Replies

You should look to scripture for the answer. Verse 60 IS meant to be taken literally!!! The concept is too difficult for them to accept, and they lack faith, so they leave. Which is exactly why Christ continues to explain in the rest of the chapter. Elsewhere, scripture makes clear that to receive the Eucharist unworthily is to drink damnation to himself. 1 Corinthians 11: 26‑30- For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

This is also intended quite literally. For how can one be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord by engaging in merely a symbolic act.

This makes clear the need for confession for grave sin (i.e. violation of 10 commandments), true sorrow for our sins, penance, and forgiveness.

Thus, all of your other concerns regarding faith and conditions to be saved, are addressed.

The rest of your questions are simply the same as those expressed in verse 60, and you are unwilling to accept the words of Christ.

Your theology makes no sense.

Do you follow Jewish dietary laws? No? Because we are no longer in that dispensation.

Grave sin? Is there any other kind? One sin will put you into eternal damnation without faith in Christ. How more grave do you need it?

The disciples found his teaching to be difficult to accept because of lack of faith? You are writing an interpolation. It doesn't say that. They couldn't UNDERSTAND the metaphor, which Christ had to explain, thus, repeating the normal pattern in which Christ had to explain because he spoke in parables so that the religious leaders could not understand.

As for 1 Cor 11- the Lord tells the purpose for the supper: to remember and show His death. It isn't a salvation issue.

Eating the supper unworthy, what does that mean? What standard do you ascribe to it? What standard could it be for broken sinners? There are only two possibilities: (1) non-Christians, and (2) unrepentant sinners.