The “mystery of faith” refers to the sacrament of the Eucharist in Christian tradition. It speaks to the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine consumed during Communion. Though the specifics of this belief vary between denominations, the mystery underscores the supernatural and ineffable nature of this ritual.
When celebrating the Eucharist, many Christian priests or ministers will say the words “Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.” This cue indicates that the most sacred part of the liturgy is about to take place: the consecration of the Eucharistic elements. It is meant to focus the congregation’s attention on what is happening at the altar.
The mystery of faith has scriptural roots. During the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and wine and told his disciples, “This is my body” and “This is my blood” (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20). He instructed them to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). Christians believe that through the mystery of faith, the bread and wine are supernaturally transformed into the real presence of Christ’s body and blood.
Different denominations understand this in various ways. Catholics believe in transubstantiation – that the substances of the bread and wine are fully changed into the body and blood of Jesus, even though the elements still appear as bread and wine. Lutherans believe in sacramental union, that the bread and wine are united with the real presence of Christ. Some denominations, like Baptists, believe that the Lord’s Supper is mainly symbolic.
But across these traditions, the Eucharist retains an element of holy mystery. Something supernatural is understood to happen, effected by the power of the Holy Spirit. The earthly elements connect the church to the divine sacrifice of Calvary. Christ’s presence – his body and blood – are made mysteriously present and active in Communion.
The mystery underscores several theological truths:
- God can work in invisible, spiritual ways, not just physical ways.
- Anamnesis – Communion is a “remembrance” of Christ’s sacrifice.
- Holy Communion connects the church backward in time to Christ’s passion and forward to his second coming.
- The body of believers is unified by partaking of “one bread” (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
- God’s grace and salvation are communicated through tangible means.
At its core, the mystery of faith is God miraculously uniting heaven and earth. It’s a holy sacrament that reveals the possibility of encountering Christ in the ordinary and mundane. Although the miracle surpasses human understanding, Christians accept it by faith when they receive the bread and wine.
The mystery of faith features prominently in liturgical worship services. Saying the words out loud focuses attention on God’s supernatural work in the Eucharist. And proclaiming this mystery together reminds the church of its shared belief in Christ’s real presence in the sacrament.
Though not magic or a mechanical process, Communion is also not just an intellectual exercise. The mystery of faith is meant to be experienced and embraced. Coming to the Lord’s Table should inspire awe at how God interacts with his creation in profound ways.
Steeped in centuries of tradition, the mystery of faith is central to Christian theology. It reveals the heart of what worshippers believe about Christ’s sacrifice, God’s grace, and the miraculous union between heaven and earth that occurs during the Eucharist. Proclaiming this mystery grounds the church in its great hope – that the transcendent God is also immanently present with us.
1. The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
The mystery of faith originates from Jesus Christ instituting the Lord’s Supper on the night before his crucifixion. While celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples, Jesus took bread and wine and identified them as his body and blood, given for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28). He told the disciples to partake of the bread and wine to remember and proclaim his death and resurrection until he comes again (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Jesus established this special meal, and the early church continued celebrating it as a sacrament (Acts 2:42, 46). Through the mystical blessing and partaking of the bread and wine, the church proclaims Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross and looks ahead to his glorious second coming.
2. Transubstantiation vs. Consubstantiation vs. Representational Views
How Christ is present in the Lord’s Supper has been debated through church history. The Roman Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation teaches that the substances of the bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ, while the appearances of bread and wine remain. Lutherans believe in consubstantiation – that Christ’s body and blood are present “in, with, and under” the bread and wine, which retain their original substances. Other Protestant Christians hold a representational view that the bread and wine are symbols that represent Christ’s body and blood given for us.
3. Sacramental Union
The Lutheran doctrine of sacramental union emphasizes that Christ’s body and blood included in the bread and wine are given for the forgiveness of sins. While Lutherans do not attempt to explain philosophically how this happens, they confess the real presence of Christ in the sacrament and find comfort and assurance in receiving Christ’s very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.
4. Memorialism or Symbolism
Some Protestant traditions like Baptist hold a memorial or symbolic view of the Lord’s Supper, rather than a sacramental one. They see the bread and wine as symbols to call to remembrance Christ’s sacrificial death and imminent return. The bread and wine do not impart spiritual grace but are visual reminders of biblical truths already held by faith.
5. Spiritual Feeding
Those who partake of the Lord’s Supper spiritually feed on Christ for spiritual nourishment and growth in grace. Just as bread and wine nourish the body, so Christ nourishes the soul. Communion with Christ in the eucharist sustains the believer’s faith and unites them more closely to him.
6. Proclaiming the Gospel
Celebrating the Lord’s Supper proclaims the gospel message to believers and unbelievers alike. The death of Christ for sins is vividly represented in the bread broken and wine poured out. Partaking of his body and blood assures forgiveness and new life. The Lord’s Supper is a witness to Christ’s death, resurrection, and promised return for those who believe.
7. Symbolic vs. Sacramental Views in Church History
In early church history, a sacramental view prevailed – that the eucharist imparts spiritual grace by Christ’s real presence in the elements. Medieval Catholicism developed transubstantiation. In the Reformation, Luther upheld sacramental union while Zwingli saw Communion as a memorial. Calvin emphasized Christ’s spiritual presence and the sealing of grace received by faith. Modern debates continue on the nature of Christ’s eucharistic presence.
8. Holy Mystery
The Eastern Orthodox Church emphasizes the mystery of how Jesus Christ is truly present and communicated to believers through the eucharistic bread and wine. Human reason cannot explain this mystery nor can it be explained in merely symbolic terms. Instead, it is a holy mystery to be accepted and embraced with awe and thankfulness.
9. Means of Grace
Many traditions see the Lord’s Supper as a means of grace – a channel by which God imparts spiritual blessing to the believer. Though Christ’s presence is received by faith alone, sacramental views still hold that God objectively ministers his grace in the eucharist. The Lord’s Supper is not just a symbol but also a means through which God strengthens faith.
10. Eschatological View
The Lord’s Supper also looks forward to the end times and Christ’s triumphant return. Celebrating it shows forth his death “until he comes” (1 Cor 11:26). It is an eschatological event provisionally uniting present reality with future hope. The Supper anticipates the coming messianic banquet when Christ will drink the fruit of the vine anew with his people in God’s kingdom (Mark 14:25).
11. Ecclesiological View
As a corporate act of worship, the Lord’s Supper also builds up the church in unity and holiness. Sharing in one bread and one cup symbolizes the oneness of the body of Christ. The communal nature of the meal can foster love, patience, and mutual accountability among believers as they examine themselves (1 Cor 10:16-17; 11:27-32).
12. Covenant Meal
Viewing the Lord’s Supper as a covenant meal emphasizes that Christ instituted it within the context of Passover, where God established his covenant with Israel. In the new covenant, Christians eat the bread and drink the cup to proclaim salvation through Christ’s blood. The Supper ritually enacts this new covenant in Christ’s body and blood given for us.
13. Sacrificial Meal
The Eucharist is also a sacrificial meal, representing Christ as both priest and victim. The elements of bread and wine mirror the sacrificial body and blood of Christ given up for us. When believers eat the bread and share the cup, they join in offering up the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for Christ’s perfect atoning sacrifice on the cross.
14. Remembrance of Christ
Jesus exhorted his followers to partake of Communion in remembrance of him (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24-25). The Lord’s Supper is a memorial proclaiming Christ’s death and resurrection until he comes again. It recalls the historical events of Jesus’ incarnate life, death, and rising. And it uses tangible elements so believers will not forget Christ’s self-sacrifice which provides eternal salvation.
15. Christ’s Continual Presence
The Lord’s Supper connects the church to Christ’s perpetual presence, not just a past historical event. Through the mystery of the sacrament, the living Christ gives himself to his people. Communion is an intimate experiential bond between the ascended Christ and his church, nurturing a vital spiritual union with him.
16. Vertical and Horizontal Aspects
The Eucharist has both vertical and horizontal dimensions. Vertically, it is communion between God and humans, nourishing faith in Christ. Horizontally, it unites Christians to each other across time, space, culture, and denomination. Both aspects reflect the unity of the Trinity, bringing together God and man and binding Christians in love.
17. Common Themes and Images
Certain biblical themes and images are often associated with the Lord’s Supper: covenant, sacrifice, Passover, banquet, remembrance, presence, communion, church, integrate Old and New Testaments, signs and seals, union with Christ. These metaphors offer different perspectives on the multifaceted spiritual blessings conveyed in the eucharist.
18. The Lord’s Supper and Other Sacraments
Most Protestant traditions recognize baptism and the Lord’s Supper as the two sacraments instituted by Christ, while in Catholicism there are seven sacraments. In Orthodoxy, the Eucharist is one of seven sacraments but holds a special place as the “sacrament of sacraments.” All traditions hold the Lord’s Supper as a sacred ritual imparting grace.
19. Names and Frequency
The Lord’s Supper is also known as: Holy Communion, Eucharist, Breaking of Bread, Memorial Meal. Different traditions observe it with various frequency, from daily to monthly to quarterly. But all agree on obeying Christ’s command to regularly remember him through partaking of the communal supper.
20. Open vs. Closed Communion
Practices differ on whether Communion is open to all professing Christians or restricted. Roman Catholics and some Protestants practice closed Communion, limiting participation to members only. Most Protestant churches practice open Communion, welcoming baptized Christians from other denominations to partake.
Despite variations in how Christ’s presence is understood in the Lord’s Supper, most traditions agree that this sacrament is a holy mystery established by Jesus. It spiritually nourishes believers, proclaiming the gospel and connecting Christ’s sacrifice from past to future. The mystery of faith revealed in the Eucharist is a special means of God ministering his grace to his people across history.