Blog 226: 4.17.29 - 4.17.32

Calvin continues his distaste for transubstantiation attacking the notion that Christ's ascended body is ubiquitous (can be present everywhere in space and particularly in the consecrated sacrament) and invisible ("by a special mode of dispensation").

a) There is no Scriptural support for either notion

b) Servetus (and we all know what happened to him) held to the view that Christ's body was "invisible" - "swallowed up by his divinity"

c) The resurrected Christ himself urged his disciples to touch him (Luke 24:39)

d) Since our bodies are to be made like Christ's body (Phil 320-21), our bodies too will be invisible and ubiquitous - is there anyone dull enough to believe this?

e) And some, like Eutychianism (and Servetus) have erred by compounding the two natures (human and divine) - a heresy ccondemned by the ecumenical councils of the church. "But from Scripture we plainly infer that the one person of Christ so consists of two natures that each nevertheless retains unimpaired its own distinctive character." (4.17.30).

Once again, Calvin insists that our communion with the body and blood of Christ in the Supper is in heaven - something made possible by "the secret working (energy) of the Spirit.