Bible Questions Answered:
How many sacraments are there?
Jerome/ Chicago, Illinois
Bible Answer:
Definition of terms:
Sacrament:
In Christianity any of certain rites instituted by Jesus and believed to be a means of grace.
Something regarded as having a sacred character or mysterious meaning. A symbol or token, a solemn oath or pledge. Rites preformed by the clergy.
Sacramentalism: Belief in the efficacy of sacraments esp.,
the doctrine that the sacraments are necessary to salvation.
New World Dictionary
Administered by the clergy to a recipient or recipients, and are generally understood to involve visible and invisible components. The invisible component (manifested inwardly) is understood to be brought about by the action of the Holy Spirit, God's grace working in the sacrament's participants, while the visible (or outward) component entails the use of such things as water, oil, and bread and wine that is blessed or consecrated; the laying-on-of-hands; or a particularly significant covenant that is marked by a public benediction
Wikipedia
What does the word say? Can we “earn,” our salvation?
Ephesians 2:8,9 KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
(Secular/ and or Religious works-Not of yourselves.)
John 1:12,13 KJV
12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:
13 Which were born, not of blood (Nobility), nor of the will of the flesh (Ordinations, Bestowals), nor of the will of man (Religious works), but of God.
Romans 3:24 KJV
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 11:6 NLT
And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by (our) good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
Titus 3:5-7 KJV
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Why if for any reason, would any Pastor, Priest, or Clergy, declare that, they and only they have the right to administer, the word, hold communion, baptism, etc. etc. etc.
Answer: Is fully explained in my latest ebook “SALVATION/ WE ARE NOT AFRAID!” (See top of this page.)
Ordinance:
A direction or command of an authoritative nature. An established or prescribed practice or usage, esp. a religious rite.
New World Dictionary
Ordinance is a Protestant Christian term for baptism, and communion.
While a sacrament is seen as something in and of itself sacred, an ordinance is a practice that merely demonstrates the participants' faith. The ordinances are observed in remembrance of Jesus, primarily his baptism and the last supper,
They do not recognize them (Baptism and the Lord's Supper) as sacraments because...
that no saving grace is conveyed by either and that original sin is not washed away in baptism.
Another reason for not calling them sacraments is the ... belief that they are symbols rather than sacraments. When viewed as an ordinance, baptism is a testimony to the recipient's faith in the final resurrection of the dead. It is an outward sign, but not a seal.
Wikipedia
Some list the following as sacraments:
Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, Matrimony, Holy water, and for some, foot washing, and others more. And for that matter, even the preaching of the word, could be considered a sacrament.
Augustine of Hippo defined a Christian sacrament as "a visible sign of an invisible reality."
If sacraments: than only the elected clergy, have the right to administer.
If ordinances: then the right of any Christian.
Bible Examples
Preaching and Teaching the Word of God:
Acts 1:8-15 KJV
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
Acts 2:1-4 KJV
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Who became the witnesses of the word?
Acts 1:8 KJV
“...and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
Acts 1:13,14 KJV
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
All believers are Christ's disciples, and are to be witnesses of His word.
Mark 16:15 KJV
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Philippians 2:9-11 KJV
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Lord's Supper/ Communion:
Acts 2:41-47 KJV
41 Then they that gladly received His word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
After the endument of power, with the Holy Spirit, Peter, preached a sermon which caused some 3,000 people to come to the Lord.
And what did these converts do?
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple,
and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Verse 42 tell us that the “breaking of bread,” meant, communion.
The new converts, held communion, house to house, praising God.
Water Baptism:
Acts 9:17,18 KJV (Ananias, was not a priest, but a Jewish disciple of the Lord.)
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
I Corinthians 11:24, 25 our Saviour said it best when He stated...
“...this do in remembrance of Me,” “...this do in remembrance of Me.”
Communion is the remembrance (an outward symbol) of bringing to mind the suffering and death of our resurrected and victorious Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Why if for any reason, would any Pastor, Priest, or Clergy, declare that, they and only they have the right to administer, the word, hold communion, baptism, etc. etc. etc.
Answer: Is fully explained in my latest ebook “SALVATION/ WE ARE NOT AFRAID!” (See top of this page.)
The thief on the cross, never took part of any sacraments, and yet Christ told him...
Luke 23:43 KJV
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with Me in paradise.
Should Christians partake of communion?
Absolutely, for we are told, by the Lord...
Communion, an outward symbol of a spiritual event:
I Corinthians 11:24 KJV
"...this do in remembrance of Me."
Should Christians be baptized?
Absolutely, for we are told, by the Lord...
Matthew 28:19 KJV
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Baptism, an outward symbol of a spiritual event:
Romans 6:3-8 NLT
3...when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined Him in His death?
4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
5 Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was.
6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with Him.
Be sure to read this blog posting: Christian Work
