Thursday, August 13, 2015

Outline of John Calvin's Short Treatise on the Lord's Supper


Short Treatise on the Supper of Our Lord, in which is Shown Its True Institution, Benefit, and Utility

Outline:

  • Introduction (1-2)
  • Why our Lord instituted this holy sacrament (3-6)
    • Since in baptism we have entered God’s spiritual family, it makes sense for God to now nourish us with spiritual food (3-4)
    • Christ is our only spiritual food (4-5)
    • Christ is distributed to us by the word, but sometimes we are too weak to receive him when he is presented to us by simple doctrine and preaching (4-5)
    • Three reasons (6)
      • To sign and seal in our consciences the promises contained in his gospel concerning our being made partakers of his body and blood
      • To exercise us in recognising his great goodness toward us, and thus lead us to laud and magnify him more fully
      • To exhort us to all holiness and innocence, inasmuch as we are members of Jesus Christ; and specially to exhort us to union and brotherly charity
  • What fruit and utility we receive from it (7-11; 17-19)
    • Directs and leads us to the cross of Jesus Christ and to his resurrection (7-11; 17; cf. 12-16)
      • We are presented Jesus Christ as the source and substance of all good (11)
      • We are presented the fruit and efficacy of his death and passion (11)
    • Helps us recognise our daily blessings, in order that we may ascribe to Jesus the praise which is due (18)
    • Powerfully incites us to live holily, and especially observe charity and brotherly love toward all (19)
  • How the visible elements are joined to the substance (12-16)
    • Jesus is the substance and foundation of the sacraments (11-12)
    • Our souls must feed on his body and blood as their proper food (13)
    • The bread and wine represent his body and blood much as a dove represented the Spirit at his baptism (14)
    • The sacraments should be distinguished from their substance, but one cannot exist without the other (15)
    • The sacrament accomplishes what it signifies (16)
  • The legitimate use of it (20-32)
    • Examine yourselves before partaking (20-25)
      • Perceive weakness in ourselves, and strength in Christ
        • Dissatisfaction with our whole life
        • Anxiety and fear
        • Desire and love of righteousness, especially charity
    • All are imperfect, but this should drive us to the sacrament (26-28; 30)
    • Communion should be observed frequently (29; 32)
    • Examine yourself, not your neighbors. It’s the church’s job, not the individual’s, to administer discipline. (31)
  • The errors and superstitions with which it has been contaminated (33-52)
    • Mass is a sacrifice (34-38)
    • Transubstantiation (39-42)
    • Carnal adoration (43)
    • Infrequent (once per year) communion (44)
    • Withholding the cup from the laity (45-46)
    • The Word not accompanying the sacrament (48)
    • Vain imitation of Old Testament rituals in the Roman sacraments (49-50)
    • Recap of Roman errors (47; 51-52)
  • Why so much discussion has arisen, even among the Reformers (53-60)
    • I take no pleasure in these disputes, but I think it necessary to take part and describe them (53)
    • God sometimes allows his people to err (54)
    • Luther didn’t much alter the Roman doctrine of the corporal presence (55)
    • Zwingli and Oecolampadius refuted the corporal presence but weren’t clear about believing in any kind of presence (56)
    • Both parties failed in not having the patience to listen to each other (57-59)
    • All agree that we truly partake the proper substance of the body and blood of Jesus Christ (60)

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