The Sacraments in the Catholic Church - Research Paper Example

Number: Introduction The sacraments in the Catholic Church are divided into three categories: The sacraments of initiation The sacraments of healing The sacraments at the service of communion This current research will focus on the sacrament of initiation which is further subdivided into three stages: The sacrament of baptism The sacrament of Confirmation The sacrament of Eucharist The sacrament of baptism is considered as an initiation sacrament which is supposed to initiate a member into the church. It is considered as the doorway to other sacraments of the church, seven in number. Churches that practice the sacraments believe that they are a sure witnesses and effectual signs of grace. They believe the sacraments are God’s will to us. Through the sacraments, God does work to us in an invisible manner, the sacraments serve to quicken God’s will to us but also strengthens our and confirms our faith in him. Baptism is seen as a way to salvation for the Catholics who consider the church as the universal sacrament of salvation. Catholics believe that the manner in which one is baptized is not important but the idea that they are baptized is. The person administering the sacrament must not be a priest but anyone who has undergone baptism themselves. However, during critical moments for instance in sickness or near death, anyone can administer the sacrament provided they follow the right way of doing it. The father or other right authority will then conduct a conditional baptism (Vorgrimler, 2002). This paper will seek to critically evaluate the concept of the sacrament of baptism and its relevance in a Christian’s life or at least for the churches that practice it. The paper will seek to view the sacrament from other Christians views and also give a scholarly critique to the act. This paper will evaluate what the bible says in the old and new testaments about salvation and baptism. This is has been perhaps the most controversial concern with baptism (Berkhof, 2006). The sacrament of Baptism The practice of the sacrament is normally conducted by the pries pouring water on the forehead of the faithful while saying the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, son, and Holy Spirit.” This indicates that the member has been officially initiated into the ways of the church and through that he or she is saved since the church is the sacrament of salvation. The Anglicans also believe the sacrament is the only sure way to salvation. So, what is the necessity of baptism? Is it really important? What does the bible say about baptism and salvation? Old Testament on Baptism The old testament doesn’t really talk about baptism, or at least as we know it. Baptism is viewed in a symbolic form. For instance, the Noah case; when God got angry and ordered that every animal in the world be allowed into the ark with eight other people. The eight people were in a way saved by God through water. The water is a symbol of baptism for the eight people in the boat. In this regard, baptism is viewed as a sort of cleansing to the world. God cleansed the world through the use of water. This is the closest that the old testament has come to baptism, albeit symbolically (Osborne, 2008). New Testament on Baptism The oldest form of baptism ever recorded was done by John the Baptist and recorded in the New Testament. He then went ahead to announce to people that people should be baptized in order to clean them off their sins. Baptism, according to John the Baptist was to show that they had repented their sins. John the Baptist performed his miracles using water in the river Jordan. He did so by immersing the believers into the river and then they emerged baptized and born again. This is in the book of Luke. When John is found baptizing people by the river and believers ask him questions, he answers by telling them that he is baptizing them with water but someone is coming who is greater than he is … and will baptize them with the holy spirit and with fire. This form of baptism is a symbol of death, resurrection, and cleansing (MCGrath, 2013). Death: the bible says “My old self has been crucified with Christ.[a] It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. For resurrection: the bible says, “We died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.” Romans 6:4-5 Cleansing: And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 3:21 Baptism post New Testament. Today, baptism is conducted in three different ways: Sprinkling Pouring Immersion Different churches take to different forms of baptism. The Baptist believes only in immersion and they believe that only believer should be baptized. Most of other denominations believe sprinkling and pouring are also a form of baptism. The debate of how one is baptized is a huge one between immersion and sprinkling or pouring with evidence or at least reasonable assumptions can be made to support either sides.. This is however outside the scope of this paper (Gunton, 2008). The protestants view baptism as a way of cleansing of sins and that baptism is not a compulsory ritual, at least most protestant churches. They believe that salvation through prayer, whereby one is prayed for by a priest and you believe as you are prayed for and this serves as being “born again” a concept in the bible used to refer to baptism. Now compare all these with the take in the idea of sacrament of baptism by the Catholics and the Anglican churches. The sacrament of baptism perceives the act of baptism as an initiation process into the church. So, what is the relationship between salvation and baptism? There is an idea in some denominations or at least implications that baptism is a prerequisite for salvation. They claim that one cannot get saved if they are not baptized. This is following what John the Baptist said that he will baptize people with water and then Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire, what is popularly interpreted as salvation (Goizueta & Aquino, 2008). Effects of the sacrament of baptism The sacrament of baptism serves to remove the sin committed by Adam and Eve and passed to us through birth. It also serves to wash sins committed by ourselves. Initiates one into being a Christian and becoming part of a church. Conclusion Baptism as a ritual is an idea borrowed from the bible but interpreted into different forms by different churches and denominations. What remains clear though is that baptism and salvation are different concepts. Whatever a church or a denomination does as they baptize or for whichever reason they do it for, baptism is an outward act which is just meant to symbolize that one is committed to Christianity or a given church. The outward act does not in any way signify what one is going through inwards (Berkhof, 2006). References Berkhof, L. (2006). Systematic Theology. New York: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. Goizueta, R., & Aquino, M. (2008). Theology: Expanding the Borders. Boston: Twenty-Third Publications. Gunton, C. (2008). The Theology of Reconciliation. London: Continuum. MCGrath, A. (2013). Theology: The Basic Readings. Manchester: John Wiley & Sons. Osborne, K. (2008). Sacramental Theology: A General Introduction. Washington DC: Paulist Press. Vorgrimler, H. (2002). Sacramental Theology. London: Liturgical Press. Read More