Simply put, Jesus is the ultimate promise, the fulfillment of the Covenants, the one who comes to save us from our sins. He gives us some practical ways to participate in his life and gain grace.
In our previous article, we asked “What is a Covenant?” we saw how the Lord’s promise to His people was permanent and continued to grow through history with Covenants. Even though sin and corruption had consequences and caused harm when people turned away from God, His promise remained steadfast and faithful.
When we reach Jesus, the promise is open to everyone
What is God’s purpose?
The Lord loves us and his ultimate goal for us is to be with him in eternity. We sin and fall short. He wants to save us and has a plan. Each one of us can participate with Jesus.
Physical Signs
Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Covenants. They were permanent and have been fulfilled. In order to help His Church and us today, He gave us additional Covenants that connect us to Him and His Church. They are called Sacraments.
Definition of Sacrament
- A Physical Sign instituted by Jesus to give grace.
Did the Church Invent Sacraments?
As we will see, Jesus is the one that started all the Sacraments. They are in the Bible. We will see many references in the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and other New Testament writings referring to the Sacraments. The Church did not invent them but has followed Jesus and continued them for 2000+ years.
Adam and Eve – Marriage
From a Covenant of marriage with Adam and Eve, in Genesis, we saw the two will become one flesh in marriage.
In the New Testament, Jesus supports marriage and elevates it by connecting it to his first public miracle at the request of his mother Mary. Later, Jesus stresses the importance of marriage by saying let no one separate what God has joined together.
- Jesus supports marriage. It is both spiritual and physical. It gives the couple grace and connects them with Himself. This agrees with our definition of Sacrament.
Some references:
John 2:1-12 (wedding of Cana)
Matthew 19:3-8, Mark 10:2-12 (let no one divide what God has joined)
Noah – Baptism
Using water to physically wash is a universal practice. However after the flood wiped away the sins of the world, water was also used for spiritual cleansing. In the time of Jesus, Jewish ceremonial practice used water for ritual cleansing.
Does Jesus need Baptism?
God is perfect and already fully clean, so Jesus does not need Baptism. However, in doing so, He sets an example for us and elevates this cleansing by connecting us to Himself. He knows we need it.
The Trinity (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit) is present at the Baptism of Jesus. After the Resurrection, Jesus tells his disciples to go and Baptize in the name of the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- It is a Sacrament because Jesus uses the physical action of washing with water to strengthen us and give us grace.
Some references:
Matt 28:18-20, (Baptize in the Trinity)
Acts 2:37-41 (3,000 Baptized)
Acts 8:12 (men & woman)
Acts 8:36-38 (Uncircumcised Eunuch Baptized)
Acts 9:17-18 (Paul is Baptized)
Acts 10:47-48 (Cornelius – all who were listening)
Acts 16:14-15 (Lydia and her household)
Acts 16:27-34 (Jailor and all his family at once)
Acts 18:5-8
Acts 19:1-5
Acts 22:14-17
Communion/Eucharist – Sacrifice of a son
If we recall back to Abraham, the Lord asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Perhaps we may think it was unfair or unjust. However, before Abraham could do it, God sent an angel to stop him.
The Lord did not require Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac, but later the Lord does sacrifice His son, Jesus. He goes through the ultimate sacrifice, with all the pain and suffering, to show us how far He will go to save us.
The divide of sin is great, but Jesus’ sacrifice of Love is greater.
New and Everlasting Covenant – Communion/Eucharist
The Covenants in the Old Testament kept growing until the Lord’s people had grown to a national kingdom. The next Covenant would be even greater. The People had waited for a thousand years. It is finally here with Jesus’s words…
Matthew 26:26-28
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,
28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.
Jesus himself began this mission to the whole world. He began reaching out to others who were not Jewish (the woman at the well, the parable of the good Samaritan, and healing the Centurian’s servant).
How is the Exodus Passover connected to Jesus?
- Passover; Sacrifice an unblemished lamb. Jesus is the lamb of God
- Passover; The lamb must be eaten. Jesus says eat my flesh & blood
- Passover; Bitterness of Captivity; Jesus frees us from bitterness of sin
- Passover; Flee from Slavery; Jesus helps us turn away from sin
- Passover; Blood on the door; Blood of Jesus
- Passover; 12 Tribes. 12 Apostles
- This new Passover meal, the New Covenant, Communion, the breaking of the bread, the Eucharist, is a participation in the life of Christ.
Some references:
At Passover of each Gospel (Do this in memory of me)
John 6: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
1 Cor 11:23-26 (As often as you do this, you proclaim… the Lord)
Holy Orders
If we follow the Covenantal promise from God, starting from Adam and Eve, and down through history in the genealogies, we see a promised succession fulfilled in Jesus.
If the Bible was only man-made, the promise would have failed long ago, but because it came from God, it continues from the beginning to the end.
The Covenant and the Succession do not end with Jesus. They are fulfilled in Him, but He chose to keep them going. We see this in His choosing of the Apostles. By the end of Acts of the Apostles, we see the 3-fold level of the priesthood as the Church spreads.
- Bishops /Greek Episcope
(Apostles, Barnabas, Paul, Timothy & Titus)
Peter : Leading role after Jesus - Priests/ Greek presbyters/ Elders
(At Jerusalem in Acts 15, appointed by Paul in each town, and farewell at Miletus) - The 7 (Deacons )
(Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas)
Jesus did not do away with the Covenants and promise of Succession. He elevated them by connecting them to Himself.
Through apostolic succession, The Apostles, Paul, Timothy, Titus, and those they chose after, continued the worldwide universal Church.
Some references:
Jesus chose 12, not everyone
Apostles at the Last Supper
Acts 1:20 (Replaced Judas with Matthias) Psalm 109 (Bishoprick)
7 Deacons in Acts (preaching & Baptism. Waited for Peter & John for Confirmation)
Acts 8:14-17 (Peter & John give Holy Spirit) Episcope (Bishops) Acts 8:14-17
Acts 15:3,6 – Apostles and Presbyters (Priests) mentioned
Acts 20:17-28 – Presbyters (Priests)
(watch over yourselves and over the whole flock
of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers)
Paul and Barnabas (laying on of hands)
Paul choose Timothy and Titus
Paul tells Timothy to be careful who he chooses
Tim 4:14 (imposition of hands of the presbyterate)
Tim 5:17 (rules for presbyters – preaching and teaching)
Tim 5:22 (Do not lay hands on anyone to readily)
James 5 :14 (priests administered Anointing of sick)
Ignatius of Antioch (c 95-107AD) uses the term Bishop a lot
Why Do We need Confession? Jesus requested it.
Many Christians and Catholics get confused by the idea of confessing sins, but it comes from Jesus. Right after Jesus rose from the dead… In His mercy He provides a definite way that we can cleanse ourselves of our sins…
21 [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.
23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Once Jesus gave that authority to the Apostles, someone could go to them, confess their sins, and be forgiven. Jesus said this, not the Church.
Whose sins you retain are retained
It is worth reviewing this last line because it results in some unavoidable practical actions.
- First, imagine if Jesus gave everyone this authority. There would be a lot of people walking around who could not get rid of their sin because of others who are not forgiving. This does not make sense. Jesus was speaking to the Apostles, not to everyone.
- Secondly, the Apostles were not mind readers. They would not blindly walk around saying someone’s sins were retained. They could only know someone’s sins if the person told them (confessed).
- Thirdly, Simply, revealing the sin was not enough. The Apostle would need to know whether the person was sorry or not and the only way to tell that is in a private conversation with discernment.
After the private confession, the Apostle would be in a position to follow Jesus’ request; to forgive or to retain someone’s sins.
- Private confession is a practical way to achieve Jesus’s request. Jesus connected it to Himself to help people get cleansed of sin and give them grace.
Assured forgiveness
Why is this Physical Sacrament needed if we can also tell Jesus we are sorry in our prayers? For the full meaning, you would have to ask Jesus since He decided this, but we can look at some reasons.
- Some people may pray for forgiveness but never quite be certain their sins are forgiven.
- Some people commit the same sins over and over. On their own, they lose grace and fortitude and the sins keep adding up.
- Some people may commit a major sin and never feel worthy to ask God for forgiveness.
After Jesus Ascended, it would be up to His Church to decide the details of how/when to administer it. As the Church rapidly grew, this Sacrament was extended to priests so all the faithful could have a way to free themselves from sin.
Coming out of a full Confession is the best feeling in the world. We are pure again, like fresh fallen snow, like a clean washed slate. We are free from sin, and God’s grace can better work in us.
Some references:
Proverbs (He Who confesses will obtain mercy)
The Our Father (Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others)
Jesus forgives Peter 3 times
1 John 1:9 (confess our sins)
James 5:16 (with the anointing of sick, confess & pray to one another)
John 20:21-23 (Apostles were given authority to forgive or hold sins bound)
Pentecost – Confirmation
Also when Jesus rose from the dead, he breathed on them. Breath is one sign of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that the Apostles would receive the Holy Spirit, the Paraclete.
Ten days after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles at Pentecost. This is what we would call Confirmation.
The importance of Confirmation becomes more apparent in Acts of the Apostle. In addition to Pentecost, we see the Holy Spirit come upon the Gentiles when Peter visits the Roman Centurion Cornelius. Confirmation confirms that the Church was open to everyone, not just the Jewish-Christians.
Also in Acts of the Apostles, we begin to see different levels of Holy Orders. In Philip (not the Apostle) we see a Deacon preaching the Gospel and Baptizing (the Eunuch) but he doesn’t give the Holy Spirit. He waits for Peter and John to come to lay their hands on the people to give Confirmation.
Connection to Baptism:
Later in Acts we see some knew the Baptism of John the Baptist but not the Baptism of Jesus. This could have been a conditional Baptism or Confirmation. Baptism and Confirmation are closely linked. Baptism removes original sin in life giving water while Confirmation gives the life giving the fire of the Holy Spirit.
- Note: Some of the later Confirmations in Acts were not spontaneous visual descents of the Holy Spirit, but came through the physical laying on of hands.
Some references:
The Gospels (Jesus promises the Holy Spirit)
Acts 2 (Pentecost/ Descent of the Holy Spirit)
Acts 10 (Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles in Cornelius’ house)
Healing (Anointing) of the sick
In the gospels, Jesus heals people many times, sometimes physically, and often spiritually. These acts of healing did not end with Jesus. He gives this power to the rest of the Apostles…
Mark 6:13
They drove out many demons, and they anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
In Acts of the Apostles, Peter and Paul also had the ability to heal people both physically and spiritually from Jesus.
In James, we see the presbyters(priests) are involved…
James 5:14
Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord
- The Anointing of the sick is a physical sign instituted by Christ to give sick people grace. It is connected to His healings and to us.
Some references:
Jesus – numerous healings
Apostles heal when Jesus sends them out
Acts: Peter and Paul heal
James 5:13-15 (Anointing with presbyters/priest)
Covenants and Sacraments are Personal to Help us in the world.
We sometimes look at Covenants and Sacraments as God’s grand plan as a whole. That is true.
However, the Lord’s ultimate goal is to save each of us individually from sin, grow stronger spiritually, and connect us back to Him. He does this in a very practical way with the Sacraments, using physical signs for real people, so that each one of us can participate in our lives with Jesus.
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Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.