Theology of the Church, Mentor's Guide, MG03

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T H E O L O G Y O F T H E C H U R C H

3. Also, true sacraments were seen to be an act of lived faith, a means to proclaim publicly one’s commitment and allegiance to the truth of God in Jesus Christ.

a. Baptism affirms our identification with Christ in his burial, death, and resurrection, Rom. 6.3-4.

b. The Lord’s Supper bears witness of the sufficiency of Jesus’ death and our looking for his soon return for our ultimate salvation.

4. True sacraments must be spiritually beneficial and edifying to those who partake of them.

a. Baptism reveals our confession of faith and gives evidence to other believers of our commitment to live as bondslaves of Jesus Christ.

b. Again, the Lord’s Supper provides grace and assurance as we wait steadfastly in hope for Christ’s return.

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5. In surveying different Christian traditions, it is clear that denominations hold widely varying views regarding the sacraments. In discussing the issues, several critical questions arise:

a. Which suggested rites are the true sacraments? While baptism and the Lord’s Supper are universally recognized as sacraments instituted by Jesus himself, traditions hold conflicting views about other rites which might be considered sacraments. For instance, the Catholic Church has recognized a number of sacraments in addition to baptism and the Lord’s Supper or eucharist, including such things as confirmation, marriage, and last rites.