John The Baptist Research Paper

TOPIC THREE: Prepare an exposition of one of the Sacraments, describing its history and development, as well as canonical considerations surrounding the administration of the Sacrament today

Introduction

In the 5th century, St Augustine defined a sacrament as ‘an outward and visible sign of an inward and invisible grace.’ Historically, the word sacrament originally derived from the Greek word ‘mysterion’ which in English means mystery. By the end of the third Century the word ‘mysterion’ was translated into the Latin word ‘sacramentum’ as there was no Latin word that corresponded to ‘mysterion’. In the ancient roman context a sacrament was an oath and a pledge that a soldier took in honour of and in service of to his commanding general.

The

the parting of the red sea is the single greatest act of salvation in the Old Testament,

Remission of the original sin

Cleanse the soul, remove the stain of original sin and attached to that is also the fact that this is a rebirth into the body of Christ and entrance into the Church.

New Testament

John the Baptist –

The first mention of baptism in the New Testament is through the preaching of John the Baptist. John the Baptist commanded the people be purified from their old sinful lives through water, through baptism.

Jesus and his ministry – baptism figures prominently is Jesus’ work as it is the first event that takes places in his public ministry in

John baptizes John in

Through the teachings of John the Baptist the first mention of baptism can be found.

John the Baptist – emphasized the importance of baptism when before he ascended into heaven. He instructed his apostles – “ “ Matthew 28:19-20

Baptize you for your repentance

The baptism of Christ is so important because it testifies of His righteousness

Eastern Church -

Western Church

St Augustine believed that original sin affected everyone.

Effects of the sin of our first parents Adam and Eve affected everybody but not only everyone including infants and that has nobody escapes the effects of a fall. St Augustine also held a view of realism which is the idea that sin physically inheres in you.

If sin physically inheres in you then that requires a psychical remedy. When a person is baptized the water by the miracle of God psychically conveys Gods grace to the recipient so that that grace removes the inhering sin in you. According to Augustine the water extinguishes the sin. Augustine taught – you have to be baptized in order to be saved. If a person does not have the sin washed out of you then you have no capacity or ability to render obedience to God.

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Middle Ages – theologians picking up ideas from Augustine. Baptism is a visible sign of Gods invisible grace – and that through Baptism – water is immersed – as you place the person in the water the invisible grace of God is infused into you and conveys a disposition towards doing good. This gets psychically infused in you through baptism - Created grace of God – these views get formalized at the official Catholic Roman response to the protestant reformation in the 16th century whats called the Council of Trent. This becomes official