The sacraments, explained
Sacramentum was the Roman soldier's oath; the Greek Church says mysterion, mystery. Augustine's definition has held for sixteen centuries: a visible sign of an invisible grace. Water, bread, wine, oil, the laying on of hands, the spoken vow: ordinary matter and ordinary words through which, the churches teach, God acts.
The Catholic and Orthodox churches count seven. Most Protestant churches count two, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, because those two were plainly instituted by Christ himself, and call the others rites or ordinances. All agree that baptism makes a Christian and that the bread and cup are what Jesus told his friends to do in memory of him.
Water and the Name. Entry into the Church, forgiveness of sins, new birth (Matthew 28:19, Romans 6). Kept by every Christian family; infants in most, believers only in Baptist and many independent churches
Oil and the laying on of hands: the gift of the Spirit, the completion of baptism (Acts 8:14-17). Given with baptism in the East, later in the West; a rite of affirmation among Protestants
Bread and wine: this is my body, this is my blood, do this in memory of me (Luke 22). Catholics and Orthodox: the real presence of Christ. Lutherans: Christ truly present in, with and under the elements. Reformed: a spiritual feeding by faith. Baptists: a memorial. All: the centre of Sunday
Sins spoken aloud, absolution given (John 20:23). A sacrament for Catholics and Orthodox; kept as a pastoral practice by Lutherans and Anglicans; private confession to God alone in most Protestant churches
Oil and prayer over the sick (James 5:14-15). A sacrament in Catholic and Orthodox churches; healing prayer in nearly all
The laying on of hands that makes deacons, priests and bishops (1 Timothy 4:14). Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican; Protestant churches ordain ministers without calling it a sacrament
A man and a woman before God and witnesses (Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5). A sacrament for Catholics and Orthodox; a covenant blessed by God for all
Can I be baptised here?
No. Baptism is given by a church in person, with water, before witnesses. This page explains it; a local church, of whichever family you choose, will give it.
Is one church's baptism valid in another?
Nearly always, when done with water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Reformed and Methodists recognise one another's baptism. Baptists and some independents ask for believer's baptism regardless.
Why does IBC not administer sacraments?
Because it is an online teaching community, not a parish, and because it does not claim the authority of any historic church. It explains; it does not pretend.
What is a mystery?
The Eastern word for sacrament: something in which God acts and which the mind cannot exhaust. The West kept the word too: the mystery of faith.
Does Judaism or Islam have sacraments?
Not in the Christian sense. Judaism has covenant signs: circumcision, the Sabbath, the Passover meal, from which Christian baptism and Eucharist grew. Islam has rites, prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, but no rite through which grace is held to be given; the relationship is direct.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
— Matthew 28:19
HOPE HEALING HOUSE · Always free to ask
Sacramenta
Hope, set out plainly.
Baptism · Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, Matrimony.
Ask about a sacrament Read about the sacraments
This is not a parish and gives no sacraments. For matters of conscience speak to a priest; for health, to a doctor.
Sacred artSacred images
See all →Sacred musicChant, psalmody and prayer
Cantus →VisioVideo
See all →CommunitasWorks
Communitas →👑 The Scriptures
Series, sacred music, images, catalogues and contributions — all of it is here.
