What did our Savior mean when He told Mary:

“touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to My Father”?

Can I know for an absolute certainty what was in our Lord's mind? No, not really. But I can take the text literally and then, using the microscope of the Scripture, see if I can better understand the text.

Chronological Context

First, let's look at when the event occurred. It was the first day of the week, Sunday, and Mary Magdalene had come to the tomb of Jesus to finish preparing His body for burial (John 20-:1-2). A rich man of Arimathaea named Joseph and Nicodemus (Matthew 27:57-60; John 19:38-40) quickly prepared the body of Jesus so that He could be properly buried. The Jews routinely embalmed a body by coating it with spices of myrrh and aloes, then they wrapped white linen around the body (John 19:39). Because it was nearly sunset, and the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath (John 19:31-33; Luke 23:52-56), several women (Luke 23:55; Matthew 27:56) rushed to embalm Jesus' body. Though Joseph and Nicodemus supplied the embalming myrrh, the women (Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children) did the actual embalming. Joseph and Nicodemus laid the quickly embalmed body in the tomb, and rolled the stone over the doorway (Luke 23:53). Pilate and his guards also helped (Matthew 27:66), and sealed the tomb with an official Roman emblem. A detachment of guards were then left to watch the tomb, to make sure that no one took Jesus out (Matthew 27:63-64). The Pharisees were afraid of a conspiracy among Christ's disciples to make it look like He rose from the grave. Poor, pitiful unbelievers.

This chronological context is very important because it establishes why Mary came back to the tomb on resurrection day. Jesus' body was prepared for burial very quickly, and Mary Magdalene returned with Mary the mother of James and Salome (Mark 16:1-4) to properly embalm the body. As they walked toward the tomb Mary even wondered how she was going to get the huge stone out of the way (Mark 16:3).

When Mary came to the tomb with the other ladies, she found the stone rolled away. It appears that the other ladies saw an angel roll the stone away (and cause the Roman guards to faint – see Matthew 28:4-5). The angel told these ladies to tell the disciples that Jesus rose – though they didn't because of their fear (Mark 16:8). Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James saw two angels at the tomb (Luke 24:7-10). Mary didn't know that they were angels, and, while crying, told the angels that someone had taken away her Lord (John 20:13). It was at this point that Jesus spoke to her and she initially thought that He was the gardener (John 20:15-17). Only when Jesus said her name did she realize that it was our Risen Savior.

Why Didn't She Know Jesus?

John 20:15 (KJV) "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away."

Why didn't Mary recognize Jesus when she saw Him? She was there, ministering to Him while He walked this earth (Matthew 27:55). She helped embalm His body, and wrap Him in linen (Matthew 27:56). Why not recognize Him now?

It is possible that Mary didn't recognize Jesus because she, like all the other disciples, heard Him say that He was going to have to suffer and die for the sins of man and rise again – but failed to believe Him. It was not until much later that Jesus “Then opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:45 compared with John 20:9). Sometimes as humans we are blind to the truths God is trying to show us because we have our minds firmly fixed in the rut of our daily lives. Perhaps Mary just wasn't expecting to see Jesus, so she didn't see Jesus. That's one explanation.

Yet there's another explanation that is more Biblical.

Christ The Firstfruits

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the firstfruits (Hebrew bikkuwr, Strong's H1061; Greek aparche, Strong's G536) of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 (KJV) "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. {21} For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. {22} For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. {23} But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."

In order to understand what God through Paul meant when He called Christ the firstfruits you need to understand the Hebrew or Old Testament usage of the word. The firstfruits were the first or best of the crop, of the herd, or of the tree. The first harvest in Israel was usually the best crop. In fact, when you tithed you tithed ten percent of the firstfuits or the first harvested, the finest of your herd, your field, your vine, or your trees.

Ezekiel 48:14 (KJV) "And they shall not sell of it, neither exchange, nor alienate the firstfruits of the land: for it is holy unto the LORD."

2 Chronicles 31:5 (KJV) "And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly."

Proverbs 3:9-10 (KJV) "Honor the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: {10} So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."

The firstfruits were the first harvested, the best taken out of the field and presented to God and His Temple.

Jesus is the firstfruits of those who are bodily risen from the dead. Adam was the first one to sin, and bring sin and death on all of humanity. Jesus is the first one to redeem us from sin. As the Apostle said:

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 (KJV) "For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. {22} For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

Man brought death, but the God-Man Jesus Christ brought life. Adam brought the curse of corruption and sin on the human body:

1 Corinthians 15:42-45 (KJV) "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; [man's body is planted in the ground. It is corrupt because of the resultant physical death that spiritual death introduced into creation] it is raised in incorruption: [the Raptured, glorified body we will one day receive has no trace of sin in it – and thus no trace of corruption] {43} It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: {44} It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. {45} And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit."

The human body ages, corrupts, and eventually dies because Adam's disobedience introduced the old sin nature into the body of man. This is that which God warned:

Genesis 2:16-17 (KJV) "And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: {17} But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

Man did die. He died spiritually on the very day that he disobeyed. This spiritual death introduced the corruption of physical death. As the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 15:22 (KJV) "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

When Jesus Christ died on the Cross, He paid the penalty for our sins. As the Bible says:

Colossians 2:13-14 (KJV) "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened [made alive] together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; {14} Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"

The Cross removed the condemnation of spiritual death and separation from God. We were the enemies of God, cursed because of Adam's sin. Just as every human has a distinctive fingerprint, every human is imprinted with the sin of Adam. That sin lies in the unsaved, separating that person from God, making them an enemy of God.

We were in a hopeless state, lost in sin. Physically dying, with no hope. Then came Jesus:

Romans 5:8-10 (KJV) "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. {9} Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. {10} For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life."

Who died for our salvation (John 3:16-18). His Blood reconciled us to God the Father. His death gave us spiritual life. Yet – why do we still die?

Though our souls are saved, our souls are saved, our bodies are still corrupted with sin. Our bodies yet die because of sin – sin in our very genes -

Romans 8:10 (KJV) "And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness."

Our souls are saved because of the death of Christ, because of His Blood, because of His payment. But our bodies are not yet saved. They will be, and will be made clean – incorruptible – without any trace of sin at that blessed event we call the Rapture.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (KJV) "Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, [a euphemism for the death of a Christian. NOT soul sleep, but the sleep of the body in the grave] but we shall all be changed, {52} In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. {53} For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. {54} So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."

We will not all “sleep”, that is, not every Christian will close his or her eyes and pass from this life into the next through that phenomenon we call “death”. No, some Christians will be present on the day that Jesus returns for His Church. The dead in Christ, that is, those saints that passed from this life and into the next, leaving their bodies sleeping in the ground – those saints shall receive their resurrected bodies first. These precious souls will return with Jesus and receive glorified bodies.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 (KJV) "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."

After the believers whose bodies are sleeping in the ground receive glorified bodies, those who are yet living on the earth will be caught up – Raptured – to be with Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 (KJV) "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. {18} Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

At that moment all Christians of all ages will receive glorified bodies, sinless, incorruptible, no longer subject to physical death for they have no trace of spiritual death in them.

How Does This Relate To My Question?

Now let's bring it all together.

1. Christ died on the Cross to bring us spiritual life.

2. We were all spiritually dead and physically corrupted because of Adam's sin.

3. If we believe in Jesus, we are made spiritually alive (John 10:10; Romans 6:13; 1 Corinthians 15:22)

4. Jesus Christ is the firstfruits from the dead, the first person to receive a glorified body.

5. Because Jesus is the firstfruits, we know that we shall one day receive glorified bodies like He has (1 John 3:2).

6. Jesus' resurrection is the promise of God that we, one day, will have glorified and sinless bodies – just as the firstfruits, our Savior, has.

7. If Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection, the first One given a glorified body, then His “Rapture” would parallel ours.

Let's look at point #7 for a second. On the day that Jesus returns to Rapture His Church, who will be Raptured? Believers in Christ only, of course. Unbelievers will remain unchanged. Loved ones who have accepted Christ as Savior will be caught up in the air, ever to be with the Lord – while unbelieving and unraptured family members will be left behind.

If Jesus is the firstfruits of the resurrection – and I believe we've established that – then His ascension following the glorification of His body would parallel ours. The Old Testament farmer harvested his corn, gathering all the first harvest or firstfruits in, then gave ten percent of this firstfruits to God.. Jesus Christ died to pay for our sins, then rose again with a glorified body. Just as the dead in Christ are given glorified bodies in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and just as the dead in Christ are not touched or clung to at the moment of Rapture, our Lord was not to be touched or clung to until He ascended to the Father in His glorified body. We know that His spirit – that is, His soul – went to be with God the Father when He died on the Cross, for we have the evidence of His promise to the repentant thief:

Luke 23:43 (KJV) "And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."

We also have the evidence of our Lord's cry from the Cross:

Luke 23:46 (KJV) "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."

If Jesus was going to be with the thief in paradise “today”, and if He committed His spirit – His soul – to God the Father – then we know that Jesus' soul went Heavenward while His body “slept” in the tomb.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the firstfruits from the dead, was given a glorified body just as the Raptured dead in Christ will one day receive glorified bodies. Mary needed to not cling to Jesus because He had to ascend to the Father in His glorified body just as we will one day ascend to the Son in our glorified bodies during that event we call the Rapture.

When Jesus yielded up his soul to God the Father, the dead came out of the graves in Jerusalem (Matthew 27:50-53) – but they were not in glorified bodies. If they were, they would yet be among us. No, Jesus Christ is the firstfruits from the resurrection. Thus He told Mary:

John 20:17 (KJV) "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; {haptomai [pronounced hap’-tom-ahee], Present Middle Imperative, Present middle imperative in prohibition with genitive case, meaning “cease clinging to me” rather than “Do not touch me.”} for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God."

Jesus literally said “cease clinging to me”. Jesus the firstfruits of the resurrection from the dead had to fulfill all things, so that we could be complete in Him (Colossians 2:10).

Could I Be Wrong?

Absolutely! I could be wrong in the interpretation of this verse – which is certainly a difficult saying of our Lord – though I believe that the Scripture will support my interpretation. But I do agree with the wonderful old time preacher Oliver B. Greene, who said:

The declaration in this verse will never be fully understood until we see Jesus in that Heavenly Bible class and He explains it to us exactly what He meant when He said, “Touch Me Not.” Certainly He did not say it because it would have been sinful or wrong for Mary to touch His risen body, for only a short time later He allowed the other women who had been at the tomb to touch Him ... (Matthew 28:9). It was only a week after He said to Mary, “Touch Me not” that He said to Thomas “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27). ......

On the day Mary was commanded “Touch me not”, God's High Priest waved a sheaf of firstfruits before Jehovah while He (Himself the firstfruits from the dead) would be fulfilling the type in presenting Himself before Jehovah God ... (1 Corinthians 15:20). Jesus was the firstfruits, and He came to fulfill every type in the New Testament economy ....

Matthew, Mark, and Luke do not record the admonition of Jesus, “Touch Me Not”. But John presents Jesus as very God in flesh, and since He was to leave this earth and return to the Father as our Great High Priest, Mary was not to become attached to His body, the visible man walking on earth....

When Jesus laid His life down for us He detached Himself from us in the bodily sense, and we are now attached to Him in the spiritual realm. We are not to cling to Him in His earthly form: we are rather to trust in Him from the spiritual standpoint. Positionally we are with Him in Heaven even now, and one day He will call on us to meet Him in the clouds in the air. And in the first resurrection we will be made like Him (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 3:1-3).

Jesus did not say to Mary, “Go, tell My disciples that I have risen.” He said, “Go tell them that I ASCEND”. He wanted them to understand that He had not come back from the grave to remain with them on earth. ....

God's preachers preach many times on Calvary, we preach many times on the resurrection; but I fear most of us do not give sufficient time and importance to the ascension of Christ. If He had lived a perfect life on earth (but had missed Calvary) His perfect life could not have saved us. If He had died, but had remained in the grave, His death could not have saved us. He died for our sins “according to the Scriptures”, but His sinless life plus His sacrificial death could not have saved us had He not risen from the dead. Even if He had risen, but remained upon this earth, His ministry for us would have been incomplete because He ascended to make intercession for us” (Romans 8:34).

Oliver B. Greene, The Gospel According To John, Volume III

Conclusion of The Matter

Acts 1:11 (KJV) "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."

When our Lord ended His ministry on this earth He left us by ascending to the Heavens. The disciples – perhaps with a lump in their throats – stood looking up into the sky for a while. Two angels appeared – perhaps the same two angels that stood in the tomb of our Lord on Resurrection Day, and told the disciples that – just as our Lord ascended – He would one day return in the same way. He will return one day, on a day in the not too distant future (I pray). On that day He will Rapture His saints. The dead in Christ shall receive their resurrection bodies first, and ascend Heavenward to meet the Lord in the air. Then we, who are alive and remain- praise God – we will be caught up to meet Jesus in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

So shall we ever be with the Lord.

Because we called on Him, and believed in Him for our salvation. Because we realized that we cannot work our way to Heaven. Because we realize our righteousnesses are all filthy rags.

Isaiah 64:6 (KJV) "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away."

Because we realize and believe that Jesus Christ is not just a wise man, not just a teacher, not just a kind person. We realize that Jesus came, died, and rose again for you ...

And for me. As the Scripture says:

Acts 4:10-12 (KJV) "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. {11} This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. {12} Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Romans 10:9-13 (KJV) "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. {10} For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. {11} For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. {12} For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. {13} For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Sadly you, like many who follow Roman Catholicism, have not read the history nor the teachings of your church. If a man were to object to the excesses of the Baptists, of which I am one, I would carefully consider my position before I angrily replied. Yet having no veil of hypocrisy, and a hearty dose of reality, I would have to admit that my brethren - Baptists - have been and continue to be guilty of excesses and failures that neither I nor we can condone. My eyes are not blinded, as yours are, to the errors of your group - a group grounded in violations to Scriptural law concerning the clergy (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:5-7) and marriage, a serious breach of Scripture that has led many in your church to secret sexual sin and shame on the Body of Christ. One report from the Catholic News Service:

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Diocese of Covington, Ky., settled 27 claims of clerical sexual abuse Oct. 10 for nearly $5.2 million. Covington diocesan spokesman Tim Fitzgerald said the diocese's insurer will pay $3.23 million and the remaining $1.94 million will come from the diocese. At least two other lawsuits are still pending. The neighboring Archdiocese of Louisville revealed in its latest annual financial report Oct. 10 that it paid more than $26.2 million in the fiscal year ending June 30 to settle sexual abuse lawsuits. That figure included the widely reported $25.7 million global settlement of 243 lawsuits by 240 victims in June. The additional amount, slightly over $500,000, went to previous individual settlements of six lawsuits and payments to two individuals who did not file lawsuits. The sex abuse survivors' community was shocked Oct. 13 when James T. Kelly, 37, of Morristown, N.J., an alleged victim of childhood sex abuse by Father James T. Hanley, stepped in front of an early morning commuter train and was killed, an apparent suicide. Father Hanley requested laicization last year in light of abuse allegations against him.

There are hundreds of such cases, easily found in moments on the Internet. But I digress. Am I prejudiced against Catholicism? No, prejudiced means to PRE-judge something without first studying it. I've studied it, spent too much time over it, and like the early Reformers - Martin Luther who stood against the blasphemous practice of selling indulgences - a practice still condoned in Catholicism today - I find little in Catholicism of Christian worth. To me, the Catholic church is a corruption of the original Church that Christ founded. But the Catholic church, in the same vein, considers those in the Protestant church to be corrupted. For you to call me prejudiced, I submit, is like the white man taking offense at the black man for calling him "whitie", though he just called the black man that offensive and degrading "N" word. Neither Protestant nor Catholic regard the other as pure Christian, but suspect, incomplete, corrupting the Scriptures to meet their own whims.

The Catholics have long contended that those who are not Catholic have a CERTAIN COMMUNION, ALBEIT IMPERFECT with the Church IF they have been BAPTIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH Catholic guidelines. At no point did VATICAN II specify that salvation by faith in Christ - regardless of Christian denomination - gave equal and complete salvation for anyone. The Catholic Church has now and has always taught BAPTISMAL REGENERATION and the NECESSITY OF A PROPER EUCHARIST. If you do not believe this, here are some quotations from your own church. Might want to study them before you write a Protestant to rant and rave:

From DECLARATION "DOMINUS IESUS" ON THE UNICITY AND SALVIFIC UNIVERSALITY OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE CHURCH -

17. Therefore, there exists A SINGLE CHURCH OF CHRIST, WHICH SUBSISTS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him.58 The Churches which, while not existing in perfect communion with the Catholic Church, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid Eucharist, are true particular Churches.59 Therefore, the Church of Christ is present and operative also in these Churches, even though they lack full communion with the Catholic Church, since they do not accept the Catholic doctrine of the Primacy, which, according to the will of God, the Bishop of Rome objectively has and exercises over the entire Church.60

On the other hand, the ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE NOT PRESERVED THE VALID EPISCOPATE AND THE GENUINE AND INTEGRAL SUBSTANCE OF THE EUCHARISTIC MYSTERY,61 ARE NOT CHURCHES IN THE PROPER SENSE; however, those who are baptized in these communities are, by Baptism, incorporated in Christ and thus are in a certain communion, albeit imperfect, with the Church.62 Baptism in fact tends per se toward the full development of life in Christ, through the integral profession of faith, the Eucharist, and full communion in the Church.63

Along these lines, the Catholic PRESBYTERORUM ORDINIS continues by offering us the following insight into the relationship between the Eucharist and all other Catholic action:

- Catholics teach that the literal Christ is found in the Eucharist, and this is the life of the church-

The other sacraments, as well as every ministry of the Church and every work of the apostolate, ARE LINKED WITH THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND ARE DIRECTED TOWARD IT. For the most blessed EUCHARIST CONTAINS THE CHURCH'S ENTIRE SPIRITUAL WEALTH, THAT IS, CHRIST HIMSELF, OUR PASSOVER AND LIVING BREAD. Through His Very flesh, made vital and vitalizing by the Holy Spirit, He offers life to men. They are thereby invited and led to offer themselves, their labors, and all created things together with him. [PO 5]

- Only the Eucharist offered by the Catholic clergy is a true Eucharist -

"The whole Church is united with the offering and intercession of Christ. Since he has the ministry of Peter in the Church, the Pope is associated with every celebration of the Eucharist, wherein he is named as the sign and servant of the unity of the universal Church. The bishop of the place is always responsible for the Eucharist, even when a priest presides; the bishop's name is mentioned to signify his presidency over the particular Church, in the midst of his presbyterium and with the assistance of deacons. The community intercedes also for all ministers who, for it and with it, offer the Eucharistic sacrifice: LET ONLY THAT EUCHARIST BE REGARDED AS LEGITIMATE, WHICH IS CELEBRATED UNDER (THE PRESIDENCY OF) THE BISHOP OR HIM TO WHOM HE HAS ENTRUSTED IT. [St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Smyrn. 8:1; SCh 10, 138.] Through the ministry of priests the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful is completed in union with the sacrifice of Christ the only Mediator, which in the Eucharist is offered through the priests' hands in the name of the whole Church in an unbloody and sacramental manner until the Lord Himself comes. [PO 2 # 4.]"

- The body and blood of Christ are literally in the Eucharist -

"Some men accordingly, not paying heed to these things, have contended that Christ's body and blood are not in this sacrament except as in a sign, a thing to be rejected as heretical, since it is contrary to Christ's words. Hence Berengarius, who had been the first deviser of this heresy, was afterwards forced to withdraw his error, and to acknowledge the truth of the faith." - St. Thomas Aquinas ("Summa Theologica" 13th century A.D.)

- Those who do not accept the Eucharist - drinking that blood and eating that body - have no life in them -

"Wherefore, he that eateth not this bread, nor drinketh this blood, hath not this life; for men can have temporal life without that, but they can in no way have eternal life. He then that eateth not His flesh, nor drinketh His blood, hath no life in him; and he that eateth His flesh, and drinketh His blood, hath life. This epithet, 'eternal,' which He used, answers to both. It is not so in the case of that food which we take for the purpose of sustaining this temporal life. For he who will not take it shall not live, nor yet shall he who will take it live. For very many, even who have taken it, die; it may be by old age, or by disease, or by some other casualty. But in this food and drink, that is, in the Body and Blood of the Lord, it is not so. For both he that doth not take it hath no life, and he that doth take it hath life, and that indeed eternal life. This it is, therefore, for a man to eat that meat and to drink that drink, to dwell in Christ, and to have Christ dwelling in him. Consequently, he that dwelleth not in Christ, and in whom Christ dwelleth not, doubtless neither eateth His flesh nor drinketh His blood." - St. Augustine of Hippo ("Tractate 26 on the Gospel of St. John" 4th century A.D.)

-Now I ask you - if only those who "eat the flesh and drink the blood" of Christ have life in them, and this "eating and drinking" is literally fulfilled in the Eucharist of the Catholic Church, then how in the name of all that is reasonable do YOU THINK that someone is saved? You can dance with the papists all you want, but Catholicism has always taught that the Eucharist is an integral part of the salvation of the believer. Read your own church documents before chastising me again.

Pastor David