On The Little Apologist Instagram, I'm doing a series on The Sacraments in Scripture, and I wanted to share it with you, as well.
Many of our Protestant brothers and sisters find it difficult to understand the concept of the Sacraments, frequently because they do not see the scriptural evidence for them.
Most, if not all, non-Catholic or Orthodox Christians believe in Sola Scriptura, which is the belief that all authority comes from Scripture. We know this is only partly True, however, as the Bible itself did not exist as a whole until the 1400s, and it is not what Jesus taught or what the early Church believed!
All of that being said, there IS Scriptural evidence for each of the Sacraments in Scripture. In this post, we'll explore what a Sacrament is, the Biblical evidence for them, and then dive into each Sacrament and explore the Scriptural evidence behind them.
What is a Sacrament?
"Sacraments are outward signs of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification" (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1131).
What does this mean? Think of all the instances in Scripture where God uses materials on earth to sanctify, transform, and heal.
A woman touched Jesus' garment and was healed (Matthew 9:20-22)
Jesus healed someone using dirt and saliva (Mark 8:22-25)
We're encouraged to use oil for anointing (James 5:14)
A dead man is raised by being touched with the bones of Elisha (2 Kings 13:21)
... and these are just a few examples.
"Outward signs": Earthly actions or materials (ie: water, oil, laying on of hands, bread, wine, etc.)
"Inward Grace": The effect of the Sacrament (i.e., healing, sanctification, reconciliation, etc.)
"Instituted by Christ": We'll get to that part in a moment!
"For our sanctification": These outward signs of inward grace are tools and gifts God gives us to help us grow closer to Him in this life so that we can be happy with Him in the next. (Read my post on salvation to learn more about sanctification!)
What are the Seven Sacraments?
The sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist) are the essential foundations of the Christian life. (CCC 1212)
The Sacraments of Healing (Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick) heal us in mind, body, and soul and bring us back into communion with God.
And the Sacraments at the Service of Communion (Holy Orders and Matrimony) are calls from the Lord to share our love in specific ways.
Stay tuned for posts specifically about each of the Seven Sacraments and the Scriptural Evidence behind them!