That's funny coming from a religious doctrine that admits it is not according to Scripture. Well that and the fact that bread & wine have absolutely noting to do with forgiveness & salvation.
RC doctrine neither supports or even attempts to follow the Melchizedek Priesthood which is the blue print for the earthly Levitical Priesthood. Now I know they use the book of Hebrews to support their doctrine however, in Hebrews 8:7, the word covenant is not in the original Greek text. Going back to verse 4 for context, what does verse 7 mean when one reads it according to its original form before Roman Catholicism, who had control over the translations, got their dirty, greedy hands on it
4 Now if he were on earth, he wouldn't be a cohen(Priest) at all, since there already are cohanim offering the gifts required by the Torah. 5 But what they are serving is only a copy and shadow of the heavenly original; for when Moshe was about to erect the Tent, God warned him, “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern you were shown on the mountain.” 6 But now the work Yeshua has been given to do is far superior to theirs, just as the covenant he mediates is better. For this covenant has been given as Torah on the basis of better promises. 7 Indeed, if the first had not given ground for faultfinding, there would have been no need for a second one.
Hebrews is about the Priesthood above. The Aaronic(Levitical) Priesthood was established by Moshe on earth according to Melchizedek Priesthood of the Kingdom of the Father in Heaven. Man screwed it up, so YHVH took over and ordained a new High Priest that will live forever.
The Melchizedek Priesthood has been from the beginning and will continue to live forever having all authority over forgiveness of sin. Or did you think Adam & Eve knew to teach their children about sacrifices to YHVH out of some carnal revelation they had centuries before the Levitical Priesthood was established on earth?
Gen 14 Melchizedek...priest of God Most High
Hebrews 5:6 As He also says in another place: “ You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek”
is a quote from
Psalm 110:4 The LORD has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
The fact that you haven't even opened the bible to read & study the origins of the Melchizedek Priesthood, but are content to take all your talking points from RC doctrine that didn't exist in the 1st century let alone before the beginning of all creation, is my cue to bid you farewell & God bless.
You are so wrong. Christ is prefigured in Melchizedek. The offering of bread and wine is the bread and wine of the Eucharist.
But lets gets back to post 163. Why do you not accept the clear words of Scripture?
First, I know these conversations are challenging. The bottom line is that we are all seeking the Truth, and we believe we have the truth. I look to these sorts of conversations to challenge beliefs and have my beliefs challenged. Makes us all stronger. I do try to keep all of my questions and arguments in Scripture.
Paul wrote to Timothy -"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim 3:14-15
This was written to Timothy, and Timothy was born in 17 AD Therefore, the Scripture Timothy knew from infancy and what Paul is referring to is The Old Testament. The New Testament wasn't written at the time of Timothy’s infancy. Paul was telling Timothy to become convinced that Christ was the Savior through Scripture.
All that said, bread and wine has everything to do with forgivness and salvation. Christ died to forgive our sins. He established His Church, established his priesthood in the order of Melchizedek that consecrates the bread and wine that becomes the literal Body and Blood of Christ. When Christ says "This is My Body" we don't need to debate what the meaning of the the 'is' is.
All in the clear and plain words of Scripture, for those who care to open their hearts and mind.