Many are confused by how Anglicanism staunchly upholds justification by faith alone, and yet, our liturgy seems to be pleading the Father’s mercy as though our justification is actually obtained by the Eucharist itself as a sacrifice:

“… grant, that by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ, and through faith in his blood, we and all thy whole Church may obtain remission of our sins, and all other benefits of his passion…”

“Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood.”

“The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee, preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.”

From Thomas Cranmer’s writings, it is abundantly clear that he did not intend the liturgy to be understood as itself purchasing our forgiveness or justification, so what did he mean by these words? Two things.

First, for those who already have faith in Jesus, the liturgy offers us assurance. Cranmer believed that by faith, even without taking the Eucharist, we perpetually are eating and drinking Christ’s body and blood (this idea is expressed in liturgy for the Communion of the Sick). Thus, the liturgy is not saying that we previously were not eating and drinking Christ and now are, rather, it is assuring us that by faith we always have been. (The difference is that outside of the Eucharist we do not sacramentally feed on Christ). Therefore, the liturgy is not saying that we are now forgiven because of taking the Eucharist, but rather is assuring us of our forgiveness in the taking of it. Overall, this sense of the Eucharist is that it is re-assuring for believers.

Second, the liturgy serves as an “altar call” for those who do not as yet have a living faith in Jesus and is therefore also evangelistic. Through the liturgy’s proclamation of the Law (which convicts us of sin), the sermon’s (if it’s done right!!) preaching of the Gospel, and the Eucharist’s proclamation of Christ’s sacrificial death and the forgiveness it purchased, those in attendance are being drawn to come to Jesus in faith for their forgiveness and the liturgy expresses that. This rehearsal of the story of our faith (conviction of sin, hearing about Jesus, coming to Him in faith, being justified) also benefits believers by reminding them of their faith in Christ, which refreshes them.

The Eucharistic liturgy therefore benefits us in that it benefits our faith. It reassures us of the justification wrought by our faith. It evangelistically brings us to a saving faith. And it refreshes our faith. There is therefore no tension between its beneficial nature and justification by faith alone.