with autocratic authority— if they "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and in all." "We who are many, are one body in Christ;" "for ye all are one in Christ Jesus," and hence there is one Holy Catholic Church because of the intimate and vital union of all its members with Christ, the body and head of the Church.

There is no place where we have Christ so clearly set before us as an objective reality as in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, for He is personally identified with it. St. Paul discerned the Person of Christ in the Holy Communion when in positive language he declared: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?" Christ Jesus Himself says to every communicant who partakes of the sacramental Bread and Wine: "Take eat; this is my body. . . . This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many." The Church accepts these words without revision, and believes them, though some differ in their understanding and interpretation as

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to the manner of Christ's Presence, for all must desire their Saviour's Presence and to meet Him in the Holy Communion that they may truly commune with Him; for we cannot doubt nor deny the reality of His Presence, nor wish that He should not be present but absent. He said: "Abide in me and I will abide in you."

The author was appointed in January 191 8 to deliver at Gettysburg the Holman Lecture for that year on Article Tenth of the Augsburg Confession. Later, he was urged to publish the same with important additions in book form. The result of the study is this volume which is sent forth with the earnest prayer and hope that it may tend to increase our faith in the historical incarnation of the Divine One in Christ; that our fellowship with the personal Christ may become more real by discerning His Presence in the Lord's Supper; that in this Holy Communion there may be developed and realized the spirit of genuine love for the Church universal; so that whilst we may not all be able to think and express ourselves exactly alike, — though holding fast to the Divine Christ, we may all be able to love one another, even as He hath loved us, and as He hath enjoined and commanded us to Love one another. May we ever realize this spirit of love for all the brethren, in our oneness in Him our common Lord and Saviour, so that this central

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Rite of worship in the Christian Church may no longer be the storm center of bitter controversy, misrepresentation and alienation, but a precious and real Eucharist and communion of all Christian believers with the Saviour-Christ, and with the Church-universal.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. The Christ of the Lord's Supper . . 13 II. The Passover 80

III. The Real Presence of Christ in the