Do you view Holy Communion as Literal or Symbolic?

crossnote · Apr 30, 2022

Luke 22:19 (KJV) And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Luke 22:20 (KJV) Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (KJV) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

ResidentAlien · May 1, 2022

I don't view it as either. "Holy Communion" is used by Catholics as another way of saying the Eucharist. Neither is Biblical and therefore isn't valid, either literally or symbolically.

Pilgrimshope · May 2, 2022

XavierJesusLovesIndia said:

it’s faith faith isn’t symbolic or literal it’s based upon belief

if I’m taking communion and believe as Corinthians 10 speaks it then In faith I am communing with the body and blood of the lord.

remember in the ot they kept sacrificing new sacrifices each time ? Every day ? With Christ it’s a one time sacrifice and we on our end continually are partaking of the sacrifice through communion

it’s why we should examine our lives , confess our sins before partaking of communion it’s a continual sacrifice for our sins we partake continually and not as the ot where a new animal is sacrificed each time and his flesh eaten

through Christ we have communion feasts to partake of the eternal sacrifice of his body and blood

some think anything God said to do is some sort of ritual really it’s faith we hear and obey

Pilgrimshope · May 2, 2022

crossnote said:

Amen !

No one could know and believe this without hearing and believing the gospel

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

if we hear the message from God and accept it as true it means what it says but not if we reject it’s meaning

“I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?

The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:15-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It’s one of the things that makes Christians one in the body of Christ we partake of his body and blood it’s a church foundation

“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.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:26-29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

if we believe this part it becomes faith and acting in faith when we partake

“as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”

but if we decide that parts not true communion is a ritual ect ….it’s never going to mean anything being according to faith. Everything in the gospel is like that we have to hear about it and then understand what it means then faith will move us to act upon it

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,

and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38‬ ‭

if I heard and believed that it’s faith to act if I reject it and say “ repentance and baptism doesn’t have anything to do with it “ it’s not faith to act in it

if I believe communion is what the Bible says it is it’s an act of faith for my life when I partake of communion and his sacrifice until he comes faith is where it all matters and that only comes from hearing the truth about these matters believing

What the Bible says things are is proper faith to hear and believe and then act upon those things we learn and come to understand like this

“as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”

I can hear this and let it be the lords word and true , or I can reject it and explain a different thing it means

faith is when we can accept the word

Pilgrimshope · May 2, 2022

Pilgrimshope said:

Amen !

No one could know and believe this without hearing and believing the gospel

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:16-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

if we hear the message from God and accept it as true it means what it says but not if we reject it’s meaning

“I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?

The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:15-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

It’s one of the things that makes Christians one in the body of Christ we partake of his body and blood it’s a church foundation

“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.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:26-29‬ ‭KJV‬‬

if we believe this part it becomes faith and acting in faith when we partake

“as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”

but if we decide that parts not true communion is a ritual ect ….it’s never going to mean anything being according to faith. Everything in the gospel is like that we have to hear about it and then understand what it means then faith will move us to act upon it

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins,

and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:38‬ ‭

if I heard and believed that it’s faith to act if I reject it and say “ repentance and baptism doesn’t have anything to do with it “ it’s not faith to act in it

if I believe communion is what the Bible says it is it’s an act of faith for my life when I partake of communion and his sacrifice until he comes faith is where it all matters and that only comes from hearing the truth about these matters believing

What the Bible says things are is proper faith to hear and believe and then act upon those things we learn and come to understand like this

“as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.”

I can hear this and let it be the lords word and true , or I can reject it and explain a different thing it means

faith is when we can accept the word

to simplify a non believer could be forced to partake of communion every day and it isn’t going to matter for them because it’s not faith .

a believer who hears what communion is for and what it means willingly partakes because it’s part of the faith walk we do this person is going to benefit because his partaking of the body and blood of the lords sacrifice is of faith he hears about communion and partakes because he believes in the death of Jesus for his sins , resurrection of Jesus for his justification so when he acts his conscience is affected . And so he acts in the doctrine given of the lord and is blessed and conscience confirmed

the non believer doesn’t benefit even if forced to partake of baptism or communion or whatever else it’s believers who act that benefit

crossnote · May 2, 2022

Pilgrimshope said:

and even believers can partake in an unworthy manner to their detriment...

(1Co 11:27) Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.
(1Co 11:28) Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
(1Co 11:29) For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

Journeyman · May 2, 2022

The bread and wine are literally symbolic when people see Christ in us. Communion is Christ in us. Heb.11 is good, because it shows the exploits of the saints who had Christ leading them.

Pilgrimshope · May 3, 2022

crossnote said:

yes amen , we need to take these things seriously because God does. And start really examining our own life and how we’re living we’re looking to become like this in truth

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

‬‬we want to live as if the things Jesus taught in the gospel are our laws and ways and really take them seriously

seed_time_harvest · May 3, 2022

XavierJesusLovesIndia said:

In the Gospel, the Lord says, we will live by Him if we eat His Flesh and drink His Blood. Later on, when instituting Holy Communion at the Last Supper, He said, "This is My Body" and "For this is My blood of the New Covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt 26:28). Literal? Symbolic?

Here is the Bread of Life Discourse in John Ch. 6: "

48 I am that bread of life.

49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever."

Whenever I take communion I view It as symbolic of the body and blood of JESUS.🙂

BeeThePeace · May 3, 2022

Symbolic.
Though I knew a very devout Catholic who believed it to be literal. They also Nieves Jesus literally embodied their priest when he gave the homily.

Everyone's unique I guess.

GRACE_ambassador · May 3, 2022

BeeThePeace said:

Precious friend, A Very Warm Welcome to Chat.

Please Be Very RICHLY Encouraged, Enlightened, Exhorted, And Edified In
The LORD JESUS CHRIST, And In His Word Of Truth, Rightly Divided!

God's Simple Will!

Journeyman · May 3, 2022

Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of...Mt.10:39

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Phil.3:10

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them...Act.5:40

crossnote · May 3, 2022

Pilgrimshope said:

yes amen , we need to take these things seriously because God does. And start really examining our own life and how we’re living we’re looking to become like this in truth

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

‬‬we want to live as if the things Jesus taught in the gospel are our laws and ways and really take them seriously

Romans 2:4b KJV
[4] not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

BeeThePeace · May 3, 2022

BeeThePeace said:

I saw the like emoji to my original post only to realize autocorrect made a flub that I clearly missed.

Should read as:
Symbolic.
Though I knew a very devout Catholic who believed it to be literal. They also believed Jesus literally embodied their priest when he gave the homily.

Everyone's unique I guess.

CS1 · May 3, 2022

it is not what I think, it is what Jesus said it was and why to eat and drink that bread and wine that counts. So Simple

Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

There are important things to remember in context to the meal on this night seen in the word of God

1. When Jesus said this is my Body and blood HE was there with them in Body and in HIS body. Therefore the bread and wine could not be literal is had to be symbolic.

in Matthew 26:26-28 Jesus said:

Matthew 26:26-28
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

This Bread and Wine could not be literal because Jesus had not even endured the Cross and died. His blood had not yet been poured out.

all the Gospels and paul account in 1cor chapter 15 say it was to be done in remembrance. Jesus is the one who died and suffered on the cross not the bread nor the wine. Jesus said to do this in remembrance of what HE was about to do on that night when he was betrayed and taken.

the doctrine of Transubstantiation of the RCC is a false Doctrine.

crossnote · May 4, 2022

CS1 said:

Some would say there is a bit of a disconnect between those three statements.

Should we take Jesus at His Word or let our reason/logic be king?

CS1 · May 4, 2022

crossnote said:

we should read in context, the text and stay with it.

mustaphadrink · May 5, 2022

Pilgrimshope said:

it’s faith faith isn’t symbolic or literal it’s based upon belief

if I’m taking communion and believe as Corinthians 10 speaks it then In faith I am communing with the body and blood of the lord.

remember in the ot they kept sacrificing new sacrifices each time ? Every day ? With Christ it’s a one time sacrifice and we on our end continually are partaking of the sacrifice through communion

it’s why we should examine our lives , confess our sins before partaking of communion it’s a continual sacrifice for our sins we partake continually and not as the ot where a new animal is sacrificed each time and his flesh eaten

through Christ we have communion feasts to partake of the eternal sacrifice of his body and blood

some think anything God said to do is some sort of ritual really it’s faith we hear and obey

Sounds very spiritual but nowhere in scripture does it say what you make out it says or implies.

mustaphadrink · May 5, 2022

crossnote said:

In actual fact it was not his body as jews were forbidden to eat human flesh.

mustaphadrink · May 5, 2022

CS1 said:

it is not what I think, it is what Jesus said it was and why to eat and drink that bread and wine that counts. So Simple

Luke 22:19
And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

There are important things to remember in context to the meal on this night seen in the word of God

1. When Jesus said this is my Body and blood HE was there with them in Body and in HIS body. Therefore the bread and wine could not be literal is had to be symbolic.

in Matthew 26:26-28 Jesus said:

Matthew 26:26-28
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

This Bread and Wine could not be literal because Jesus had not even endured the Cross and died. His blood had not yet been poured out.

all the Gospels and paul account in 1cor chapter 15 say it was to be done in remembrance. Jesus is the one who died and suffered on the cross not the bread nor the wine. Jesus said to do this in remembrance of what HE was about to do on that night when he was betrayed and taken.

the doctrine of Transubstantiation of the RCC is a false Doctrine.

The important thing to remember is the context which was the annual Passover meal. Nowhere is bread and wine taken outside of a meal.

Do you view Holy Communion as Literal or Symbolic?

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