Do you view Holy Communion as Literal or Symbolic?
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it is not what I think it is what Jesus said it was and why to eat and drink of that bread and that come. So Simple
Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
There are important things to remember in context to the meal on this night seen in the word of God
1. When said this is my Body and blood HE was there with them in Body and in HIS body. Therefore the bread and wine could not be literal is had to be symbolic.
in Matthew 26:26-28 Jesus said:
Matthew 26:26-28
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
This Bread and Wine could not be literal because Jesus had not even endured the Cross and died. His blood had not yet been poured out.
all the Gospels and paul account in 1cor chapter 15 say it was to be done in remembrance. Jesus is the one who died and suffered on the cross not the bread nor the wine. Jesus said to do this in remembrance of what HE was about to do on that night when he was betrayed and taken.
the doctrine of Transubstantiation of the RCC is a false Doctrine.
Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
There are important things to remember in context to the meal on this night seen in the word of God
1. When said this is my Body and blood HE was there with them in Body and in HIS body. Therefore the bread and wine could not be literal is had to be symbolic.
in Matthew 26:26-28 Jesus said:
Matthew 26:26-28
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
This Bread and Wine could not be literal because Jesus had not even endured the Cross and died. His blood had not yet been poured out.
all the Gospels and paul account in 1cor chapter 15 say it was to be done in remembrance. Jesus is the one who died and suffered on the cross not the bread nor the wine. Jesus said to do this in remembrance of what HE was about to do on that night when he was betrayed and taken.
the doctrine of Transubstantiation of the RCC is a false Doctrine.
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P
Just to put another view on the table...
For as long as passover had been celebrated the bread and wine had been traditional and considered part of the feast directed by commandment.
Now notice that there is no mutton mentioned (lamb) which is also part of the feast.
Now these items are prepared a certain way . Used a certain way. Looked upon as a memorial from deliverance out of egypt. It is a sedar.
So now jesus points to the bread and explains its real meaning. Its prophetic meaning.
The same way with the wine. Which is new.
The bread is unleavend it is striped and holes are poked through it. 3 pieces are placed in a napkin in a row.
The middle piece is broken and wraped in a napkin and hidden and so on.
In short Jesus explains the sedar to his followers... then ask them to remember him and this night when they partake again .
For as long as passover had been celebrated the bread and wine had been traditional and considered part of the feast directed by commandment.
Now notice that there is no mutton mentioned (lamb) which is also part of the feast.
Now these items are prepared a certain way . Used a certain way. Looked upon as a memorial from deliverance out of egypt. It is a sedar.
So now jesus points to the bread and explains its real meaning. Its prophetic meaning.
The same way with the wine. Which is new.
The bread is unleavend it is striped and holes are poked through it. 3 pieces are placed in a napkin in a row.
The middle piece is broken and wraped in a napkin and hidden and so on.
In short Jesus explains the sedar to his followers... then ask them to remember him and this night when they partake again .
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Not only Catholics, but also Orthodox Christians, Lutherans and some Anglicans believe in the Real Presence of Christ in Holy Communion. And many Evangelical Christians are increasingly considering the possibility that the Historic Church got it right.
If we actually believed we received the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ on our lips from the Altar every Sunday or even daily, as often as we received Jesus into our hearts in Holy Communion, with what devotion we would worship! Imho, it is the solution to some of the closed and empty churches we see in parts of the world today, like in Europe. Rediscovering the Power of Christ's Blood in Holy Communion. The Lord's Word is Very Clear: His Flesh is Food indeed, and His Blood is Drink indeed. Whoever eats of it lives by Him.
Can those who believe Holy Communion is just a symbol explain 1 Corinthians 11? Here it is in the KJV:
"23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
St. Paul the Apostle here teaches us that:
(1) If we eat the Bread and drink the Cup unworthily, we are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. How is that possible if Communion is just a symbol? If I tear up a picture of your wife - which is just a symbol - am I guilty of the blood of your wife? Clearly not. It was just a symbol. In my opinion, therefore, 1 Cor 11:27 is a Strong Proof that Holy Communion is the Literal Blood of Jesus.
(2) Secondly, in verse 29, the Apostle plainly teaches us what we must do: we must discern the Lord's Body by faith in God's Word. A Medieval Christian Theologian St. Thomas Aquinas said: "I believe everything the Son of God has said; nothing is truer than Truth's own Word". His point was we don't go by sight or taste or touch or smell etc here, but only by what God said "This is My Body".
Even Martin Luther used a similar argument in a Public Disputation with one of the other Reformers. I believe it was Calvin or Zwingli.
When God said "Let there be Light", immediately Light was made. When God says "This is My Body", it immediately changes into His Body. He then gave His Apostles the Command and the Power to do the same in His Name until the end of time when He returns.
Also, why should it be thought incredible, that God can change Wine into Blood? Didn't He change water into wine at Cana?
Finally, the Real Presence has sometimes been confirmed by miracles to "doubting Thomases", just like the Resurrection was. Even Atheistic Scientists have become believers in the Lord Jesus upon seeing these miracles. More on that here: http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/lanciano.html
God Bless.
If we actually believed we received the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ on our lips from the Altar every Sunday or even daily, as often as we received Jesus into our hearts in Holy Communion, with what devotion we would worship! Imho, it is the solution to some of the closed and empty churches we see in parts of the world today, like in Europe. Rediscovering the Power of Christ's Blood in Holy Communion. The Lord's Word is Very Clear: His Flesh is Food indeed, and His Blood is Drink indeed. Whoever eats of it lives by Him.
Can those who believe Holy Communion is just a symbol explain 1 Corinthians 11? Here it is in the KJV:
"23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body."
St. Paul the Apostle here teaches us that:
(1) If we eat the Bread and drink the Cup unworthily, we are guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. How is that possible if Communion is just a symbol? If I tear up a picture of your wife - which is just a symbol - am I guilty of the blood of your wife? Clearly not. It was just a symbol. In my opinion, therefore, 1 Cor 11:27 is a Strong Proof that Holy Communion is the Literal Blood of Jesus.
(2) Secondly, in verse 29, the Apostle plainly teaches us what we must do: we must discern the Lord's Body by faith in God's Word. A Medieval Christian Theologian St. Thomas Aquinas said: "I believe everything the Son of God has said; nothing is truer than Truth's own Word". His point was we don't go by sight or taste or touch or smell etc here, but only by what God said "This is My Body".
Even Martin Luther used a similar argument in a Public Disputation with one of the other Reformers. I believe it was Calvin or Zwingli.
When God said "Let there be Light", immediately Light was made. When God says "This is My Body", it immediately changes into His Body. He then gave His Apostles the Command and the Power to do the same in His Name until the end of time when He returns.
Also, why should it be thought incredible, that God can change Wine into Blood? Didn't He change water into wine at Cana?
Finally, the Real Presence has sometimes been confirmed by miracles to "doubting Thomases", just like the Resurrection was. Even Atheistic Scientists have become believers in the Lord Jesus upon seeing these miracles. More on that here: http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/lanciano.html
God Bless.
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UPDATE
There is a move of the Spirit going on here Brother - just a little while ago we had a knock at the door.
Another Samuel showed up who is from Chabad and we invited him in as he invited us to a Chabad Pesach Dinner.
TWO Samuels and both were genuine and warm to our Spirit in the Lord as i spoke of Elohim who is Light and that both Jew and Gentile are made in the image of Elohim.
So i mentioned Isaiah - "a Light unto the Gentiles" and he did not shy away - beautiful.
Wish you were here - AND you are here in Spirit - Thank You for offering up prayer.
TWO Samuels in one week !!!
There is a move of the Spirit going on here Brother - just a little while ago we had a knock at the door.
Another Samuel showed up who is from Chabad and we invited him in as he invited us to a Chabad Pesach Dinner.
TWO Samuels and both were genuine and warm to our Spirit in the Lord as i spoke of Elohim who is Light and that both Jew and Gentile are made in the image of Elohim.
So i mentioned Isaiah - "a Light unto the Gentiles" and he did not shy away - beautiful.
Wish you were here - AND you are here in Spirit - Thank You for offering up prayer.
TWO Samuels in one week !!!
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It is possible because, as a symbol, the Lord said do this in remembrance of ME = Not because it is ME.
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me?
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the Lord, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.
But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me?
You misinterpret the line, Do this in remembrance of Me. Jesus gave his early Apostles/Disciples/Church a number of commissions, for instance to baptize and to spread the gospel. At the last supper, Jesus gives his Apostles/Disciples/Church the commission of continuing to do what Jesus did at the last supper.
What exactly did Jesus do? He changed the bread and wine into His body and blood. "This is MY Body and this is My Blood" Note that Jesus didn't say that this is a symbol of His Body and Blood. And He's commissioning His followers/Church to continue changing bread and wine into His body and blood in remembrance of what Jesus did at the last supper.
How can Jesus change bread and wine into His body and His blood while He is sitting there? No problem, Jesus is God. How can Jesus give the commission of continuing this Holy Communion to his followers? No problem, Jesus is God.
So the early followers and followers today continue to follow Jesus command and change bread and wine into His body and blood, in remembrance of Jesus command to do so.
But not to worry. If you and your church/denomination only believes Holy Communion to be symbolic, then that's all it is. A lot of denominations don't even practice the Lord's Supper at their worship services any more, they don't believe in it. Sort of a New Age religion for, as I said, during the first 1600 years of Christianity there was no question as to the authenticity of Jesus manifestation of the initiation of the New Covenant with the changing of bread and wine into His body and Blood.
Sorry, but you interpret the word remembrance in order to twist the meaning of what Jesus is doing and commanding at the last supper.
What exactly did Jesus do? He changed the bread and wine into His body and blood. "This is MY Body and this is My Blood" Note that Jesus didn't say that this is a symbol of His Body and Blood. And He's commissioning His followers/Church to continue changing bread and wine into His body and blood in remembrance of what Jesus did at the last supper.
How can Jesus change bread and wine into His body and His blood while He is sitting there? No problem, Jesus is God. How can Jesus give the commission of continuing this Holy Communion to his followers? No problem, Jesus is God.
So the early followers and followers today continue to follow Jesus command and change bread and wine into His body and blood, in remembrance of Jesus command to do so.
But not to worry. If you and your church/denomination only believes Holy Communion to be symbolic, then that's all it is. A lot of denominations don't even practice the Lord's Supper at their worship services any more, they don't believe in it. Sort of a New Age religion for, as I said, during the first 1600 years of Christianity there was no question as to the authenticity of Jesus manifestation of the initiation of the New Covenant with the changing of bread and wine into His body and Blood.
Sorry, but you interpret the word remembrance in order to twist the meaning of what Jesus is doing and commanding at the last supper.
NOPE - No such thing as transubstantiation in the Scripture.
Transubstantiation is a Roman catholic pagan belief/practice.
In a direct correction from the LORD on this very subject HE says: "the flesh profits nothing"
"These words I speak they are Spirit and they are Life." = Read all of John ch6
You will never absorb Jesus into your body thru the flesh.
"Do this in remembrance of ME" = faith in His words is the Spirit Life.
Transubstantiation is a Roman catholic pagan belief/practice.
Mithra's bishops wore a mithra, or miter, as their badge of office. Christian bishops also adopted miters. Mithraists commemorated the sun-god's ascension by eating a mizd, a sun-shaped bun embossed with the sword (cross) of Mithra. The hot cross bun and the mass were likewise adapted to Christianity. The Roman Catholic mizd/mass wafer continues to retain its sun-shape, although its Episcopal counterpart does not.
All Roman Emperors from Julius Caesar to Gratian had been pontifex maximus, high priest of the Roman gods. When Theodosius refused the title as incompatible with his status as a Christian, the Christian bishop of Rome picked it up. Magi, priests of Zarathustra, wore robes that featured the sword of Mithra. Identical robes are worn by Christian priests to this day.--William Harwood, Mythology's Last Gods: Yahweh and Jesus, Promethius Books (1992)
In a direct correction from the LORD on this very subject HE says: "the flesh profits nothing"
"These words I speak they are Spirit and they are Life." = Read all of John ch6
You will never absorb Jesus into your body thru the flesh.
"Do this in remembrance of ME" = faith in His words is the Spirit Life.
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As I said, for the first 1600 years of Christianity, in all the Christian Churches, they believed in the real change in the bread and wine, not a symbolic change. These believers included the early apostles/disciples/followers of Christ. This belief is pretty clear in the Scriptures. The good news is, if you don't want to believe this then you don't have to and Communion becomes nothing but a symbol for you. Not too much more to be said.
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How does Jesus flesh taste? Great question. Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem and Bethlehem means 'House of Bread'. And Jesus proclaimed to be the 'True Bread' from heaven, so, in the Communion bread, Jesus tastes like bread.
Why do you think that Jesus makes so many references to being the True Bread from heaven? There are so many such references. Here's one you'll like:
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever John 6:51-58 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
Why do you think that Jesus makes so many references to being the True Bread from heaven? There are so many such references. Here's one you'll like:
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever John 6:51-58 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
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Beckie, Jesus explained to the Jewish crowd that those who ate the manna died. Then He went on to say, " “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate manna and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many of the Jews who heard this completely understood what Jesus was saying. They muttered to themselves, how can He give us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink? It was a hard saying and most of the crowd left and returned home.
Unfortunately, so many of today's Christians don't believe Jesus' words either. How can this Man give us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink?
Many of the Jews who heard this completely understood what Jesus was saying. They muttered to themselves, how can He give us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink? It was a hard saying and most of the crowd left and returned home.
Unfortunately, so many of today's Christians don't believe Jesus' words either. How can this Man give us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink?
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