Transubstantiation – say it ain’t so. 

As we continue our series on “obstacles”, ask yourself: what keeps you or someone you know, from coming to Christ?

Remember, sin is the only obstacle, and the finished work of Jesus Christ has removed it. 

As in the early Church, the erroneous doctrine of transubstantiation has become an obstacle and caused many to just give up seeking Christ, and walk away. [66] From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. [67] Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? (John 6)

The claim that Jesus Christ is literally in a wafer, not just spiritually, but the wafer/ bread is claimed to actually transform into the literal body – the physical DNA of Jesus, has caused many to stop seeking Jesus. In fact, most members of religious institutions don’t believe it either. 

Seven-in-ten U.S. Catholics believe bread, wine used in Communion are symbolic. (Pew research).  

Religion uses the philosophical stance (ontology, metaphysics) of accidents/substance to make their case,  but got into trouble with the claim of having bread, in Italy, encased under glass, that was scientifically tested and is human DNA. (Miracle of Lanciano). 

By the way, this only became religious doctrine 1300 years after the cross. 

So, reason here, does this wafer become the body of the physical Christ when He was on earth? Or… His glorified body now, which doesn’t have blood? Uh oh!

When Jesus said “you must eat my flesh and drink my blood” in John chapter 6, He was not talking about communion nor cannibalism. The Lord’s Supper had not yet been implemented (years later) and Jesus would never advocate the literal eating of His flesh and drinking of blood; They were still under the law. (the law would forbid consumption of blood!) And… He was standing there physically! 

He explains what He meant, right there in the conversation that follows. He was responding to those who had followed Him to get physical food. He was telling them that “He” is the bread of life; come down from heaven and to eat this bread for eternal life. (Physical life is not eternal life). To consume Him, the Word made flesh. (John 1:14) To take Him in as food, that nourishes the body and gives life. His words when believed, become as food to the soul for eternal life – Spiritual food that permeates the soul and sustains eternally!  He told them in vs. 27, NOT to labor for meat that perishes (wafers perish) but meat unto eternal life, which is His flesh and blood given to the world at Calvary. The disciples asked Him to explain this work. Jesus answered: 24] “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life”.

He continued in vs. 63 saying: 

[63] It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (Emphasis mine)

Do you see this? “The words I speak are spirit and life,” not some temporary food, but the consuming of His words to the sustaining of “eternal” life. Eternal life does not come from something that sustains your physical body. 

Jesus even clarifies this further and unmistakably:

[49] Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. [50] This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. (John 6;48-49)

Similar to this, Jesus tells Nicodemus, “you must be born again”. Nicodemus asked how one could re-enter the mothers womb. Jesus explained that you must be “born from above”, another birth, a spiritual birth, born of God by faith. 

[6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6) THEY’RE DIFFERENT!

Jesus said, “I AM the door” and in no way meant he possessed hinges. He said, “I AM the vine” and didn’t mean he grew leaves.

He said, “I Am bread” but we certainly don’t have to find a way to transform wheat dough, water and then bake it, to have Him! To further the absurdity, religion says: the presence of Jesus is only in you for about fifteen minutes after the wafer is consumed. But…Jesus said: “I’ll never leave you”. Do you see how ridiculous this is? This is another lie from religion and the great deceiver. It’s not biblical nor is it necessary. 

When you by faith, receive the words from the “Word” of God, you have received His flesh and blood that was shed for you.

It, like food, will sustain the new creature you have become. As you live now, His words (food) cause the new man to grow and mature into His likeness. 

[2] Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

Reason with me here. How many dear, saved, saints have entered into heaven without partaking of this erroneous sacrament? We’ll examine a few:

The thief on the cross did not partake of the wafer and was promised to be with Christ in paradise. 

A poor soul who was unable to open his mouth to the elements due to sickness, but received the gospel by faith, or a poor soul who died alone in the woods from alcoholism, but received the words by faith before he died. 

Are there Quakers in heaven that don’t believe sacraments are necessary for salvation, but received the blessed truth of the finished work of Christ? 

What of those that have taken the wafer in an unworthy manor, not believing a word of it. Did it save them?  

Why is a gluten free wafer needed?

Friends, the Son of God became flesh, to offer His flesh and perfect blood, to redeem all who will believe. His sinless, perfect, untainted flesh and blood, paid the debt that man could never pay.  

What a tragedy, that religion has perverted this beautiful celebration, that Christ commanded us to do, “in remembrance” of His one time sacrifice. 

[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. (Luke 22:19)

[14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14)

Friends, faith in the finished work of Christ moves the Holy Spirit to immerse you into Christ and you are there sealed! (Ephesians 4:30)

It’s God’s way, not man’s way of bringing you from death to life.

In Him, our only hope of glory – not in a wafer. 

Your path to salvation is close. He stands at the door and knocks. All that come will in no way be cast off. 

The SINNER’S PULPIt is where YOU speak, 

wherever you are and in whatever condition. 

He promises to meet you there. Amen.