Five Views on the “Eucharist” Catholic View One of the seven sacraments A “non-bloody” sacrifice Through it forgiveness of sins may be received Confers grace Bread and wine are changed into body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation) Not participating is a mortal sin

From the Council of Trent ( ): "...By the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of his blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation."

Five Views on the “Eucharist” Orthodox View One of the seven mysteries (comparable to the sacraments) Takes place during the “Divine Liturgy” (comparable to the Mass) Likewise acknowledges the “real presence” and “sacrificial nature” of the eucharist Transformation is a mystery

Five Views on the “Eucharist” Lutheranism Denies real transubstantiation and affirms consubstantiation (Christ’s body and blood are present “in, with, and under”) Denies the Eucharist makes present Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross

Five Views on the “Eucharist” Reformed/Presbyterian Christ is only spiritually present in the elements (not physically) Nevertheless, “receptionism” is affirmed Grace is conferred

Calvin: "The rule which the pious ought always to observe is, whenever they see the symbols instituted by the Lord, to think and feel surely persuaded that the truth of the thing signified is also present. For why does the Lord put the symbol of his body into your hands, but just to assure you that you truly partake of him? If this is true let us feel as much assured that the visible sign is given us in seal of an invisible gift as that his body itself is given to us."

Five Views on the “Eucharist” Memorialism Denies physical or spiritual presence of the Lord in the elements The Lord’s Supper is a simple act of remembrance No special grace is conferred

One more viewpoint! Salvation Army, Quakers, and Ultra- dispensationalists Generally do not practice baptism or the Lord’s Supper Salvation Army and Quakers because of strong emphasis on the inner man (and pacifism) Ultra-dispensationalists for doctrinal reasons

Does the consecrated host become Christ?

My Reasons 1.Concerning John 6, in John’s gospel, Jesus often uses metaphorical language. (and His listeners never seemed to recognize that!)

John 2 18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”

John 3 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

John 4 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?

John 4 31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” 33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”

My Reasons 1.Jesus used metaphorical language in John 6. 2.Similar passages are clearly metaphorical

“Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things did the three mighty men.2 Sam 23:17

My Reasons 1.Jesus used metaphorical language. 2.Similar passages are clearly metaphorical 3.It simply doesn’t happen

My Reasons 1.Jesus used metaphorical language. 2.Similar passages are clearly metaphorical 3.It simply doesn’t happen 4.It denies the very nature of the physical creation

My Reasons 1.Jesus used metaphorical language. 2.Similar passages are clearly metaphorical 3.It simply doesn’t happen 4.It denies the very nature of the physical 5.If it were true, it would create serious moral dilemmas

a.If it were truly Jesus we should be prostrate on the floor before Him. b.What about the remnants? c.What happens to the bread when I consume it? It is incorporated into my body or goes out in the waste—both concepts of which create their own problems.

6.If the cup were literally Christ’s blood then 1 Cor 10 would seem to imply that demons have blood as well.

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? (v 16) You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons (v 20)

Likewise: If you believe that the bread turns into the body of Christ, you are left believing that Christians are in each other. For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. 1 Cor 10:17

6.If the cup were literally Christ’s blood then 1 Cor 10 would seem to imply that demons have blood as well. 7.It would endow a class of men (priests) with authority to create a human body.

6.It the cup were literally Christ’s blood then 1 Cor 10 would seem to imply that demons have blood as well. 7.It would endow a class of men (priests) with authority to create a human body. 8.Although some Church Fathers promoted the concept of some form of transubstantiation, the Church Fathers were unreliable.

9.It raises some significant theological issues: a.If grace is received through participating in a ritual, then grace is not really free. At least in part it is earned by deeds, in contradiction of Titus 3:5. b.If the bread is actually the body of Christ, then the Lord is being sacrificed over again, in contradiction of Romans 6:9–10.

10. The other universally recognized ordinance is certainly not fulfilled literally.

Finally, kind of the 11 th point (because I’m only guessing): What did the disciples think?

26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.