Metmom, can you tell me what these mean?
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12
Or this?
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21
Or this?
Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:54
We are saved judicially and seated in heaven with Christ Jesus. It’s a done deal.
While here on earth, we still need to be conformed into the image of Christ here on earth.
When you buy a new car, the car is yours. You still need to learn all the intricacies of that particular vehicle so that you can drive it efficiently, without being distracted about how to turn on the a/c or wipers, so the driving it becomes second nature, so to speak.
And Jesus tells us, right here following verse 54, that He's speaking of SPIRITUAL realities, not physical ones.
The SPIRIT gives life, not eating physical bread. The flesh is no help at all.
Jesus cannot contradict the Law. He came to fulfill it, not abolish it and the Law very specifically prohibits in strong language, the consumption of blood, especially the blood of the sacrifices. The blood is for atonement. It is to be poured out for that, not consumed.
Not to mention that the Catholic church in its catechism, calls the sacrifice of the mass an *unbloody* sacrifice. Well, an *unbloody sacrifice* is no sacrifice at all and cannot atone for sin because there's no blood.