An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism · Martin Luther
THE BENEFITS DERIVED FROM THE LORD'S SUPPER.
The benefits offered in this sacrament and bestowed upon all who receive it In faith ARE POINTED OUT IN THESE WORDS of the institution: "GIVEN AND SHED FOR YOU, FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS." Accordingly, the benefits are: "REMISSION OF SINS, LIFE AND SALVATION." For while only the remission (forgiveness) of sins is mentioned in the institution, yet WHERE THERE IS REMISSION OF SINS, THERE ARE ALSO LIFE AND SALVATION. [Rom. 6:22] The Lord's Supper confers all the benefits which Christ secured by His sufferings and death. [Eph. 1:7] Each communicant is assured by the words of Christ Himself that the body which he receives along with the bread was given for _him_, and that the blood which he receives along with the wine was shed for _him_, for the remission of _his_ sins. The promise of grace and forgiveness held out to all in the Gospel is thus brought home to each individual in the Lord's Supper. Each believing communicant is individually assured that Christ is _his_ Saviour, and that _he_ has the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation through Christ's death. * * * * * III. _How can the bodily eating and drinking produce such great effects?_ The eating and the drinking, indeed, do not produce them; but the words which stand here, namely, "given and shed for you for the remission of sins." These words are, besides the bodily eating and drinking, the chief things in the sacrament; and he who believes these words has that which they declare and set forth; namely, the remission of sins.
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