Can the sacraments, in particular Baptism be a sign of grace as well as a cause of grace
2007-01-18 10:07:18 · 6 answers · asked by Fish lips 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Grace is God coming down to move people to places of well-being. For Noah, grace was God's forewarning him of what was to come then providing instructions on how to build an ark. For Abraham, grace was the literal appearing of the Lord to tell him and Sarah they would have a child within a year. For Lot, grace appeared in the form of two angels physically removing him and his family prior to the destruction of Sodom. For Christians, grace is the literal incarnation of Christ, his death and resurrection, then God providing the humble with faith to believe and so to be saved.
The means of grace (the sacraments) are not to be despised but without God first saving us, no sacrament is worth anything because the means of grace only point to what has already been accomplished. May you look to the giver of grace and know him.
2007-01-20 07:00:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As a relatively new Christian, I'm not sure that I understand what sacraments are. Do you mean Holy Communion, confession, marriage? With regard to baptism, are we talking about infant baptism or adult baptism?
I have to state that I do not go along with infant baptism, and I disagree with the idea that confession to a priest can absolve one of sin. Neither do I believe that the bread at wine taken in communion turns into the literal body and blood of Christ.
The word 'grace' appears some 150 times in the New Testament and my understanding is that grace is a gift from God. If anyone can show me scriptures that links grace with sacraments (and what those sacraments are), I would be very grateful.
As you can see, I'm not in a position to answer your question but I would welcome more information.
Thank you, Sasi, for that explanation. I went to the library and found a book by a Catholic priest and discovered that the Catholic church have seven sacraments, of which two are acknowledged by Protestant churches, namely Baptism and the Eucharist. As far as I could make out, the other five are confession (or penance), anointing of the sick (was called extreme unction), marriage and, I think the other one is the Word (as in the Word of God), but I'm not sure. The book wasn't that forthcoming. I also learned that in the year 200 Tertullian wrote about the special goodness of marriages blessed and sealed by the church and which God ratifies. The seven sacraments were defined by the Councils of Florence in 1439 and Trent in 1547.
So, Asker, would you now be good enough to revisit your question and clarify what you mean? This is most interesting!
2007-01-20 11:02:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Sacraments are some, but not all, of the means to receive grace. They are also a sign of God's grace for us. They are not the cause of grace.
2007-01-18 18:14:26 · answer #3 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Grace basically means a free gift. The gift God gives people is Christ. People learn about this gift in two ways one is through the word of God. The sacraments when mixed with the word of God is a means of by which this gift is given or applied.
2007-01-18 18:13:17 · answer #4 · answered by Ron P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure, of course it can.
You christians sure ask some strange questions.
FP
2007-01-18 18:10:23 · answer #5 · answered by F. Perdurabo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wasn't paying attention to a word I just read. Ummm. what?
2007-01-18 18:09:29 · answer #6 · answered by Axel 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋