"THE TEACHING ON WHICH THE CHURCH STANDS" - Luther

Justification is a two-fold declaration of God that we are both “not guilty” and also “perfectly worthy” on account of Christ’s substitutionary death and meritorious life.

Justification is the most important teaching, the doctrine “on which the church stands or falls” (Martin Luther). “Christ died for your sins,” but that’s only half the story. The other side of the coin is that He lived the perfect life in your place, every moment of everyday day, in every thought, word and deed.

God credits you with Christ’s passive obedience on the cross and His active obedience from keeping the law throughout His life. Think of it like this. You earn an F on your report card, but Christ earns an A. God credits your F to Christ, and He pays the price on the cross. But God also credits Christ’s A to you, and you receive His reward.

You receive a righteousness that is not your own, an ‘alien’ righteous, the righteousness of Christ. Christ and His righteousness really and truly become yours. God not only sees you just as He sees Christ, but you are personally united with Christ and His merit imputed through Word & Sacrament. In communion you receive His body, blood, and benefits.

QUESTION: Does Faith Lutheran Church believe that the bread and wine in communion are actually Jesus' body and blood or rather a symbolic meal meant to convey real spiritual gifts?

ANSWER: To put it as simply as possible, we believe that the bread and wine are the actual body and blood of Christ. That being said, we do not deny their powerfully symbolic image calling us back to more layers of meaning in scripture. In other words, “do we believe that communion is real or symbolic?” “Yes!”

QUESTION: How do I know that I am worthy to participate in communion?

ANSWER: “That person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words: “Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.” (Martin Luther, The Small Catechism)

QUESTION: Who would you consider to be not worthy of partaking in communion?

ANSWER: “Anyone who does not believe these words or doubts them is unworthy and unprepared, for the words “for you” require all hearts to believe.” (Martin Luther, The Small Catechism)

QUESTION: Who am I communing with at the altar?

ANSWER: When participating in “communion” (implying “community” rather than something individually experienced with Christ only) you are celebrating the marriage feast of the Lamb (Jesus) as his holy bride purchased by and made spotless in his blood. So, first and foremost, it means that you are directly communing with Jesus Christ in the consummation of the cosmic marital covenant. Also, the bride of Christ is the whole of the catholic (universal) Church. This means that you are communing with the people to your right and your left. But, it also means that you are communing with all believers throughout time and space (Adam & eve, Abraham & Sarah, St. Peter & St. Paul, Martin Luther & the reformers, believing family across the world, and also family members who now rest in Christ and are glorified).

The following questions and answers are meant to explain what having faith in “these words” means (the words of institution spoken by Christ and taught by St. Paul in his first letter to the church in Corinth).

QUESTION: Why does this church body adhere to closed communion? In other words, why can't everyone, regardless of membership to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, eat and drink the body and blood of Christ from this altar?

ANSWER: As we state in our liturgy, the eating and drinking in communion, according to scripture, is more than just the reception of God's good gifts and benefits in Christ. It is also the common confession of the faith and the doctrines we hold to be true. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Proclaiming his “death” implies confessing everything it means and accomplished, specifically in this Sacrament. For someone with a different confession than ours to partake in communion from this altar, is for us to allow them to commune with the very real presence of Christ in his body and blood, and at the same time engage in lies (intentional or not). For without examination, there's no telling if they believe what is confessed at our altar. Because we wish to protect the un-catechized from this dangerous error, we lovingly ask that they receive instruction and examination from the pastor before communing with the saints in the presence of angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven.

QUESTION: Is communing with the wrong confession or understanding dangerous for a believer?

ANSWER: While the exact nature of the repercussions are not revealed to us, we have been given clear warnings to protect people from such an error. “But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse... For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (1 Corinthians 11: 17, 26-29)