Figurative language

In the New King James version "proverbs" is translated as "figurative language". Considering the warning that Peter gives us:

Peter warns us that there will be people that will twist scriptures to their own destruction. It appears that several false doctrines originate by taking literal interpretations of Jesus' figurative speech. This has primarily been manifest in the sacrements of baptism and the communion.

For example, many teachers will teach that water baptism is necessary for salvation. It appears this way because of verses like Acts 2:38.

Does this mean that when someone gets into water and is baptized they actually receive the Holy Spirit, based on the act of being immersed into water? If so, then this can be considered a work that is required for salvation. On the contrary, consider the following verse:

This verse speaks of a spirit baptism, as opposed to a water baptism. It is this spirit baptism that is necessary for salvation. I believe this spirit baptism is the process called "born again" in John 3:3, "gave the power to become sons" in John 1:12, "be converted" in Matthew 18:3, and "regeneration" in Titus 3:5. The Lord used the figure of water baptism to reveal a deeper spiritual truth.

Consider the following statements by Jesus:

Are these literal truths? If we took these literally, we must conclude that Jesus is the sun, a lamb, a plant, a door, and a good shepherd working in a field. I believe these are some of the figures that Jesus is talking about when He says that He has spoken to us with “figurative speech” in John 16:25.

Hebrews 9 compares the earthly sanctuary to the heavenly sanctuary. Hebrews 9:9 says of the earthly sanctuary:

We see that the everything in the Old Testament was a figure or a picture of the things to come. The tabernacle was a picture of the place where God would dwell. The spiritual truth is that God dwells in the hearts of men as Stephen addressed in Acts 7:44-50. The Old Testament sacrificial system was a picture of the true sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We see that spiritual truths are not of this world. They are invisible. I thank the LORD that He has given us tangible figurative reminders so that he may help us to understand eternal truths.

When we understand that Jesus uses figurative speech to convey spiritual truths, then we can better understand why Jesus would say.

We all need physical food or we will die. Similarly we need spiritual food to give us spiritual life. Jesus said that He is the "living bread" (John 6:51). And if any man will eat of this living bread, he will live forever and "shall never hunger". Therefore, if we take this statement as the Catholics do, that the bread is the actual body of the Lord Jesus, then we would also have to conclude that we would never need to eat again. However, it becomes obvious that He is talking about spiritual food. And the way we eat the spiritual food is to "come to Him" and "believe on Him" as Jesus Himself says:

Now that we understand this is spiritual food, it makes good sense that we do this as a reminder of His death:

the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
1 Corinthians 11:23-36