Eucharist, Otherwise Known As The Lord's Supper. Is The Bread And Wine Truly Christ's Body And Blood?

Caleb B. -


Introduction. 
    The Eucharist. The Lord's Supper. Holy Communion. Is Real Real Presence true? This topic is widely debated upon between Christians. Many Christians confess that the Eucharist is truly Christ's Body and Blood, while other Christians do not.  The main Christian denominations that confess Real Presence is found in the Eucharist.  Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, the Church of the East, Lutheranism, and finally Anglicanism confess Real Presence. According to Wikipedia,  the Moravian Church, Methodism, and Reformed Christians also confess Real Presence, however I am not fully sure of such things about these three groups. However I do know of the groups of Christians and other Bible related groups that do not confess Real Presence. The Christian Groups include, General Baptists, Anabaptists, the Plymouth Brethren, some non-denominational Christian churches, some groups of liberal Christianity, along with segments of the Restoration Movement and the Amish groups which are frequently compared to Anabaptists. Then we have the Non-Trinitarian groups, who also do not confess Real Presence. These groups include, Jehovah witnesses and Iglesia ni Cristo, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and other Socinian groups.
    Besides Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, The Church of the East, all the real Christian groups profess Sola Scriptura, yet many as I have listed, they do not confess Real Presence. Which ironically is a contradiction to them professing to believe Sola Scriptura to be a true way of teaching and living. Not to mention Sola Scriptura to be Biblical which you think would make sense, yet then they have traditions and teachings that go against Sola Scriptura. So the topic of this Article stands, within this Article I will be going over various verses and sections of Sacred Scripture and the Church Fathers, otherwise known as the Early Christians. As I have in this Blog's description when you come onto my site, you see me referencing a verse. 1 Corinthians 14:33. God is not a God of CONFUSION, but of peace. In very important things, God will not allow us to be confused but to have peace. Not to mention confusion can lead to contradictions. So would God truly let us stay confused so that it would do us everything but good? Of course not! This very verse is the basis for my entire argument.
Section 1. What does Christ say on the matter?
    The title of this Section is pretty self explanatory, but to make it clear; I will be going over the verses of Sacred Scripture where Christ is instituting the Eucharist to see what He says. 
    The Institution of the Lord’s Supper 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

    The Institution of the Lord’s Supper 22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
    The Institution of the Lord’s Supper 14 And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer; 16 for I tell you I shall not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after supper, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of man goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it was that would do this.

    In the Gospel according to Saint Matthew and the Gospel according to Saint Mark and lastly in the Gospel according to Saint Luke, here we see that Jesus takes bread, He blesses it and breaks it into pieces and gives it to His disciples. He says, "Take, eat; this is my BODY." He does not say, "this bread that represents my body." He simply says that it is His Body. Then Christ takes the cup which had wine within it. He gave thanks and gave it to the disciples. He says, "Drink of it, all of you; for this is my blood.-" He does not say, "Drink of it, all of you; for this cup of wine represents my blood." Again, He simply states that it is His Blood. He never says that the Bread or the Wine are representations of His Body and Blood, so first I have to ask, Christ our Lord said it was His Body and Blood yet some of you Christians who believe like I do, deny such to be true? Let's look at some other things Christ says regarding Himself and the Lord's Supper.
    35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.

    I challenge any of the Christians who do not profess Real Presence to explain what Christ meant here. Obviously if we looked at Christ, He would look like a man, not some bread, yet Christ said, "I am the bread of life." 
    47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.

    First He, Christ, starts off  in verse 47 by saying that, "he who believes has eternal life." He said this referring to what was not said yet in verse 54. He then goes on to say again what He said in verse 35. Then He goes on to say in verse 51 again calling Himself the "living bread", and says that He will give the world bread that will give life to the world, and that bread is His Flesh. He did not say that it represented His Flesh. He simply said the Bread of Life is His Flesh. The Christians who do not profess the Real Presence will argue and appeal to Figures of Speech and Parables. It is not uncommon knowledge amongst Biblical literate Christians that Christ our Lord spoke in Parables, however It is very clear that it is not the case here. When Jesus spoke in figures of speech, colorful language, or parables, He did so to explain something very difficult to the average person. However here in this section of John, Christ is speaking very direct with no parables. How am I so sure of making such an assumption? Because of the Jews' response to what He said to them. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" They took His words literally, would they have not realized He was speaking figuratively if Christ did not actually mean this? Furthermore, would not have Christ corrected them if they misunderstood what was said? Of course He would clear up the confusion. Then in verse 55 He reinforces the point He is trying to make by saying, "my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed." Again He does not mention anything of the sort that relates to representation, so how much clearer does it need to be? Again think back to what I spoke about in the introduction regarding 1 Corinthians 14:33. 
Section 2. What do the other Books in the New Testament say?
    16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

    Saint Paul here in 1 Corinthians 10 is reminiscing upon ancient Israel, the forefathers. But then he touches upon the Eucharist. He simply says, "cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" Saint Paul refers to the bread and wine, not as just simple bread and wine, but as the Body and Blood of Christ. 
    The Institution of the Lord’s Supper 23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

    Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians looks back upon the Institution of the Lord's Supper. He does not add any correction, or clear up any misunderstandings around the Real Presence. Saint Paul quotes Christ's words. However, I must be being given a revolution because I read verse 26 here and immediately know that the Protestants and non-Christian groups that do not confess Real Presence, will point to and say, "ha, see it's just bread and wine."  Saint Paul is speaking about the Eucharist by the terms Christ gave Himself. "I am the bread of life." One could argue as well that Saint Paul is talking about the Eucharist in it's form before Transubstantiation has taken place. That is before the full fledged doctrine of Transubstantiation was even fleshed out to what it is today. Saint Paul is speaking of the outwardly appearance of the Eucharist. Although after the consecration, the Bread and Wine are Christ's Body and Blood, however it still looks like bread and wine. 
    Partaking of the Supper Unworthily 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 33 So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if any one is hungry, let him eat at home—lest you come together to be condemned. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

    Saint Paul begins this section in chapter 11 by saying that anyone who partakes in the Eucharist and is in an unworthy manner profanes the Body and Blood of the Lord. I feel troubled knowing that Christians who deny the Real Presence because they begin arguing like Jehovah witnesses. I have made similar arguments dealing with Christ and the Father and how they are connected professes Christ to be God.  Click here to read that Article. Moreover, how Holy the Eucharist is because it is truly the Body and Blood of our Lord. If it were not so, verse 30 would make not that much sense. The Holiest of things are the most devastating for the unholy. If it were just bread and wine, explain the true events Saint Paul is speaking of here in verse 30 where those who are unworthy and still took the Eucharist began getting sick and some even died because they profaned the Lord's Body and Blood? I believe it is undeniable,  and fully Biblically to say that Real Presence is completely true. I may not be able to explain it, or go into super great details regarding Transubstantiation, but I can argue it's authenticity based on the Bible. Saint Paul perfectly describe the Lord's supper in places of his letters. The Mysteries of Christ. 
Section 3. What do the Church Fathers say about the Eucharist?
    This is actually what started this burning desire within my soul to write this Article. I was watching a Lecture by a very knowledgeable a Biblically literate Catholic Scholar. His name is Dr. John Bergsma. God Bless Him. His lectures have been very enjoyable for me, and I have learned many things that I did not know I loved to learn about. It was in a lecture/ interview style video with Matt Fradd on the Pints with Aquinas YouTube channel where he speaks about His time as a Protestant Pastor. He being a former Calvinist which means he did not profess Real Presence. He said in this lecture/interview he read some of the Church Fathers and as a Protestant, he believed that the Church Fathers would agree with Protestant ideology. All Protestants are taught that. He said however, when he came across Saint Ignatius of Antioch that He realized that professing Real Presence has been a doctrine and teaching from the very beginning of Christianity. 
    Chapter 7. Let us stand aloof from such heretics
    They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God, incur death in the midst of their disputes. But it were better for them to treat it with respect, that they also might rise again. It is fitting, therefore, that you should keep aloof from such persons, and not to speak of them either in private or in public, but to give heed to the prophets, and above all, to the Gospel, in which the passion [of Christ] has been revealed to us, and the resurrection has been fully proved. But avoid all divisions, as the beginning of evils.

    Saint Ignatius of Antioch tells the Smyrnaeans to stay away from the heretics who deny the Real Presence in the Eucharist. Meaning the heretics who denied the real presence were not considered to be Christians along side the Catholics. Mind you, Saint Ignatius of Antioch was born some twenty years roughly around 50 A.D which was after the time of Christ's Death and Resurrection. Thus showing us that this doctrine of Real Presence has existed since the very beginning of Christianity. 
    Chapter 66. Of the Eucharist
    And this food is called among us Εὐχαριστία [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, This do in remembrance of Me, Luke 22:19 this is My body; and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, This is My blood; and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.

    Saint Justin Martyr here in Chapter 66 is speaking on the Eucharist and said that no one is allowed to take part of the Eucharist unless they believe the things that the Church teaches to be true. Then he goes on to say that, "For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these.-" He is pointing out that the bread and wine is not common bread and wine, meaning bread and wine that you can find anywhere. How can that be though if the Eucharist is just bread and wine? Then Saint Justin Martyr quotes Christ's words from the Gospels. Again, Saint Justin Martyr was born around 100 A.D which is only seventy years after our Lord's Death and Resurrection, which proves as I said that this doctrine of Real Presence has be present in Christianity since the beginning. 
    5. Then, again, how can they say that the flesh, which is nourished with the body of the Lord and with His blood, goes to corruption, and does not partake of life? Let them, therefore, either alter their opinion, or cease from offering the things just mentioned. But our opinion is in accordance with the Eucharist, and the Eucharist in turn establishes our opinion. For we offer to Him His own, announcing consistently the fellowship and union of the flesh and Spirit. For as the bread, which is produced from the earth, when it receives the invocation of God, is no longer common bread, but the Eucharist, consisting of two realities, earthly and heavenly; so also our bodies, when they receive the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, having the hope of the resurrection to eternity.

    Saint Irenaeus here says that the bread which comes from the earth, when the invocation of God is spoken, the common bread of the earth is no longer bread but Eucharist. Meaning it's Christ's Body. Then he adds that the bread then consists of two realities, earthly and heavenly. Earthly is the appearance to one's eyes, but after the invocation the bread also becomes heavenly because it is now Christ's Body. This can undoubtedly be said for the Cup of Christ as well. Showing that once again a Church father who was fairly early on in Christian History taught Real Presence to be Biblical.
    Chapter 4. Have but one Eucharist, etc.
    Take heed, then, to have but one Eucharist. For there is one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup to [show forth ] the unity of His blood; one altar; as there is one bishop, along with the presbytery and deacons, my fellow-servants: that so, whatsoever you do, you may do it according to [the will of] God.

    Saint Ignatius, who we started this Section with, here in his letter to the Philadelphians, the church mentioned in the Book of Apocalypse, Revelations. He says that there is ONE Eucharist and there is one Flesh of the Lord Christ and one Cup of His Blood. Again, not one mentioning this idea that they represent anything, but that they are literally the Body and Blood. These Fathers had no doubt about this doctrine.
    7. Then having sanctified ourselves by these spiritual Hymns, we beseech the merciful God to send forth His Holy Spirit upon the gifts lying before Him; that He may make the Bread the Body of Christ, and the Wine the Blood of Christ ; for whatsoever the Holy Ghost has touched, is surely sanctified and changed.

    Saint Cyril in his Catechetical lecture here where the topic is Communion. He says we invoke God to send the Holy Spirit who will sanctify the bread to become the Body of Christ and to make the wine into the Blood of Christ. Notice his language at the end, "is surely sanctified and CHANGED." Meaning Saint Cyril does not believe the Bread and Wine do not represent but are changed into the Body and Blood, meaning he professes Real Presence. 
    47. We have proved the sacraments of the Church to be the more ancient, now recognize that they are superior. In very truth it is a marvellous thing that God rained manna on the fathers, and fed them with daily food from heaven; so that it is said, So man ate angels' food. But yet all those who ate that food died in the wilderness, but that food which you receive, that living Bread which came down from heaven, furnishes the substance of eternal life; and whosoever shall eat of this Bread shall never die, and it is the Body of Christ.
    48. Now consider whether the bread of angels be more excellent or the Flesh of Christ, which is indeed the body of life. That manna came from heaven, this is above the heavens; that was of heaven, this is of the Lord of the heavens; that was liable to corruption, if kept a second day, this is far from all corruption, for whosoever shall taste it holily shall not be able to feel corruption. For them water flowed from the rock, for you Blood flowed from Christ; water satisfied them for a time, the Blood satiates you for eternity. The Jew drinks and thirsts again, you after drinking will be beyond the power of thirsting; that was in a shadow, this is in truth.
   
    Saint Ambrose writes here when speaking on the Mysteries saying that men ate the food of angels, Manna. And then mentions that those men died, Israel after the Exodus. Then he goes on to say that the living Bread we receive came down from heaven and gives eternal life and those who eat of it will not die because it is the Bread of Life which is the Body of Christ. Then Saint Ambrose asks the readers to consider if the bread of angels, Manna, to be more wonderful then the what? "Flesh of Christ, which is indeed the body of life." And finally Saint Ambrose compares again how the Israelites got water out of the Rock, and were only satisfied for a finite time, yet we receive the Blood that flows from Christ and are satisfied for eternity. He is not speaking in any language that would suggest that He believed Real Presence to be false. He, Saint Ambrose confessed Real Presence and confessed it to be true and Biblical. 
    When Christ visited us in His grace, He did not come to what did not belong to Him: also, by shedding His true blood for us, and exhibiting to us His true flesh in the Eucharist, He conferred upon our flesh the capacity of salvation.
    2. But vain in every respect are they who despise the entire dispensation of God, and disallow the salvation of the flesh, and treat with contempt its regeneration, maintaining that it is not capable of incorruption. But if this indeed do not attain salvation, then neither did the Lord redeem us with His blood, nor is the cup of the Eucharist the communion of His blood, nor the bread which we break the communion of His body. 1 Corinthians 10:16 For blood can only come from veins and flesh, and whatsoever else makes up the substance of man, such as the Word of God was actually made. By His own blood he redeemed us, as also His apostle declares, In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins. Colossians 1:14 And as we are His members, we are also nourished by means of the creation (and He Himself grants the creation to us, for He causes His sun to rise, and sends rain when He wills Matthew 5:45). He has acknowledged the cup (which is a part of the creation) as His own blood, from which He bedews our blood; and the bread (also a part of the creation) He has established as His own body, from which He gives increase to our bodies.
    3. When, therefore, the mingled cup and the manufactured bread receives the Word of God, and the Eucharist of the blood and the body of Christ is made, from which things the substance of our flesh is increased and supported, how can they affirm that the flesh is incapable of receiving the gift of God, which is life eternal, which [flesh] is nourished from the body and blood of the Lord, and is a member of Him?— even as the blessed Paul declares in his Epistle to the Ephesians, that we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. Ephesians 5:30 He does not speak these words of some spiritual and invisible man, for a spirit has not bones nor flesh; Luke 24:39 but [he refers to] that dispensation [by which the Lord became] an actual man, consisting of flesh, and nerves, and bones — that [flesh] which is nourished by the cup which is His blood, and receives increase from the bread which is His body. And just as a cutting from the vine planted in the ground fructifies in its season, or as a grain of wheat falling into the earth and becoming decomposed, rises with manifold increase by the Spirit of God, who contains all things, and then, through the wisdom of God, serves for the use of men, and having received the Word of God, becomes the Eucharist, which is the body and blood of Christ; so also our bodies, being nourished by it, and deposited in the earth, and suffering decomposition there, shall rise at their appointed time, the Word of God granting them resurrection to the glory of God, even the Father, who freely gives to this mortal immortality, and to this corruptible incorruption, 1 Corinthians 15:53 because the strength of God is made perfect in weakness, 2 Corinthians 12:3 in order that we may never become puffed up, as if we had life from ourselves, and exalted against God, our minds becoming ungrateful; but learning by experience that we possess eternal duration from the excelling power of this Being, not from our own nature, we may neither undervalue that glory which surrounds God as He is, nor be ignorant of our own nature, but that we may know what God can effect, and what benefits man receives, and thus never wander from the true comprehension of things as they are, that is, both with regard to God and with regard to man. And might it not be the case, perhaps, as I have already observed, that for this purpose God permitted our resolution into the common dust of mortality, that we, being instructed by every mode, may be accurate in all things for the future, being ignorant neither of God nor of ourselves?
    
    In the first highlighted section of Saint Irenaeus' work here is very well spoken. He says that the manufactured wine and bread receives the Word of God, meaning Christ Jesus. Then the Eucharist becomes the Body and Blood because He acknowledges them to be so. Again, there is no wording here that implies Saint Irenaeus is thinking the Eucharist is a simple representation, instead he is professing Real Presence. Then within the section that I highlighted, we see him use similar language that was in the first highlighted section. He says that the vine and the grain that is served for men through the wisdom of God receives the Word of God, which in turn the grain and vine become the Eucharist. 
    1 Corinthians 11:26
    "For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He come."    For as Christ in regard to the bread and the cup said, Do this in remembrance of Me, revealing to us the cause of the giving of the Mystery, and besides what else He said, declaring this to be a sufficient cause to ground our religious fear upon:— (for when you consider what your Master has suffered for you, you will the better deny yourself:)— so also Paul says here: as often as you eat ye do proclaim His death. And this is that Supper. Then intimating that it abides unto the end, he says, till He come.
    1 Corinthians 11:27
    "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and the Blood of the Lord." 
    Why so? Because he poured it out, and makes the thing appear a slaughter and no longer a sacrifice. Much therefore as they who then pierced Him, pierced Him not that they might drink but that they might shed His blood: so likewise does he that comes for it unworthily and reaps no profit thereby. Do you see how fearful he makes his discourse, and inveighs against them very exceedingly, signifying that if they are thus to drink, they partake unworthily of the elements ? For how can it be other than unworthily when it is he who neglects the hungry? Who besides overlooking him puts him to shame? Since if not giving to the poor casts one out of the kingdom, even though one should be a virgin; or rather, not giving liberally: (for even those virgins too had oil, only they had it not abundantly:) consider how great the evil will prove, to have wrought so many impieties? What impieties? say you. Why do you say, what impieties? You have partaken of such a Table and when you ought to be more gentle than any and like the angels, none so cruel as you have become. You have tasted the Blood of the Lord, and not even thereupon do you acknowledge your brother. Of what indulgence then are you worthy? Whereas if even before this you had not known him, you ought to have come to the knowledge of him from the Table; but now you dishonor the Table itself; he having been deemed worthy to partake of it and thou not judging him worthy of your meat. 

    One of my favorite Church Fathers, Saint John Chrysostom, he speaks of the Eucharist as "the giving of the Mystery." Which is a beautiful description of the Eucharist as a Christian who professes Real Presence. Then Saint John Chrysostom says that we have tasted the Blood of the Lord. His speech here is definitive. He has unwavering doubt that the Cup in the Eucharist is undoubtedly the Blood of our Lord. 
    1 Corinthians 11:23
    "I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, how that the Lord Jesus, in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread, etc."
    1. Even of itself the teaching of the Blessed Paul is sufficient to give you a full assurance concerning those Divine Mysteries, of which having been deemed worthy, you have become of the same body and blood with Christ. For you have just heard him say distinctly, That our Lord Jesus Christ in the night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks He broke it, and gave to His disciples, saying, Take, eat, this is My Body: and having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, Take, drink, this is My Blood. Since then He Himself declared and said of the Bread, This is My Body, who shall dare to doubt any longer? And since He has Himself affirmed and said, This is My Blood, who shall ever hesitate, saying, that it is not His blood?

    Saint Cyril's commentary/ Catechetical lecture here on the Mysteries of the Eucharist begins with 1 Corinthians 11:23. He calls the Eucharist a Divine Mystery, just as Saint John Chrysostom did as shown previously. Then Saint Cyril goes over what is quoted by Saint Paul from the Gospels and goes on to say saying, "Since then He Himself declared and said of the Bread, This is My Body, who shall dare to doubt any longer? And since He has Himself affirmed and said, This is My Blood, who shall ever hesitate, saying, that it is not His blood?" Which is a definitive sign that Saint Cyril did not ever think about teaching this heretical false doctrine that the Bread and Wine in the Eucharist simply represent the Body and Blood of our Lord. He taught  that Real Presence is true without a doubt and that it is completely Biblical and undeniable. 

Section 4. My final thoughts
    I have fallen deeply in love with this doctrine of Real Presence over the course of writing this Article. I have always professed Real Presence even when I grew up Protestant. As you know from previous Articles, I used to be a hardcore Lutheran, so we already believed in Real Presence, but since we also had Sola Scriptura, I always took Christ's words literally when He instituted the Eucharist in the Gospels. I hope and pray that this Article has brought to light any speculation of doubt that any of you have had if you have been struggling with this doctrine and were questioning if your doctrines and beliefs were false and unbiblical. I have shown that without a doubt throughout this Article that the Bread and Wine in our Eucharist is the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember my argument that God would not allow such a thing to confuse us and separate us. Why? Because God is a God of peace, not confusion. 

"The LORD bless you
and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you 
and give you peace." ☦

Location: Mt of Olives, Jerusalem

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