Posted on 09/17/2013 8:25:21 PM PDT by jodyel
"Unless You Eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and Drink His Blood You Have No Life In You"
Are these words of Jesus from John 6:53 to be taken literally or figuratively? The Roman Catholic Church teaches the context of John chapter six and the above headlined verse 53 are literal. Thus Jesus is giving absolute and unconditional requirements for eternal life. In fact, this literal interpretation forms the foundation for Rome's doctrine of transubstantiation -- the miraculous changing of bread and wine into the living Christ, His body and blood, soul and divinity. Each Catholic priest is said to have the power to call Jesus down from the right hand of the Father when he elevates the wafer and whispers the words "Hoc corpus meus est." Catholics believe as they consume the lifeless wafer they are actually eating and drinking the living body and blood of Jesus Christ. This is a vital and important step in their salvation and a doctrine they must believe and accept to become a Catholic.
If priests indeed have the exclusive power to change finite bread and wine into the body and blood of the infinite Christ, and if indeed consuming His body and blood is necessary for salvation, then the whole world must become Catholic to escape the wrath of God. On the other hand, if Jesus was speaking in figurative language then this teaching becomes the most blasphemous and deceptive hoax any religion could impose on its people. There is no middle ground. Therefore the question of utmost importance is -- Was the message Jesus conveyed to the Jewish multitude to be understood as literal or figurative? Rome has never presented a good argument for defending its literal interpretation. Yet there are at least seven convincing reasons why this passage must be taken figuratively.
Counterfeit Miracle
There is no Biblical precedent where something supernatural occurred where the outward evidence indicated no miracle had taken place. (The wafer and wine look, taste and feel the same before and after the supposed miracle of transubstantion). When Jesus changed water into wine, all the elements of water changed into the actual elements of wine.
Drinking Blood Forbidden
The Law of Moses strictly forbade Jews from drinking blood (Leviticus 17:10-14) A literal interpretation would have Jesus teaching the Jews to disobey the Mosaic Law. This would have been enough cause to persecute Jesus. (See John 5:16)
Biblical Disharmony
When John 6:53 is interpreted literally it is in disharmony with the rest of the Bible. "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you," gives no hope of eternal life to any Christian who has not consumed the literal body and blood of Christ. It opposes hundreds of Scriptures that declare justification and salvation are by faith alone in Christ.
Produces Dilemma
It appears that the "eating and drinking" in verse 6:54 and the "believing" in verse 6:40 produce the same result - eternal life. If both are literal we have a dilemma. What if a person "believes" but does not "eat or drink"? Or what if a person "eats and drinks" but does not "believe?" This could happen any time a non-believer walked into a Catholic Church and received the Eucharist. Does this person have eternal life because he met one of the requirements but not the other? The only possible way to harmonize these two verses is to accept one verse as figurative and one as literal.
Figurative In Old Testament
The Jews were familiar with "eating and drinking" being used figuratively in the Old Testament to describe the appropriation of divine blessings to one's innermost being. It was God's way of providing spiritual nourishment for the soul. (See Jeremiah 15:16; Isaiah 55:1-3; and Ezekiel 2:8, 3:1)
Jesus Confirmed
Jesus informed His disciples there were times when He spoke figuratively (John 16:25) and often used that type of language to describe Himself. The Gospel of John records seven figurative declarations Jesus made of Himself -- "the bread of life" (6:48), "the light of the world" (8:12), "the door" (10:9), "the good shepherd" (10:11), "the resurrection and the life" (11:25), "the way, the truth and the life" (14:6), and "the true vine" (15:1). He also referred to His body as the temple (2:19).
Words Were Spiritual
Jesus ended this teaching by revealing "the words I have spoken to you are spirit" (6:63). As with each of the seven miracles in John's Gospel, Jesus uses the miracle to convey a spiritual truth. Here Jesus has just multiplied the loaves and fish and uses a human analogy to teach the necessity of spiritual nourishment. This is consistent with His teaching on how we are to worship God. "God is Spirit and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). As we worship Christ He is present spiritually, not physically. In fact, Jesus can only be bodily present at one place at one time. His omnipresence refers only to His spirit. It is impossible for Christ to be bodily present in thousands of Catholic Churches around the world.
When Jesus is received spiritually, one time in the heart, there is no need to receive him physically,
Move along...
...nothing to see here. Only HAPPY attacks will be made by N.
And, quite unscriptural.
They've soon forgotten how well it worked for MORMONs!
How are you a Catholic spokesperson? Why should anyone pay attention to your mocking pictures?
“Unless you believe Christ was really eating and drinking His own body, and was lying when He called the cup, after the prayer, “the fruit of the vine,” then we’re forced to side with Tertullian against transubstantiation.”
Where does it say that Christ ate and drank?
Matthew 26:26-29
26 Now as they were eating,[a] Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
There is little about a Roman mass that isn’t blasphemous. Scripture promises that one day Mystery Babylon will fall.
But what worries me the most, is where am i going to end up
John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Well thanks for the good words and fair speech but the fact remains; the bible your religion claims for its own condemns the very religion that makes that claim; yours...
40,000 Denominations??? Last I heard it was 61,000...What will you use when that one wears out? we all wear different style shoes???
I was asking our Catholic friend. I am betting we share the same basis for salvation.
How was Mary a virgin if Jesus’ line to David was through Joseph?
Indeed you are correct. Part of the reason I comment on some of these R.C.C. threads is that I have many relatives (and friends) trapped in Romanism. And I have a real burden for them. I care about the people, but I loathe their system because I know it is a false damning system that blasphemes my Lord and Savior and undercuts the truth of His gospel. I know it’s an admixture of ancient paganism, bold lies, and heresy that contains just enough truth to attract poor unsuspecting sinners.
I fear greatly for one particular uncle who is in his late 80’s and closing in on his last days. He is a thoroughly decent man by the standards of this world — loving husband and father, upright and moral, helps others, successful businessman, veteran, friendly and kind, but at the same time he is hopelessly lost. He has broken off fellowship with his own daughter because after God graciously saved her she began to witness to him. He simply refuses to even listen to the truth. In fact, he hates the truth. The only real ugliness she has ever seen come from her father is over this one issue. She has said that in his mind leaving Rome would be a betrayal of his own parents and grandparents. He cannot stand the thought that his loved ones might be in hell, so he rationalizes his own standing before God. It’s all so sad. He won’t entertain the idea all those people he loved might have been very wrong and that they led him astray. In his eyes Rome appears so grand and glorious and the popes and priests appear so nice and pious. But not one time has he ever seriously searched the Scriptures to see if their claims were so. He has foolishly put his faith in the false claims of others. He does what so many here do. Regardless of the issue, he falls back on the Catholic position without giving due consideration to another view. If Rome says it, then it must be true.
Satan is a master deceiver!
You illustrate your point well.
I’m wondering: Is there anyone here who hasn’t heard all these arguments at least twice?
Read Luke which is Mary's genealogy. Mary's bloodline is also to David. The father can be a Gentile but if the mother is Jewish legally the child was considered Jewish in the Temple IIRC. Case in point Paul was Jewish but also a Roman citizen because his father was a Gentile {Roman}. Luke gives Mary's genealogy for Temple purposes. Matthew gave Joseph's genealogy for Tax purposes.
You are completely mistaken.
Posting of scripture is constantly called anti-catholic hate, especially in recent weeks. It is becoming more and more common here.
As for your question, Yehova’s commandments specifically limit what kinds of “flesh” we can eat, and that of a human is not allowed.
Actually, most catholics know that eating his flesh is purely figurative; its just the rabid deceivers that argue otherwise.
Thank you so much for your honesty. Regards,
smvoice
“Many are called; few are chosen.”
The One true Church and how to recognize it.
Use this Scriptural guideline as a measure...
*It was founded by Jesus Christ Himself in Mt 16:18.
*It would be built on Simon Peter, Mt 16:18.
*It would be defended by GOD Himself, Mt 16:18-19.
*It would have authority given by Jesus Christ, Mt 16:19,18:17-18.
*It would be guided by the Holy Spirit who will dwell within it, Jn 14:15-17, Act 15:28,16:6.
*It would be one and undivided, Mk 3:24-25.
*It would have one fold and one shepherd, Jn 10:16.
*It would have Priests, Bishops, and Deacons, 1Tim 3:1-13.
*It must have the Holy Eucharist celebration, Jn 6:42-70, Acts 2:42.
*It must be found in all nations, Mt 28:19.
*It must be found in all centuries, Mt 28:20.
*Jesus Christ said He would be with His Church every day, in every year, until the end of the world, Mt 28:20. (This means no gaps in time.)
“Just as I am..”
I rarely come on these threads, but few things confirm my faith more than the hysterical fracturing and destruction of those who are atheist.
The killing of a couple of hundred million people in one 75 year cycle as the communists (yep, they were atheist) did when they forced atheism on their subjects ought to give you some pause to rethink.......
And then, there's always that fine (atheist) construct known as Obamacare, or most any other leftist (atheist) construct that seems to destroy anything good.
Atheism destroys the human spirit as well and as fully as radical Islam
LOL
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