What Does It Mean, Sacrament?
by admin ~ October 9th, 2009
In the Protestant Church there are 2 Sacraments, Baptism and Communion. In the Catholic Church there are these 2, along with 5 others: Reconciliation, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick.
The Catholic Church says: “The Latin word sacramentum means ‘a sign of the sacred.’ The sacraments are ceremonies that point to what is sacred, significant and important for Christians. They are special occasions for experiencing God’s saving presence. That’s what theologians mean when they say that sacraments are at the same time signs and instruments of God’s grace.”
I like to think of a Sacrament of the Church as such: In the most general sense it means that by partaking in some appointed contrivance (a ceremony thought of as having effectual powers), something related to a higher life is attained. The sacrament consists in something spiritual being mediated by something material. The ceremony is given a Sacramental value in the sense that by them assurance of that which is future is given in the present; that which is spiritual is obtained in the material. Partaking in the Sacrament marks one out for salvation.
Consider Baptism, one of the Sacraments that all Christians agree upon. Is it not a visible partaking in the material world of something we believe obtains for us eternal life in the spiritual world? By Faith, going into the waters of Baptism is the same as descending into Hell, and rising up from the waters of Baptism is the same as rising from the Grave. Given this, by Faith through the “work” of Baptism, are we not then partakers of the First Resurrection? and thus come upon by the Holy Spirit? and thus marked out for Salvation? Indeed, this is what we recognize the Sacrament of Baptism to be! A symbolic passing through the Circuit of the Underworld and into the resurrected state such that we can Ascend directly into Heaven upon leaving these earthly bodies!
Consider Communion, do we not by Faith partake in Communion believing that we are sustaining ourselves spiritually through the spiritual manna that is the Bread and the Wine?
While not a “by works” Faith, Christianity is a Faith calling us unto good works. The Sacraments are a vital part of such good works. Do not let anyone take them from you! It will always remain true for the mature Christian that it is by Faith alone that we are saved–and Faith without Works is dead.
I wonder if this is what Albert Schweitzer meant when he said: “For all these reasons it is obvious that the doctrine of righteousness by faith is something incomplete and unfitted to stand alone.” (page 226 of his book The Mysticism of Paul the Apostle)
We discuss such teachings regularly in our writings and other Ministry services, especially in our Daily Scripture Reading Service, where each day we go in depth as we wrap the Daily Scripture Reading with an informative and heartfelt Inductive Bible Study. The amazing love of God is always at the core of each ten minute daily podcast, and the doctrine is always in support of the culmination of God’s love—the Gospel of Salvation, as portrayed in the writings of the Early Church Fathers. You can learn more at: http://www.cjrpress.com.
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