Sacraments

1. Sacraments Signs of grace Basic Theology, Part 9

2. Sacraments • A “Sacrament” is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace

3. Sacraments • Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians recognize seven sacraments • Baptism • Eucharist • Confirmation • Confession • Anointing of the sick • Marriage • Ordination

4. Sacraments • Protestants recognize only • Baptism • Holy Eucharist

5. Sacraments • Different names for the Sacrament of Bread and Wine: • The Eucharist (Greek for “giving thanks”) • The Mass (Latin for “dismissal”) • Holy Communion (Fellowship between believer(s) and Christ) • Lord’s Supper (Focus on remembrance)

6. Tertullian (155-240) Used the Latin term “sacramentum” to translate the Greek word “mysterion,” which was used to refer to the saving work of God in general What is a sacrament?

7. Tertullian (155-240) Used the word “sacrament” in the plural to indicate individual sacraments that were linked with this mystery Sacrament thus came to refer also to the symbols or rites that were associated with the recollection and appropriation of this salvation in the life of the church What is a sacrament?

8. Tertullian (155-240) Exploited the theological significance of the parallel between sacraments and military oaths “Sacramentum” usually referred to “a sacred oath” This brought out the importance of sacraments in relation to the Christian commitment and loyalty within the church What is a sacrament?

9. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) Understood sacraments as signs of sacred realities “Signs, when applied to divine things, are called sacraments” There has to be a connection between the sign itself and what is being represented What is a sacrament?

10. Hugh of St. Victor (1096- 1141) “A sacrament is a physical or material element set before the external senses, representing by likeness, signifying by its institution, and containing by sanctification, some invisible and spiritual grace.” What is a sacrament?

11. 4 Aspects of Hugh’s definition A physical or material element e.g. water in baptism, bread and wine in eucharist What is a sacrament?

12. 4 Aspects of Hugh’s definition There must be a good reason for believing that the sign in question is authorized to represent the spiritual reality to which it points Bread and wine vs. Doritos and Dr. Pepper What is a sacrament?

13. 4 Aspects of Hugh’s definition The sacrament is somehow capable of conferring the benefits which it signifies to those who partake in it What is a sacrament?

14. One problem There was no physical element in penance Peter Lombard (1100-1160) omitted reference to any physical or material element as “a sign of the grace of God and a form of invisible grace, so that it bears its image and exists as its cause.” What is a sacrament?

15. Martin Luther (1483-1546) Declared that the essential feature of a sacrament was that it was a physical sign of a promise of God, the use of which was sanctioned by Christ himself Thus, Luther only recognized baptism and eucharist as sacraments What is a sacrament?

16. What do sacraments do? They signify divine grace What is the function of the sacrament?

17. Ignatius of Antioch (50-140) Said that the eucharist was “the medicine of immortality and the antidote that we should not die, but live for ever in Jesus Christ.” For him, the eucharist didn’t simply signify eternal life, but somehow was instrumental in effecting it What is the function of the sacrament?

18. Ambrose of Milan (340-397) Argued that in baptism the Holy Spirit “coming upon the font or upon those who are to be baptized, effects the reality of regeneration.” What is the function of the sacrament?

19. The medieval Church believed that the sacraments of the New Covenant actualized what they signified This view remains characteristic of modern Roman Catholicism Sacraments convey the grace that they represent What is the function of the sacrament?

20. The medieval Church believed that the sacraments of the New Covenant actualized what they signified The Second Vatican Council emphasized the importance of believers responding appropriately to the sacraments “They do indeed impart grace, but, in addition, the very act of celebrating them most effectively disposes the faithful to receive this grace in a fruitful manner, to worship God duly, and to practice charity.” What is the function of the sacrament?

21. Luther was prepared to allow that sacraments caused what they signified Believed baptism brought about both the signification and causation of divine forgiveness What is the function of the sacrament?

22. Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) Insisted that sacraments were signs, and nothing more Both baptism and “the Remembrance” are external signs of spiritual realities which have no power in themselves to bring about what they signify What is the function of the sacrament?

23. John Calvin (1509-1564) Falls between Luther and Zwingli Defines a sacrament as “an external symbol by which the Lord seals on our consciences his promises of good will towards us, in order to sustain the weakness of our faith” What is the function of the sacrament?

24. John Calvin (1509-1564) Argues that there is such a close connection between the symbol and the gift which is symbolized that we can “easily pass from one to the other.” Maintains the difference between sign and thing signified, while insisting the the sign really points to the gift it signifies What is the function of the sacrament?

25. What factors affect the effectiveness of sacraments? • Two different options at stake: • Sacraments are efficacious ex opere operantis (on account of the work of the one who works) • I.e., the efficacy of the sacrament is understood to be dependent upon the personal qualities of the minister • Advocated by the Donatists

26. What factors affect the effectiveness of sacraments? • Two different options at stake: • Sacraments are efficacious ex opere operato (on account of the work which is done) • I.e. the efficacy of the sacrament is understood to be dependent upon the grace of Christ, which the sacraments represent and convey • Advocated by Augustine

27. What factors affect the effectiveness of sacraments? • Both Catholic and Protestant churches today advocate for an ex opere operato understanding

28. Not explicitly mentioned in Scripture, but Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16; and Colossians 2:11-12 may allude to it Is infant baptism justified?

29. The practice appears to be a response to a number of pressures The parallel with circumcision led Christians to devise an equivalent rite of passage for Christian infants Also a pastoral need for Christian parents to celebrate the birth of a child within a believing household This practice became normal, if not universal by the second or third century Is infant baptism justified?

30. Theological defense of infant baptism Infant baptism is grounded in the efficacy of the sacrament The weakness of individual faith is supplemented by the corporate faith of the church Baptism initiates a process of development in faith Is infant baptism justified?

31. Theological defense of infant baptism Infant baptism remits the guilt of original sin Augustine believed human beings are born into the world already contaminated by original sin It is this sinful human nature that gives rise to individual sinful actions Is infant baptism justified?

32. Theological defense of infant baptism Infant baptism is a sign of the covenant between God and the church In Colossians 2:11-12, Paul notes that baptism has replaced circumcision It is gentler and more inclusive than circumcision It is also a sign of belonging to a community (the church) Is infant baptism justified?

33. The Anabaptism movement insisted that baptism was to be reserved for those who understood what it meant, and had consented to be baptized Karl Barth had 3 fundamental areas of concern and criticism with infant baptism: Is infant baptism justified?

34. Infant baptism is without biblical foundation The practice of infant baptism has led to the disastrous assumption that individuals are Christians as a result of their birth The practice of infant baptism weakens the central link between baptism and Christian discipleship Is infant baptism justified?

35. The Real Presence The idea that Christ is present, in some way and to some extent, at the eucharist In what way, if any, is Christ present in the eucharist?

36. The Real Presence This doctrine is grounded in the basic idea the the eucharistic bread and the wine either are transformed into the body and blood of Christ, or that they represent him in such an efficacious manner that he may be regarded as present In what way, if any, is Christ present in the eucharist?

37. Four main approaches Transubstantiation (Roman Catholic) Endorsed by the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215 Rests on Aristotle’s distinction between “substance” and “accident” In what way, if any, is Christ present in the eucharist?

38. Four main approaches Transubstantiation (Roman Catholic) Affirms that the accidents of the bread and wine remain unchanged at the moment of consecration, while their substance changes from that of bread and wine to that of the body and blood of Jesus In what way, if any, is Christ present in the eucharist?

39. Four main approaches Sacramental union, or consubstantiation (Luther) Insists upon the simultaneous presence of both bread and the body of Christ at one and the same time There is no change in substance; the substance of both bread and body are present together In what way, if any, is Christ present in the eucharist?

40. Four main approaches Sacramental union, or consubstantiation (Luther) Insists upon the simultaneous presence of both bread and the body of Christ at one and the same time There is no change in substance; the substance of both bread and body are present together In what way, if any, is Christ present in the eucharist?

41. Four main approaches Spiritual Reality (Calvin) Christ is spiritually present in the consecrated elements, but not physically present The physical elements point to a spiritual reality of Christ’s presence In what way, if any, is Christ present in the eucharist?

42. Four main approaches Memorialism (Zwingly) Insists that Jesus’ words at the Last Supper were metaphorical “Real Absence” of Christ - Christ, who is somewhere else, is remembered in his absence, and the hope of his future return is reaffirmed In what way, if any, is Christ present in the eucharist?