The most succinct answer to the question is this: True, Bible believing Christians do not hold to the sacramental system, because sacraments have absolutely NO SAVING POWER and the concept is in complete contradiction to the New Testament.
In other words, there is no such notion in the whole of New Testament instruction to the Church of Jesus Christ.
With respect specifically to Christ's institution of the Lord's Supper and baptism, the fundamental issue in this question is the meaning and use of the term "sacrament" versus "ordinance."
Catholic and other liturgical churches use the term sacrament to describe these two institutions, but the distinction should be in what is actually meant by these practices.
Baptists recognize, promote, and practice both the Lord's Supper and baptism in obedience to Christ's command, however they do not use the word "sacrament" because this is a non-biblical concept.
The term ordinance is typically used in Baptist churches for these celebrations but it is the meaning of these acts that remains biblically true. Jesus said, when referring to the Lord's Supper, "Do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19
More on the matter:
In other words, there is no such notion in the whole of New Testament instruction to the Church of Jesus Christ.
With respect specifically to Christ's institution of the Lord's Supper and baptism, the fundamental issue in this question is the meaning and use of the term "sacrament" versus "ordinance."
Catholic and other liturgical churches use the term sacrament to describe these two institutions, but the distinction should be in what is actually meant by these practices.
Baptists recognize, promote, and practice both the Lord's Supper and baptism in obedience to Christ's command, however they do not use the word "sacrament" because this is a non-biblical concept.
The term ordinance is typically used in Baptist churches for these celebrations but it is the meaning of these acts that remains biblically true. Jesus said, when referring to the Lord's Supper, "Do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19
More on the matter:
For most casual attendees of church the use of these terms [sacrament and ordinance] are nearly interchangeable, but there is a reason baptists and other evangelicals do not refer to these institutions as "sacraments."
At the outset let me clearly state that I do not speak for "Baptists." The hallmark of the Baptist belief system is that of the "autonomy of the local church" which simply stated means that each baptist church is free to both establish and govern themselves, under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
There is a need to understand the meaning of the word sacrament.
The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary reads; "Sacrament - a Christian rite (as baptism or the Eucharist) that is believed to have been ordained by Christ and that is held to be a means of divine grace or to be a sign or symbol of a spiritual reality."
The Catholic Encyclopedia reads, "Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification."
With both of these definitions, the Christian should be careful in the interchanging of the words "sacrament and ordinance."
The impetus of the word "sacrament" [in both above definitions] indicates that the rite or act is a "means of grace and sanctification." Both these statements are in opposition to the teaching of the Word of God.
The bible clearly and unmistakably claims that we are saved by "grace, through faith." Ephesians 2:8 This simply means that our salvation is complete in Christ's finished work on the cross. We are sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. To sanctify means commonly "to make holy, that is, to separate from the world and consecrate to God."*
This [sanctification] is realized through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, accepted by faith, in the life of the true believer in Jesus Christ.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," -- 1 Peter 1:3 NASB
The sacramental system carries with it the notion that the work of Jesus Christ on the cross is incomplete and inefficient. It implies that there is a regular need for Jesus to "die and resurrect" over and over again because of the ongoing sinfulness of humanity.
Specifically the Catholic church believes that the sacraments bestow "saving grace" upon the followers of Christ. The flawed pseudo-theological position of transubstantiation is in direct conflict with the teaching of Christ's instruction of "do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19
The doctrine of transubstantiation is the dogma that in the Eucharist the bread and wine to be administered become, upon consecration, the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ, even though the external manifestations of the bread and wine-shape, color, flavor, and odor-remain. It is interesting to note that this concept was and phraseology did not make its way into the church until 1215.
Here's what I mean. If the body and blood of Jesus magically appear in the otherwise plain elements of the wine and the bread, then what was Jesus saying when he instructed his disciples to "do this in remembrance of me."? When Jesus stood there and said, "This is my body" and "This is my blood." Matt. 26:26-28 what was he talking about? Certainly it was not talking about His actual body and blood, for he was standing right there in front of them!
In the simplest form of the discussion, the sacramental system teaches that we must have a renewed sacrifice of Christ (Mass) because of the sinfulness of mankind. Scripture flatly rebukes this concept:
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. --Heb 9:24-28 NASB
While it may be understood by many who participate in the sacramental system that there is a need for a continuing sacrifice for our continuing sins, this understanding is wrong. It is direct contradiction to the living Word of God. Read what Paul said to the Church at Rome (the claimed Birthplace of Roman Catholic Church):
For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. -- Rom 6:10b-11 NASB
It is also important to realize that this truth is consistent with the entirety of the New Testament.
So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, --Heb 9:28 NASB
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; -- 1 Peter 3:18 NASB
And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. --1 John 3:6 NASB
With all of this said, the most succinct answer to the dilemma is this: True, Bible believing Christians do not hold to the sacramental system, because sacraments have absolutely NO SAVING POWER and the concept is in complete contradiction to the New Testament. In other words, there is no such notion in the whole of New Testament instruction to the Church of Jesus Christ.
Only Jesus can save! It was his single act of obedience to the Father; His virgin birth, his vicarious death, his victorious resurrection, and his promised visible return that made salvation possible for all who place their faith in His act of grace toward them. This grace is not received via some magical, secret, or mysterious channels of grace for those who participate in the act of worship.
In his book, "Criswell's Guidebook for Pastors" Dr. Criswell writes, "The ordinances are not sacraments; they are not the means and the channels of saving grace. [They] are symbols and visible representatives of the vital, central truth of the gospel. There is no sacramental efficacy in the rite at all." **
The ordinances of both Baptism and Communion are vivid reminders and representations of the dynamic, essential facts and truths of Christianity. As Criswell says, "They are outward symbols of tremendously meaningful, spiritual, inward experiences with Christ our Savior."
There is a need to understand the meaning of the word sacrament.
The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary reads; "Sacrament - a Christian rite (as baptism or the Eucharist) that is believed to have been ordained by Christ and that is held to be a means of divine grace or to be a sign or symbol of a spiritual reality."
The Catholic Encyclopedia reads, "Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification."
With both of these definitions, the Christian should be careful in the interchanging of the words "sacrament and ordinance."
The impetus of the word "sacrament" [in both above definitions] indicates that the rite or act is a "means of grace and sanctification." Both these statements are in opposition to the teaching of the Word of God.
The bible clearly and unmistakably claims that we are saved by "grace, through faith." Ephesians 2:8 This simply means that our salvation is complete in Christ's finished work on the cross. We are sanctified by the blood of Jesus Christ. To sanctify means commonly "to make holy, that is, to separate from the world and consecrate to God."*
This [sanctification] is realized through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, accepted by faith, in the life of the true believer in Jesus Christ.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," -- 1 Peter 1:3 NASB
The sacramental system carries with it the notion that the work of Jesus Christ on the cross is incomplete and inefficient. It implies that there is a regular need for Jesus to "die and resurrect" over and over again because of the ongoing sinfulness of humanity.
Specifically the Catholic church believes that the sacraments bestow "saving grace" upon the followers of Christ. The flawed pseudo-theological position of transubstantiation is in direct conflict with the teaching of Christ's instruction of "do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19
The doctrine of transubstantiation is the dogma that in the Eucharist the bread and wine to be administered become, upon consecration, the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ, even though the external manifestations of the bread and wine-shape, color, flavor, and odor-remain. It is interesting to note that this concept was and phraseology did not make its way into the church until 1215.
Here's what I mean. If the body and blood of Jesus magically appear in the otherwise plain elements of the wine and the bread, then what was Jesus saying when he instructed his disciples to "do this in remembrance of me."? When Jesus stood there and said, "This is my body" and "This is my blood." Matt. 26:26-28 what was he talking about? Certainly it was not talking about His actual body and blood, for he was standing right there in front of them!
In the simplest form of the discussion, the sacramental system teaches that we must have a renewed sacrifice of Christ (Mass) because of the sinfulness of mankind. Scripture flatly rebukes this concept:
For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. --Heb 9:24-28 NASB
While it may be understood by many who participate in the sacramental system that there is a need for a continuing sacrifice for our continuing sins, this understanding is wrong. It is direct contradiction to the living Word of God. Read what Paul said to the Church at Rome (the claimed Birthplace of Roman Catholic Church):
For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. -- Rom 6:10b-11 NASB
It is also important to realize that this truth is consistent with the entirety of the New Testament.
So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, --Heb 9:28 NASB
For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; -- 1 Peter 3:18 NASB
And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin. --1 John 3:6 NASB
With all of this said, the most succinct answer to the dilemma is this: True, Bible believing Christians do not hold to the sacramental system, because sacraments have absolutely NO SAVING POWER and the concept is in complete contradiction to the New Testament. In other words, there is no such notion in the whole of New Testament instruction to the Church of Jesus Christ.
Only Jesus can save! It was his single act of obedience to the Father; His virgin birth, his vicarious death, his victorious resurrection, and his promised visible return that made salvation possible for all who place their faith in His act of grace toward them. This grace is not received via some magical, secret, or mysterious channels of grace for those who participate in the act of worship.
In his book, "Criswell's Guidebook for Pastors" Dr. Criswell writes, "The ordinances are not sacraments; they are not the means and the channels of saving grace. [They] are symbols and visible representatives of the vital, central truth of the gospel. There is no sacramental efficacy in the rite at all." **
The ordinances of both Baptism and Communion are vivid reminders and representations of the dynamic, essential facts and truths of Christianity. As Criswell says, "They are outward symbols of tremendously meaningful, spiritual, inward experiences with Christ our Savior."
No comments:
Post a Comment