Replies

“There is nothing in Christian antiquity that suggests the early Christians believed Holy Communion (the Eucharistic “body” and “blood”) was merely symbolic. Indeed, the burden of proof falls on the Protestants when they say otherwise. “

The wording in the Bible is clear. It is a remembrance until He comes again. It doesn’t turn into anything. It doesn’t bestow any “extra” grace.

“There is nothing in Christian antiquity that suggests the early Christians believed Holy Communion (the Eucharistic “body” and “blood”) was merely symbolic. Indeed, the burden of proof falls on the Protestants when they say otherwise. “

The wording in the Bible is clear. It is a remembrance until He comes again. It doesn’t turn into anything. It doesn’t bestow any “extra” grace.

Yep. I strongly support YOPIOS on my part because my relationship is with Jesus. I don’t interpret it in a vacuum. In fact, as I read the perspective of others on the Word of God, I sometimes change my position as I more thoroughly study a subject. e.g. I went from pre-trib to “mid trib”, or believing the bible teaches, regarding the lost in eternity, annihilation over eternal suffering.

John 6 "51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum."

It cannot get any clearer than this. The Holy Eucharist is indeed Jesus's actual flesh. Nothing symbolic. And it doesn't bestow "extra grace," but rather it bestows life itself.

The wording in the Bible is clear.

I agree!

This is my Body; this is my Blood. DO THIS!

You can't get any clearer than that.

A "symbolic meaning" is a new doctrine to Christianity, less than 500 years old, which was held by nobody prior to the 16th century Reformation other than those the early Christians considered heterodox (heretics).

“The wording in the Bible is clear...”

Why do Catholics and other denominations have closed Communion? Each person is to decide for himself if he is worthy to take Communion.

1 Corinthians 11:27-31
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.