By: Robert Serreyn

Question? Sir, how do you explain John 6:53, & 54 where it says, He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood has eternal life?

John 6:53-54 Then 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. (54) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Answer:

The answer is simple, lets look at V64 which says…

But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.

The Lord Jesus said that there are some that BELIEVE NOT(that Christ was the Messiah (saviour) ) and that is the key to understanding V53 & V54, although SOME believed not there were others that DID BELIEVE, they did believe that Christ was the promised Saviour (Messiah) and the payment of their sins that he would make for them on the cross.

In Conclusion:

To place a LITERAL interpretation on V53 and V54 is know as LETTERISM.

The problem with taking a LITERAL INTERPRETATION (Letterism) of a verse that is meant to be understood in a SYMBOLIC (Figurative) sense such as V53 & V54 you get what is called Hermeneutical Nonsense, that is BECAUSE it forces a interpretation on the text that doesn’t belong there or makes any sense.

For example…

The Roman Catholic Church BELIEVES that the Wafer and Wine BECOMES the Literal Flesh and Blood of Christ (this is what is called Transubstantiation) they teach this BECAUSE as “They Claim” scriptures like Matthew 26:28, Mark 14:22, 1 Cor. 11:24, 25. are to be taken in the LITERAL SENSE.

Here is why this is faulty interpretation…

In Psalms 91:4 the Bible says that God HAS feathers and wings.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

If a literal interpretation is taken then you have to conclude that God is a bird.

here is a another example, In John 6:48 Jesus (God) calles himself the Bread of Life.

If we are to take a Letterist (literal) Interpretation then God is a Loaf of Bread of course we all know (at lest we should) that this is UTTER NONSENSE.

We are to interpret the Bible LITERALLY where it is literal and we are to understand the Bible in a symbolic sense where it is figurative

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.

The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.

-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8

-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24

-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9

“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23

IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH