Do you view Holy Communion as Literal or Symbolic?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Aug 2, 2021
7,317
2,048
113
#21
Aside from the first mention of the New Covenant, Jer. 331:31-34, where is the mention of the New Covenant in the *man named( New Testament?

With all due acknowledgment, the blessing given to Abraham first of all, that is the Gospel, has been there for all who believe God ever since, albeit before our blessed Savior came to save us, most were blinded by the veil of Moses or simply knew nothing of the prophets, non Hebrews that is.
"just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."

Abraham believed the Word that came from God = the same Word that was God from the Beginning.

God, Himself, was the first Person to preach the Gospel for HE is the First and the Last.
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
6,707
113
#22
"just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."

Abraham believed the Word that came from God = the same Word that was God from the Beginning.

God, Himself, was the first Person to preach the Gospel for HE is the First and the Last.
Big Amen, and a sweet savor for our Father.
 

Beckie

Well-known member
Feb 15, 2022
2,516
939
113
#23
Once you have tasted the Cup do a DNA test .
 
Aug 2, 2021
7,317
2,048
113
#24
Big Amen, and a sweet savor for our Father.
Brother, keep this in prayer, my wife met young Jewish man, Sam, who is being drawn by the Lord and asked to join us for Pesach dinner.

His friends want him to study Torah and he is searching and realizing there is MORE = AMEN

Please lift up Sam in prayer to the Lord and our family, including my wife's father - Lee, who is Jewish and not yet saved - we're hoping and praying.
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#25
"just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 7Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. 8And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” 9So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."

Abraham believed the Word that came from God = the same Word that was God from the Beginning.

God, Himself, was the first Person to preach the Gospel for HE is the First and the Last.
It appears that you are not familiar with Scripture and that Jesus did institute His New Covenant at the Last Supper.

At the Last Supper, Jesus took a cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). Moments before, the Lord had broken the bread and given it to His disciples with the words, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (verse 19). With these actions Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper for all time.
 
Aug 2, 2021
7,317
2,048
113
#26
It appears that you are not familiar with Scripture and that Jesus did institute His New Covenant at the Last Supper.

At the Last Supper, Jesus took a cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). Moments before, the Lord had broken the bread and given it to His disciples with the words, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (verse 19). With these actions Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper for all time.

The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

53Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

Do you believe this???
 

Evmur

Well-known member
Feb 28, 2021
5,219
2,618
113
London
christianchat.com
#27
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."
Literal and true, but I protest that it is made so by the rituals and mechanisms of a "priest". The bread and the wine become truly His body and blood when we partake of it in simple faith.

We are His body.
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#28
The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

53Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

Do you believe this???
And in fact Jesus repeated this teaching and emphasized it a numer of times. In this teaching, there is no symbolism. The Jews could not accept this teaching from Jesus and they walked away. Jesus then asked His apostles if they would also leave. So my question is how many of us don't believe this teaching of Jesus and how many of us today walk away.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
#29
So did the Churches get it wrong for 1600 years? If so, how can the churches be trusted with anything today?
It depends what you mean by "the churches." The churches had congregants who were dictated to from the scripture what to believe and were expected to accept whatever they were told without debate for fear of capital punishment.

The majority of individuals didn't have access to "be a Berean" for at least 1,600 years. Whatever the early church doctrines were, if they were corrupt, the early church leaders were to blame. Now that people have access to the scriptures and, depending on the source, there may be as many as 45,000 denominations.

Who can really be trusted anymore but God? Why do so many people who trust God with sincere faith have wildly different interpretations of the Bible?
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,368
3,163
113
#30
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."
Symbolic.
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#31
While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Most of us swear that we read the Bible and New Testament literally as the true Word of God. But many of us actually don't. We try and conform God's Word in Scripture to our own personal beliefs. So when Jesus said, "This is My Body......This is my Blood" we don't believe it. And we make up our own meaning, "Well, this is what Jesus MEANT to say, This is a symbol.

When we distort God's literal word to fit our beliefs, then we no longer hold the truth. When Jesus came the time for symbolism was over.
 
Aug 2, 2021
7,317
2,048
113
#32
And in fact Jesus repeated this teaching and emphasized it a numer of times. In this teaching, there is no symbolism. The Jews could not accept this teaching from Jesus and they walked away. Jesus then asked His apostles if they would also leave. So my question is how many of us don't believe this teaching of Jesus and how many of us today walk away.
In Fact, we must eat His flesh and drink His Blood.

The LORD Jesus Christ said "follow ME and understand My words":

Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”

When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
But there are some of you who do not believe.”


Feed your soul on the Living Spirit = His Word
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#33
Aside from the first mention of the New Covenant, Jer. 331:31-34, where is the mention of the New Covenant in the *man named( New Testament?

With all due acknowledgment, the blessing given to Abraham first of all, that is the Gospel, has been there for all who believe God ever since, albeit before our blessed Savior came to save us, most were blinded by the veil of Moses or simply knew nothing of the prophets, non Hebrews that is.
It appears that you are not familiar with Scripture and that Jesus did institute His New Covenant at the Last Supper.

At the Last Supper, Jesus took a cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). Moments before, the Lord had broken the bread and given it to His disciples with the words, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (verse 19). With these actions Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper for all time.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,368
3,163
113
#34
And in fact Jesus repeated this teaching and emphasized it a numer of times. In this teaching, there is no symbolism. The Jews could not accept this teaching from Jesus and they walked away. Jesus then asked His apostles if they would also leave. So my question is how many of us don't believe this teaching of Jesus and how many of us today walk away.
How can it be literal? Jesus' blood was shed at the cross. His human body was buried. He rose again with a new, spiritual body. How can you eat His flesh and drink His blood now?
 

arthurfleminger

Well-known member
Aug 18, 2021
1,405
780
113
#35
How can it be literal? Jesus' blood was shed at the cross. His human body was buried. He rose again with a new, spiritual body. How can you eat His flesh and drink His blood now?
You ask the same question that the Jews who walked away from Jesus, "How can we eat this Man's body and drink His blood."
So, apparently you are like the Jews who walked away and couldn't believe Jesus word. You ask, "How can Jesus do that?" Well, you know what, Jesus is God and can do what He wants. And He does what He promised at the last supper.
 

Gideon300

Well-known member
Mar 18, 2021
5,368
3,163
113
#37
You ask the same question that the Jews who walked away from Jesus, "How can we eat this Man's body and drink His blood."
So, apparently you are like the Jews who walked away and couldn't believe Jesus word. You ask, "How can Jesus do that?" Well, you know what, Jesus is God and can do what He wants. And He does what He promised at the last supper.
I have been born again 50 years. I know Jesus and I love Him with all of my heart. I don't subscribe to the Roman Catholic view of transubstantiation. I reject a particular interpretation of a few bible verses. I do not reject Jesus.
 
Aug 2, 2021
7,317
2,048
113
#38
You ask the same question that the Jews who walked away from Jesus, "How can we eat this Man's body and drink His blood."
So, apparently you are like the Jews who walked away and couldn't believe Jesus word. You ask, "How can Jesus do that?" Well, you know what, Jesus is God and can do what He wants. And He does what He promised at the last supper.
AND you completey miss(reject?) the TRUTH that Christ said about "eating His flesh and drinking His blood".

Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”

When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

But there are some of you who do not believe.”

Feed your soul on the Living Spirit = His Word
 

JaumeJ

Senior Member
Jul 2, 2011
21,429
6,707
113
#39
It appears that you are not familiar with Scripture and that Jesus did institute His New Covenant at the Last Supper.

At the Last Supper, Jesus took a cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). Moments before, the Lord had broken the bread and given it to His disciples with the words, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (verse 19). With these actions Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper for all time.
This is an assumption on your part for I was asking where it is mentioned in the Writings of the Apostles an d in th.
I know well Jesus Yeshua gave us the gift of sharing in the Last Supper
He did say it is the covenant of His Blood,, but this covenant was the fulfillment of what was given Abraham, the first to receive the Gospel. Now we are all participants with Abraham fulfilling that promise that he would be a blessing to all nations.
I certainly am aware that Abraham is a blessing to me and for me, but what have people made of this? They seem to have outsepped out Lord, Jesus Yeshua on the matter.
 
Aug 2, 2021
7,317
2,048
113
#40
I have been born again 50 years. I know Jesus and I love Him with all of my heart. I don't subscribe to the Roman Catholic view of transubstantiation. I reject a particular interpretation of a few bible verses. I do not reject Jesus.
Amen to your Testimony

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”