Jonathan Bonomo, "Some Basics of Calvinist Sacramentology"

http://evangelicalcatholicity.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/some-basics-of-calvinist-sacramentology/

Some Basics of Calvinist Sacramentology

February 20, 2008 by Jonathan Bonomo

Given recent discussions around the blogosphere regarding the Calvinist doctrine of the holy Eucharist, I thought it might be beneficial to briefly highlight some concepts which seem to me to need frequent clarification whenever discussing the matter with others.  This is by no means anything ground breaking, but I think these are some basic points which are essential to a proper understanding of Calvinist Eucharistic thought.

1. Sacrament/Eucharist– It is vital to keep in mind with regard to these terms that the Reformed do not define a sacrament as, or equate it with, the sacramental elements.  The sacraments consist of the entire rite, which includes, but is not limited to, certain essential things: the minister, the congregation, the Word, the sacramental elements (bread, wine, water), the presence of the reality signified by the elements.  Thus, the Reformed will often speak of a presence of Christ in the sacrament, by which we do not mean to indicate a presence localized within the elements, but rather within the rite.  Likewise, when we deny that Christ is physically present within the elements, we emphatically are not denying his real presence in the sacrament, taken as a whole.

2. Spiritual–When the Reformed speak of a "spiritual presence" of Christ in the Eucharist, we emphatically do not mean a presence of Christ's Spirit, as though Christ is present in some sort of disembodied sense, which would run us into something akin to a Nestorian separation of Christ's natures.  Rather, what we mean to point out by speaking of a "spiritual presence" of Christ in the Eucharist is that the whole Christ–divinity and humanity, body and spirit–is really and truly made present in the Eucharist by the operation of the Holy Spirit. 

3. Eating and Drinking–For the Reformed, the eating and drinking of the reality signified (Christ's body and blood) by the Eucharistic elements is by faith.  Thus, while Christ is truly present and objectively offered to all, those who refuse the gift by unbelief refuse the reality offered them in the sacrament, and therefore do not partake of the substance of the sacrament: Christ's body and blood.  They receive only the signs, to their own judgement.  Those who receive the elements in faith, however, are truly united to Him, and thereby partake of the substance of Christ's very body and blood, having their whole persons nourished and vivified by the life-giving substance of Jesus Christ himself.  Christ is therefore in the Eucharist objectively present and truly offered to all, but only received by faith.