The Moment of the Sacramental Union and the Real Presence of Christ's Body and Blood in the Lord's Supper

Abstract

This theological response by the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations addresses the timing of the sacramental union in the Lord’s Supper, particularly in reaction to the ELS’s “Six-Point Explanation of Thesis Nine.” Drawing from Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, the paper affirms that the real presence of Christ’s body and blood occurs during the full sacramental action—consecration, distribution, and reception—not at a fixed moment such as consecration alone. It critiques interpretations that isolate the moment of presence and warns against elevating such views to binding doctrine. Historical Lutheran theologians, including Chemnitz, Quenstedt, and Hoenecke, are cited to show that the timing of the sacramental union has long been considered an open question. The paper concludes that while Christ’s words are efficacious, Scripture does not specify the exact moment of union, and reverence should be shown throughout the sacramental action without promoting adoration of the elements. —Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)