The offering of Christ, once made, is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, both original and actual; and there is none other satisfaction for sin but that alone. Wherefore the sacrifice of masses, in which it is commonly said that the priest doth offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt, is a blasphemous fable and dangerous deceit.

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The Roman Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation teaches that when a priest blesses the Bread and the Wine before the reception of the Lord’s Supper, then the Bread and the Wine literally become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It is the assertion of the Roman Catholic Church today that this means that Christ was sacrificed once in history and forever in mystery. However, the Protestant Reformers all rejected Transubstantiation as a superstitious practice which could only be understood as the perpetual sacrificing of the Lord for the remission of our sins. 

As such, this Article was drafted to affirm that when Jesus Christ died on the cross, He did so as the perfect and sufficient sacrifice. He provided atonement for all sin for all time. His sacrifice need never be repeated, nor can it be added to through any other work. Jesus accomplished salvation once and for all, and His vicarious death is the only basis for it.

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Reflect on the following Biblical texts. What are your thoughts on the way they reveal this doctrine to us? Discuss your answers with your pastor/group leader.

Romans 5:1-21 (cf. Matthew 5:17-18 / John 19:28-30 / 1 Timothy 2:1-8) 

Hebrews 7:22-28 / Hebrews 9:1-28 / Hebrews 10:1-39

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Use the following questions to summarize what you have learned about this Article of Faith. Discuss your answers with your pastor/group leader. 

Why do we reject the Roman Catholic teaching of Transubstantiation?

How does this doctrine affect the practice of our faith? 

Notes: