The Role Of Baptism And The Eucharist

Introduction

Sacraments are the means, which Christians partake in the mystery of Christ through symbolic actions. Alister E. McGrath described the Sacraments as “Outward signs of the visible grace of God”. Consequently, since the beginning of Christianity, Christians have practiced many different sacraments. However, Western theologians limited the sacraments to include the ones that Christ instituted. As a result, the Sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Orders and Matrimony became traditional in the West. Accordingly, Baptism and the Eucharist are highly esteemed because of references in the Gospel of Matthew, the Thirty-Nine articles of the Church of England and they are differentiated as the two Sacraments ordained by God. Although, the Sacraments vary from one denomination to the next the Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Wesleyan and Radical Reformers all practice the Sacraments of Baptism and, the Eucharist (Lord’s Supper). The Quakers and the Salvation Army are

At the Council of Trent, Baptism was declared necessary for salvation. Accordingly, repentance and faith are required for Baptism in the Catholic and Orthodox Church (Acts 2:38). In the Catholic/Orthodox Churches, the Sacrament of Baptism is offered to believers and the infants of believers. Infants are baptized based on the faith of their parents or another adult. In addition, the adults are responsible for teaching the children the faith in preparation for confirmation. In the Orthodox Church, infants are baptized eight days after birth. According to Philip Schaff, the belief is based on “Old Testament tradition of circumcision”. Both the Catholic and Orthodox believe baptism replaced circumcision, which required infants to be circumcised eight days after birth. This practice is based on Colossians chapter 2 verses 11 and 12, verse 12