### 78. Q. Do the bread and wine become the real body and blood of Christ?

**A**. No. Just as the water of baptism is not changed into Christ’s blood and does not itself wash away sins but is simply a divine sign and assurance<sup>1</sup> of these things, so too the holy bread of the Lord’s Supper does not become the body of Christ itself,<sup>2</sup> even though it is called the body of Christ<sup>3</sup> in keeping with the nature and language of sacraments.<sup>4</sup>

<sup>1</sup> [Eph. 5:26](/index.php/get-passage/Ephesians+5:26); [Titus 3:5](/index.php/get-passage/Titus+3:5)
<sup>2</sup> [Matt. 26:26-29](/index.php/get-passage/Matthew+26:26-29)
<sup>3</sup> [1 Cor. 10:16-17](/index.php/get-passage/1+Corinthians+10:16-17); [11:26-28](/index.php/get-passage/1+Corinthians+11:26-28)
<sup>4</sup> [Gen. 17:10-11](/index.php/get-passage/Genesis+17:10-11); [Ex. 12:11, 13](/index.php/get-passage/Exodus+12:11-13); [1 Cor. 10:1-4](/index.php/get-passage/1+Corinthians+10:1-4)