Question 80
Section 30: Lord’s Day 30
What difference is there between the Lord’s supper and the Popish mass?
The Lord’s supper testifies to us, that we have a full pardon of all sin, by the only sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which he himself has once accomplished on the cross;a and, that we by the Holy Ghost are ingrafted into Christ,b who, according to his human nature, is now not on earth, but in heaven, at the right hand of God his Father,c and will there be worshipped by us:—d but the mass teacheth, that the living and dead have not the pardon of sins through the sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is also daily offered for them by the priests; and further, that Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and therefore is to be worshipped in them;*1 so that the mass at bottom is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and sufferings of Jesus Christ, and an accursed idolatry.e
a. Hebrews 7:27; 9:12, 26; Matthew 26:28; Luke 22:19–20; 2 Corinthians 5:21
Hebrews 7:27
7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
7:27 Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:26
9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
9:12 He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption. 9:26 Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Matthew 26:28
26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
26:28 This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 22:19–20
22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 22:20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
22:19 And He took the bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body, given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." 22:20 In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.
2 Corinthians 5:21
5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
5:21 God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
b. 1 Corinthians 6:17; 12:13
1 Corinthians 6:17
6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
6:17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:13
12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
c. Hebrews 1:3; 8:1ff
Hebrews 1:3
1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
1:3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Hebrews 8:1–13
8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; 8:2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man. 8:3 For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 8:4 For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law: 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
8:1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 8:2 and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. 8:3 And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer. 8:4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law. 8:5 The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: "See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain." 8:6 Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. 8:7 For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second. 8:8 But God found fault with the people and said: "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 8:9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not abide by My covenant, and I disregarded them, declares the Lord. 8:10 For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they will be My people. 8:11 No longer will each one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. 8:12 For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more." 8:13 By speaking of a new covenant, He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
d. John 4:21–23; Colossians 3:1; Philippians 3:20; Luke 24:52–53; Acts 7:55
John 4:21–23
4:21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 4:22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
4:21 "Believe Me, woman," Jesus replied, "a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. 4:23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him.
Colossians 3:1
3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
3:1 Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Philippians 3:20
3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Luke 24:52–53
24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 24:53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
24:52 And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 24:53 praising God continually in the temple.
Acts 7:55
7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
7:55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
e. Isaiah 1:11, 14; Matthew 15:9; Colossians 2:22–23; Jeremiah 2:13
Isaiah 1:11; Isaiah 1:14
1:11 To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. 1:14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
1:11 "What good to Me is your multitude of sacrifices?" says the LORD. "I am full from the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed cattle; I take no delight in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. 1:14 I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them.
Matthew 15:9
15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
15:9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.'"
Colossians 2:22–23
2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
2:22 These will all perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 2:23 Such restrictions indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-prescribed worship, their false humility, and their harsh treatment of the body; but they are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.
Jeremiah 2:13
2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
2:13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and they have dug their own cisterns-broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
King James VersionBerean Standard Bible
- *1 In canone Missæ and de consecra. distinct. 2. Concil. Trid. Sess. 13. 15.
