Good Answer to a Hard Question

“After This, Many of His Disciples Turned Back…”

Posted In: WE Got Answers

What would you say to someone who maintains no true bodily presence in the Lord’s Supper because of Paul’s admonition in Acts 15:29 that we abstain from blood? Also, could you give some verses in which we are shown that the Word has power to fulfill the promises of God? I have a friend who denies that there is power in the Word to save in baptism or forgive sins in the Lord’s Supper. Thank you so much!

-N

N,

Thank you for your questions. They are good ones.

I will have to say that I have not heard the argument of denying the true bodily presence in the Lord’s Supper, because of Acts 15:29, nevertheless, here is how you could address it.

First, let’s read the passage in its context. Paul did not write or send the Gentiles this letter. It was the Jerusalem Council (v.22-24), which was comprised of the brothers, the Apostles & the elders (pastors). And this letter is a product of the circumcision controversy between the believing Jews and the believing Gentiles. The Jews were insisting that Gentiles be circumcised in order to be in the fellowship. Notice that circumcision is not mentioned in the letter,
except as it is implied in the statement “…to lay on you no greater burden…” The Council will not burden the consciences of the Gentiles. Yet there judgment does deals with food. Why?

Everything that a baptized believer does is out of the love and forgiveness received from the Lord all for the benefit of the neighbor. What we do affects others. In this case the issues was the weak of faith, particularly those among the Jewish Christians, who would have been scandalized by the consumption of blood. So the first century Church determined, in keeping with the Word of God and good order, to guide the Gentile Christians to abstain from the outward acts of eating certain foods and activities. This was a word of instruction to aid in the building up of the Body of Christ. It was directed toward the saint (new man) in the Gentile Christian, who gladly receives instruction according to Holy Spirit, who works only through the Word of God.

Acts 15:29 as found in its context has nothing to do with the Lord’s Supper, therefore it cannot be used to defend a symbolic view of the Lord’s Supper, a view that denies Jesus’ very body and very blood are really present.

Concerning some passages that clearly depict that the Word of God has power there are many. Here are a few: Genesis 1 & 2, God speaks His Word and it happens; Romans 1:6, “The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation.” Mark 7:34, Jesus says the word “Ephphatha,” which means, “be opened” causing the deaf man to hear. John 11:43, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead with the words, “Lazarus, come out” and it happened. The Word of God does what it says and says what it does. Therefore we believe the body and blood of Jesus are truly present in His supper, because we take Him at His Word.

I hope this has been helpful. I pray that your continued conversations with your friends will be fruitful as you present the Word of God to them. Remember you can convert no one. Only the Holy Spirit does that as He works when and where He pleases, which is wherever His Word is proclaimed. The Word is, indeed, powerful. Believe it and you will not be disappointed.

In Christ,

Pastor Dustin L. Anderson
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Marseilles, IL
www.trinitymarseilles.us