Confessional Corner: Administration of the Sacrament (SD VII 73-106)

It is not our faith that makes the Sacrament, but only the true Word and institution of our almighty God and Savior, Jesus Christ. His Word always is and remains effective in the Christian Church. It is not invalidated or rendered ineffective by the worthiness or the unworthiness of the minister, nor by the unbelief of the one who receives it. This is just like the Gospel. Even though the godless hearers do not believe it, the Gospel is and remains nonetheless the true Gospel, only it does not work for salvation in the unbelieving. So whether those who receive the Sacrament believe or do not beleive, Christ remains nonetheless true in His words when He says, "Take, eat; this is My body." He makes Himself present not by our faith, but by His almighty power. It is a deadly, shameless error that some people cunningly pervert this familiar rule to say that faith makes Christ's body present and partakes of it, rather than the almighty power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. (SD VII 89-90) https://wrestlingwiththeology.org/media/podcast/cc_231009.mp3 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wrestling-with-theology/id1437457035?mt=2&uo=4) or your favorite podcast app.