Words Of Institution

The Words of Institution in Christianity refers to the establishing by Jesus Christ of the Eucharist at the Last Supper with his Twelve Apostles, when he said for the first time: "This is my body which is given for you" and "This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood.".^[1] The speaking of the words of institution is observed as a major part of the memorial ritual of Christian worship by almost every Christian denomination since the first century of the Christian Era (CE). It is regarded by many as an Ordinance of the New Covenant, the New Law, spoken and performed in obedient service to God as witness to belief in Christ as Lord and Savior of mankind, in solemn remembrance of his one unique sacrifice on the cross of crucifixion and his triumphant resurrection from death to new life in God the Father, accomplished once for all.^[2]

The majority of Christians, Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, see the words of institution as the initial establishment of the supreme worship of sacrifice and thanksgiving as a sacrament of the Body and Blood of the Lord. The sacrificial character of the Eucharist is believed with firm faith to be manifested in the very words of institution: "This is my body which is given for you" and "This cup which is poured out for you is the New Covenant in my blood."^[1] In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross, the very blood which he "poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."^[3] This has been regarded as a literal truth and as a metaphor.

See also[edit]

Transubstantiation

Real presence

Sacrifice

Worship

Protestantism

John Calvin

Ulrich Zwingli

Martin Luther

Baptist

Anabaptists

Five Solas

References[edit]