Quote
1) Is the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper only for the Assurred and if so isn't this perspective a bit of an oxymoron - because do the assured really require such a strengthening of their faith since they are already "assurred? I guess I may be simplifying, but aren't we complicating the L.S. if we say we must know we are a true child to partake of it - aren't we leaving out those with weak faith to whom the sacrament should be a great help! It's almost a catch-22, don't come up if you are not truely called - but you need to come up despite your own insecurities and sinfully cloudy self-perception.

I guess I'm having conflict between assurance of inner righteousness vs. looking outside one's self for Christ's righteousness.

AC, I would say that the answer to question 81 of the HC is the answer to this question of yours. The requirement is not a certain level of assurance. Scripture speaks of different measures of faith given to God's children but the measure of faith that one received is not the requirement either. The LS is instituted For those who are truly sorrowful for their sins, and yet trust that these are forgiven them for the sake of Christ; and that their remaining infirmities are covered by his passion and death; and who also earnestly desire to have their faith more and more strengthened, and their lives more holy;. We therefore participate in the Lord's Supper not because we regard ourselves as perfect or to be without sin but rather because we look to find our life in Christ and not in ourselves.

Johan