The Eucharist: Why Real Presence Makes Sense

Truth Unites exists to promote gospel assurance through theological depth.

Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) serves as senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Ojai.

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00:00 - Introduction

[jacobklug]

As a Luthern, it's really awesome to hear someone quote my 2nd favorite Martin!

[simonkraemer]

I‘m Catholic and the real presence of God in the holy communion gives me strength and calmness for the next week. I really hope we can celebrate the holy communion together one day!

[coopahtroopah]

I’ve had a lot of wrestling with my Baptist heritage, and much of it stems from the very low view of the Eucharist held by most Baptists. I’ve come to view it as a sacrament, not an ordinance; and as the experience of truly partaking in Christ’s body and blood, not just mere symbols. I thought that meant I’d no longer be a Baptist, but hearing Dr. Ortlund affirm True Presence as a Baptist has given me a lot of encouragement. Not everything with my Baptist background has been sorted out, but at least I’m at peace with this matter now :)

[wyattpruitt]

The roles of the Alter are almost reversed, in that instead of us offering up sacrifices of blood, Christ offers up his one eternal sacrifice of Flesh and Blood, and we come to the altar to feast on the sacrificial meal, with sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving

[ReneSance]

I'm still hung up on the idea that on the night of the Passover, Jesus told a room full of Jews, here, eat real flesh and drink real blood. I mean...He did say it, but in remembrance. That doesn't seem like he wanted us to increase our relationship with Him piecemeal by partaking in the Eucharist. "As often as you..." "in remembrance", etc. Every argument I hear for real presence or trans/consubstantiation gets really cloudy really fast.

[thejerichoconnection]

From a Catholic, thumbs up for this.

As a Calvinist Baptist, you must be a tiny minority on this topic, so I applaud you speaking up.

A Eucharistic revival is the only thing that can bring back Christianity together on the right path.

[danielbroache]

Absolutely love this. Hard to believe this is not the universal view for ALL Christians.

[Defender_of_Faith]

Jesuss said where two or three of more are gathered in my name I am there. So God is always present where Faithful are gathered.
So to the Presence associated to the Eucharist hs to be something special for the Faithful.

[ashleycnossen]

How can this be true when Christ said, "This is my body, this is my blood, " BEFORE he died on the cross?

[EmberBright]

I'm going to admit, this makes no sense to me.

[patriotamer]

Christ has become my salvation every second of my life...His Kingdom is in my heart... FOREVER...no need to eat his body and drink his blood to LITERALLY...he said living waters will flow out of your belly unto eternal life...these are spiritual metaphors...

[rachelgriffin]

This is such a helpful perspective, thank you for articulating so thoughtfully

[okj]

People say “do this in remembrance of me” is evidence that there isn’t real presence, but why wouldn’t you be able receive the real presence of Jesus in remembrance of him.

[collin]

Gavin, what is your position on the "real-ness" of whatever is happening in baptism, setting aside the issue of "regeneration"? What exactly is happening there? Have you done a video on this?

[GohanCodes]

What do you think of the Lord's Supper being a symbol just like the other symbolic elements of Passover? Jesus initiated the Lord's Supper during Passover, which was full of other elements which were symbolic. I don't see how Real Presence is being explained in the text given the Jewish background

[whiterosesforthebrideofchrist]

When He told His disciples to "do this in remembrance of Me" He was talking about the unleavened bread and cup of wine of Passover. All man made creeds and sacraments are misguided.
1 Corinthians 11:24

[ronaldsmith]

My only concern with these comments is; if we are talking about “imparting grace” through the observance of the communion, I can wholeheartedly disagree with you on your application of the communion, if this is your meaning. I’m not sure if you are suggesting that the elements literally, “ become” the body and the blood, or if they are “symbolic” representations of Jesus’ body and blood.

[victorrene]

Christ real presence is always present with us. Christ real presence is always there, the bread and wine are symbolic but the presence is always present.

[CharlesSeraphDrums]

Well, the East has sort of been telling you that with a particular concept: participation. We participate in the eternal reality of the sacrifice of the cross.

[pattube]

One of the better criticisms I've read of the real presence of Christ's body in the sacrament of the Eucharist (by way of the doctrine of transubstantiation) is by the philosopher Anthony Kenny. Kenny's piece is in the first chapter of Reason and Religion: Essays in Philosophical Theology.