Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 10/25/2010

Question
Dear Cooper,
You asked me what I think occurs when I receive the Eucharist. My answer is the same as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as recorded in Luke 24:13-35. Verses  30-35 describe the same thing as the Mass when after 3 scripture readings Christ reveals himself in the breaking of the Eucharistic bread. John 6:40 records Jesus saying everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life and Christ will raise him on the last day,only through faith in Christ's words can he reveal himself to you in the Eucharist even though it is still  real whether the person believes Christ's words or not. For historical background on the history of the Church 3 of the first four Popes are mentioned in the Bible and all are involved with St.Paul. 1.St.Peter (33-67 A.D.) mentioned 155 times in New Testament and ordains St.Paul a bishop recorded in (Galatians 2:9-10). 2.St.Linus (67-76 A.D.) 2 Timothy 4:21. 3.St.Cletus (76-88 A.D.) not mentioned. 4.St.Clement (88-97 A.D.) (Philippians 4:3)is described as Paul's coworker. Do you think it is coincedence that the successors of Peter are mentioned in Sacred Scripture?
St. Ignatius bishop of Antioch,ordained by St.Peter states in 107 A.D,the unbelievers abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not admit that the Eucharist is the flesh of Savior Jesus Christ,the flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father in His graciousness,raised from the dead. And so denying the gift of God,these men perish in their disputatiuosness,and also in a letter to the Smyrnaeans says wherever Jesus Christ is,there is the Catholic Church.  Jesus told Peter and the other Apostles in John 14:18-23)that he would not leave them orphans,but he wouldn't reveal himself to the world. Through the unbroken succession of Catholic bishops,from the laying on of hands by Peter or one of the other Apostles the work of the Apostles continue to this day. Revelation 21:12-14 and 27 states who will enter, all Catholic bishops can be traced to one of the twelve,they have charge of the Eucharist in their particular diocese so the Truth who could not have lied in John 17:19-20 when he consecrates himself for his Apostles and bishops and they would spread Christ's faith thru their preaching. Faith is a response to God's grace and even Abraham trusted God to provide a sacrifice,so Christ through His Church provides the Eternal Covenant of His Body and Blood which as with the Old Covenant sacrifice could not only be seen but also had to be eaten for sins to be forgiven Exodus 12:1-14,John 6:40,53-58. So faith without works is dead. The the gift from God himself called the Eucharist is Love received thru Faith it does not just help your salvation it Is your salvation. Since 1517 A.D the reformers have denied the very thing Christ said you had to believe to prove your faith. If you removed yourselve from the vine do think you still have life? John 15:5-17 Is there salvation through rebellion or denying historical and biblical truth? Truth doesn't change with time or it wasn't truth to begin with. Unity comes thru the Eucharist and the 40,000 denominations that deny it and the new church some guy will start today is your sign of revealed Truth. Faith alone and scripture alone are both post 1517 A.D. inventions, I know where Christ's words are concerning the Eucharist and the Church,where are his words on faith alone, and scripture alone?
                                  God Bless
                                    Glen

Answer
Glen,
  Glen,
  I respectfully disagree.  First your applying Jesus encounter on the Damascus road was the Lord's Supper or a Mass is not supported by the passage.     These two men asked him to come to their house which was customary and he obliged them.  As they reclined to eat a meal the Lord gave thinks for the bread. It seems that when he prayed the realized who he was.

  This was not the Lord's Supper but simply a meal.  Further Paul states what the Lord's Supper should be in 1 Corinthians 11:23f. Those who take the Lord's Supper take both the bread and the cup.  There is no indication or even a hint that this was taking the literal body and bread of Jesus. It was symbolic pointing to Christ's suffering and death. No hint also that it was a sacrament that saving properties and no one, according to history, had such a idea until centuries later.

     Transubstantiation originated in 831 A.D. when Paschasius Radbertus, a Benedictine monk, published a treatise openly advocating the doctrine of transubstantiation.  The Lord's Supper is an ordnance, (not a sacrament - essential to salvation) given to the local church as a remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ looking for his return (v26).  The idea of transubstantiation was a pagan idea that existed long before Jesus' first coming.  Like many other pagan ideas around 400 AD when Christianity became the official religion of Rome, replacing their pagan deities, pagan priests and temples were declared to be Christians...and many idolatrous practices were merged into Christianity.   Even then they did not practice or believe in transubstantiation, which was practiced by only a few fringe "Christians."   Further transubstantiation was not accepted as official RCC dogma until the 16th Century when Pope John XXII issued Canons I-VI.  Sir, the Word of God nor does history substantiate this RCC practice.   

   Please note that God's word says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)  There are no sacraments, which are acts, rituals or ceremonies that supposedly are essential to salvation.  This verse and may others plainly state the truth that salvation is received as a free gift of God, by faith and does not involve any work, or is any way merited by church membership, baptism, taking the Lord's supper or any other acts of man. It is as God says, His gift freely given to those who will believe in Jesus Christ ALONE for salvation.   

   There is not one word in the New Testament that the early churches had a "pope" of that there was a universal "church".  I have an article at http://bible-truth.org/Ekklesia.html which explains what God says is an "ekkleisa."

   Sir, the God's truth is readily available to anyone who is looking it.  Simply reading God's word and accepting shows us the mind of God and His plan of salvation.   Rewriting and distorting history is not the way to find truth.   When I was in Rome, years ago I remember so well, our honest RCC guide who told us of the Roman church's idea of popes, then explained there was no evidence Peter was ever a pope in Rome or seen as the "head" of the Lord's church.

   I know that you sincerely believe what you have been taught, but Sir, may I suggest that you read the Bible itself, which means go to God's word for your salvation, beliefs and practices and not from men who built the RC empire.   For a clear explanation of God's plan of salvation please go to: http://bible-truth.org/gospel.html .  Read the passages yourself from the Bible.  

Cooper Abrams
Romans 12:1-2
http://bible-truth.org
"You cannot serve God without serving others."
      "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity"  (1 Corinthians 16:13-14 )