Posted on 05/21/2025 7:52:13 PM PDT by ebb tide
God became man (Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior). The incarnation was the event in salvation history that raised matter to previously unknown heights. All created matter was “good” from the start (Gen 1:25), but was “glorified” by the incarnation.
Ritual and “physicality” were not abolished by the coming of Christ. Quite the contrary: it was the incarnation that fully established sacramentalism as a principle in the Christian religion. The latter may be defined as the belief that matter can convey grace.
It's really that simple, at bottom, or in essence. God uses matter both to help us live better lives (sanctification) and to ultimately save us (regeneration and justification), starting with baptism itself.
The atonement or redemption of Christ (His death on the cross for us) was not purely “spiritual”. It was as physical (“sacramental”, if you will) as it could be, as well as spiritual. Protestants often piously refer to “the Blood of Jesus,” and rightly so (see Rev 5:9; Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 9:12; 1 Pet 1:2; 1 Jn 1:7; etc.). This is explicitly sacramental thinking.
It was the very suffering of Jesus in the flesh, and the voluntary shedding of His own blood, which constituted the crucial, essential aspect of His work as our Redeemer and Savior. One can't avoid this: “he was bruised for our iniquities” (Is 53:5).
So it is curious that many Protestants appear to possess a pronounced hostility to the sacramental belief of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, seeing that it flows so straightforwardly from the incarnation and the crucifixion itself.
(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...
This is all the more true of sacramentals (things like holy water, scapulars, blessings, miraculous medal, genuflection, etc.), which depend entirely on the inner state of the one using or receiving them. Intent, sincerity, motivation, piety, and suchlike are all supremely important in the Catholic life.
Ping
Bookmark
Matter conveys grace all over the place in Scripture: baptism confers regeneration (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet 3:21; cf. Mk 16:16; Rom 6:3-4; 1 Cor 6:11; Titus 3:5). Paul's “handkerchiefs” healed the sick (Acts 19:12), as did even Peter's shadow (Acts 5:15), and of course, Jesus' garment (Mt 9:20-22) and saliva mixed with dirt (Jn 9:5 ff.; Mk 8:22-25), as well as water from the pool of Siloam (Jn 9:7).
Anointing with oil for healing is encouraged (Jas 5:14). We also observe in Scripture the laying on of hands for the purpose of ordination and commissioning (Acts 6:6; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6) to facilitate the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17-19; 13:3; 19:6), and for healing (Mk 6:5; Lk 13:13; Acts 9:17-18).
Those who wear the scapular and/or the miraculous medal are practitioners of idolatry and deny the efficacy of the shed blood of Christ.
I'd say the "hostility" is aimed at the Roman Catholic INSISTENCE that only their priests have the power to change the bread and wine into the literal body and blood of Jesus and partaking in its Mass ritual AS a member of the Roman Catholic church is the ONLY way to receive Christ and be saved (in addition to other stuff). This is contrary to Jesus' own words that BELIEF is how we eat and drink Him.
The real pronounced hostility - especially seen here on the RF - comes from the Roman Catholics who deny that non-Catholic Christians can be and are saved, that we rejoice in that assurance promised by God, that we give testimony to our faith in Christ's body and blood sacrifice for our sins and commemorate it with others by the remembrance of Him in the Lord's Supper observance via bread and wine/juice. We don't have to believe the bread and wine MUST be changed into the literal flesh and blood of Jesus in order to be sacrificed over and over again for our sins. He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
You know, it's really strange how some Catholics feel like they have to attack other Christians who are faithful to Jesus Christ, live lives that honor and glorify Him, share the good news of the gospel with others, encourage each other towards holiness and love for one another, but who don't ascribe to the Roman Catholic version. You'd think they would be happy for us!
Up to your old tricks I see.
Why not include the Orthodox, the Coptics, the Maronites, the Lutherans and the Anglicans? The more the merrier!
The article was about Roman Catholicism. I’ll add if ANYONE wears either of those idolatrous things they’ re in the same boat as the RC. It’s an abandonment of the Gospel.
What's strange is that you think this article is an "attack".
Don't you prots baptize with water? Why water and not root beer?
👍
+
The Catholic Church recognizes the Orthodox Consecration as valid (but illicit). So, no. Their Apostolic succession is intact. Some denominations intentionally broke Apostolic succession.
Any baptized person (by water, blood or desire) is technically in the Catholic Church and can be saved (with true repentance).
Yet, you say Catholics can’t be saved, that we worship images, we don’t… not even close.
Please, just ask us what we believe, instead of telling us what you think we believe.
I guess the pre-Messianic Jews worshipped the statues of angels on the Ark of the Covenant, under your rules. It was a graven image after all…
I got baptized in the 9 dash line. 🙏
Don't you prots baptize with water? Why water and not root beer?
Your posted article accuses us of having a pronounced hostility... But your posted article is an attack on Protestant beliefs. What is strange is that you deny it.
Whst is interesting to me is this: regarding sacramentals - these are things & objects the church made up AND then goes to the gospel to justify its usage and say its ok, because this is part of the theology of what RC’s call “The One True Church”. Sorry, I dont buy it.
2 Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it.
Tell me you don’t know how to handle the Word.
Are we to understand you wear the scapular and/or miraculous medal?
Now, contrast that with the apparition and its false message.
Hopefully one can see the difference.
You mean God commissioned a graven image? O.o
False message, who deemed it false, did you interview the witnesses? Btw Catholics are not required to believe in apparitions.
And it shall come to pass after this, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy: your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. - Acts 2:17
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.