When we take the bread and drink from the cup we partake of the body and blood of Christ, which means that we share in his suffering and death for our salvation. 'Sharing' in this case does not mean suffering and dying along with Christ in a literal sense, but participating in and benefiting from the spiritual meaning of his atoning sacrifice. ... They [bread and wine] are earthly means used to represent spiritual realities but are not transformed into them. (The Faith We Confess, 163 & 164)