Lord's Day 30 Heidelberg Catechism

Lord's Day 30

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 8; 1 Corinthians 10:19-22; 11:17-34

Q. 80. What difference is there between the Lord's supper and the popish mass?
A. 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; and, that we by the Holy Ghost are ingrafted into Christ, who, according to his human nature is now not on earth, but in heaven, at the right hand of God his Father, and will there be worshipped by us. But the mass teaches, 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; 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.

Question 81. Who ought to come to the table of the Lord?
Answer. Those who are displeased with themselves for their sins, and who nevertheless trust that these sins have been forgiven them and that their remaining weakness is covered by the passion and death of Christ, and who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and make their life whole. The unrepentant and hypocrites, however, eat and drink judgement to themselves.

Question 82. Should those be admitted to the Lord's Supper who show by what they say and do that they are unbelieving and ungodly?
Answer. No, that would dishonor God's covenant and bring down God's wrath upon the entire congregation. Therefore, according to the instruction of Christ and his apostles, the Christian church is duty-bound to exclude such people, by the official use of the keys of the kingdom, until they reform their lives.

For reflection and study:
When the priest holds up the cup as being divine it is ________ since this is a false claim.
Is there a Roman Catholic in your life that you can calmly, quietly and lovingly share this truth with (question 80)?
Is there ever a time a believer should not partake of communion?