Christianity Practices: Sacraments

Question 1

What are sacraments?

Answer 1

• An outward sign of inward grace
• Sacraments are rites and rituals through which the believer receives a special gift of grace
• Many Christians believe that Sacraments bring them closer to God

Question 2

What are some sacraments?

Answer 2

• Baptism
• Eucharist
• Reconciliation
• Matrimony
• etc.

Question 3

What is Baptism?

Answer 3

• After Jesus was crucified and resurrected He told his disciples to go out and baptise people
• It is seen as welcoming Christians to the Church and the family of God
• Some Christians believe that it cleanses Christians of the original sin they were born with
• Some Christians believe that a person is unable to enter heaven unless they have been baptised

Question 4

Infant Baptism

Answer 4

• A baby is baptised soon after birth in order to wash away original sin
• This removes temptation to sin and allows the child to reconcile with god and go to heaven

Question 5

Believers Baptism

Answer 5

• In Baptist churches, there is no belief in the inheritance of original sin and so baptism isn’t urgent
• Therefore, people are baptised in adulthood as they are old enough to declare their belief in god.

Question 6

Holy Communion / Eucharist

Answer 6

• A sacrament which remembers the last meal Jesus shared with his disciples and remembers his death, the sacrifice and the miracle of his resurrection
• During Holy Communion Christians give thanks to God for sending Jesus to save people from sin and enable them to experience God’s love for all eternity
• There are different understandings of the Eucharist depending on the Christian denominations. Many of the different beliefs centre around the bread and wine and transubstantiation.
• Transubstantiation takes place in catholic churches only.