The Formula of Concord: Christ Truly Given, Not Explained Away

Holy Eating: Why the Lord’s Supper Is Never Neutral

Throughout Scripture, eating is never just physical. From the sacrifices of the Old Testament, to Jesus’ words at the Last Supper, to Paul’s warnings to the Corinthians, God teaches His people that what we eat—and how we eat—matters. In this series, we explore how Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions speak with one voice about the Lord’s Supper: that Christ is truly present, given for forgiveness and life, and that this holy gift is never neutral. These reflections are offered to deepen reverence, strengthen faith, and help us receive Christ’s gift with repentance, trust, and joy.

By the time we reach the Formula of Concord, the Church is no longer debating whether the Lord’s Supper matters, but how faithfully Christ’s words will be confessed.

Article VII of the Solid Declaration addresses controversies that arose after Luther’s death—controversies that attempted either to soften Christ’s words or to explain them away entirely. The Formula responds not with speculation, but with careful fidelity to Scripture.

“This Is My Body” Means What It Says

The Formula of Concord insists that Christ’s words are clear:

“We believe, teach, and confess that in the Holy Supper the body and blood of Christ are truly and essentially present, and are truly distributed and received with the bread and wine.”

This confession is not philosophical stubbornness. It is pastoral obedience.

If Christ says, “This is my body,” the Church does not ask permission to reinterpret Him. She listens, receives, and confesses.

The Sacramental Union

Rather than explaining how Christ’s body and blood are present, the Formula speaks of a sacramental union—a real union of Christ’s body and blood with the bread and wine, established by Christ’s word.

This guards the Church from two errors:

• Reducing the Supper to a symbol, where Christ is absent

• Explaining the Supper in ways that replace faith with speculation

The mystery remains—but the gift is certain.

Both Believers and Unbelievers Receive the Body and Blood

Here the Formula speaks with striking clarity and direct relevance to Paul’s warning:

The true body and blood of Christ are received not only by the worthy, but also by the unworthy.

This statement is crucial. Christ’s presence does not depend on the faith of the communicant. Faith does not create the Sacrament—it receives it.

This explains why the Supper is never neutral. The same Christ who gives forgiveness to the repentant is received by the unrepentant as well—but without benefit.

Why This Matters Pastorally

The Formula’s teaching preserves both comfort and warning.

• Comfort: The communicant does not need to wonder whether Christ is truly present. He is.

• Warning: The communicant cannot assume that receiving Christ without faith is harmless.

The Supper is powerful because Christ is present. That power is always gift—but never trivial.

Unity Around the Altar

The Formula also emphasizes that the Church’s unity is not built on tolerance of contradictory teachings, but on shared confession. What we believe about the Supper shapes how we practice it.

To confess Christ’s real presence while acting as if it does not matter is to fracture the Church’s witness and endanger souls.

Holding Mystery Without Fear

The Formula does not demand comprehension. It demands faithfulness.

The Church does not peer behind Christ’s words; she stands beneath them. And there, at the altar, she receives what Christ gives—not because she understands, but because He promises.

Discussion Question

The Formula of Concord teaches that both the worthy and unworthy receive Christ’s body and blood. How does this help us understand Paul’s warning and deepen reverence for the Lord’s Supper?