| Traditional Roman Catholicism |
Biblical Proof For The seven Sacraments
Holy Baptism
One
Holy Scripture teaches that in apostolic times whole families were baptized which would include infants.
Acts. 16-15 : And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be
faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
Acts 16-33: And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all
his, straightway.
I Cor. 1-16: And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides I know not whether I baptized any other.
COMMENT: So we see unquestionably there were children in these families. Moreover, the earliest records of the
Church prove that children were baptized a few days after birth.
Two
The Bible teaches that (for grown persons to whom the Gospel can be preached) faith is a necessary condition for
baptism.
Mark 16-16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matt. 28-19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost.
COMMENT: In this text there is no question of children, to whom the Gospel could not be preached and who
therefore could not believe. For them not faith but only baptism is required, that original sin may be washed away
and supernatural grace imparted to them.
Three
The Bible teaches that no one at all (hence not even an infant) can enter the Kingdom of God without baptism.
John 3-5: Jesus answered. Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
COMMENT: The expression "a man" or "tis" in Greek means any one at all. Hence this text applies to both babes
and adults.
CONFIRMATION
The Bible teaches that there is such a Christian ordinance or Sacrament as confirmation or "the laying on of
hands" by which we receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8. 14-15 and 17: Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word
of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they
might receive the Holy Ghost: 17. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19-6: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with
tongues, and prophesied.
Heb. 6-2: Of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment.
COMMENT: In the early Church, the Sacrament of "the laying on of hands" was often attended with visible
miraculous effects, which is not now usually the case. But the Sacrament itself remains the same when conferred
by a lawfully consecrated Bishop as a successor of the Apostles.
THE HOLY EUCHARIST: CHRIST ACTUALLY PRESENT THEREIN
One
The Bible teaches that when making his last will and testament Christ gave to us his own Body and Blood.
Mark 14, 22-24: And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said,
Take, eat: This is my body. 23. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks. he gave it to them: and they
all drank of it. 24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
COMMENT: Christ having said "this is my body," who shall deny it and say "this is not your body." Christ having
said "this is my blood," who shall deny and say, "this is not your blood."
Two
The Bible teaches that Our Lord solemnly claimed that his Eucharist was superior to the miraculous food (John
6-11 to 13) and to the manna (Exodus 16-15).
John 6, 26: Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you; ye seek me, not because ye saw the
miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for
that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. etc. 31, Our fathers did
eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32. Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from
heaven.
COMMENT: But if the Holy Eucharist were only bread and wine and not the Body and Blood of Christ, these
statements would constitute gross deception.
Three
The Bible teaches that Christ's Holy Eucharist actually came down from Heaven; in other words that it was really
his own very self.
John 6, 33: For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 35. . . I am
the bread of life ... 38.... For I came down from heaven, etc. 41. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said I
am the bread which came down from heaven, etc. 48. I am that bread of life. 49. Your fathers did eat manna in the
wilderness, and are dead. 50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and
not die. 51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever:
and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
COMMENT: Here Our Lord sums up and confirms what He had said in Parts One and Two above; reflect also that
mere bread and wine does not come down from Heaven. Nor is it Christ's flesh as He expressly states of his Holy
Eucharist.
Four
The Bible teaches that upon hearing Our Lord's claim about the Holy Eucharist, many Jews became Protestors or
Protestants.
John 6, 52: The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat?
COMMENT: If they had said, how can this God do this, there would have been no difficulty, for God can do all
things.
Five
The Bible teaches that in spite of the Jews' most strenuous objections-Christ did not correct or modify his
statement (which he would have done had there been a misunderstanding); but insisted the more upon the reality
of his presence in the Eucharist.
John 6, 53: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and
drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will
raise him up at the last day. 55. For my flesh is meat indeed, and by blood is drink indeed. 56. He that eateth my
flesh, and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the
Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58. This is that bread which came down from heaven; not
as your fathers did eat manna and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.
COMMENT: Even taken as an isolated proof, this is unassailable, but taken as a part of a chain of proofs, it
becomes as impregnable as a wall of solid granite.
Six
The Bible teaches that Jesus allowed many of his disciples to abandon Him, rather than to substitute the
Protestant version of his Holy Eucharist, for what He had given.
John 6-60: Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is an hard saying; who can hear it?
66. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
COMMENT: What a strange concept one must have of Christ to imagine that He would have acted in this manner
if the disciples had really misunderstood Him. (See also John 3, 3 to 7 and John 8, 56-9).
Seven
The Bible teaches that Jesus would have allowed his twelve Apostles also to abandon Him rather than to give
them the Protestant version of his Holy Eucharist.
John 6, 67: Then said Jesus unto the twelve. Will ye also go away? 68. Then Simon Peter answered him. Lord, to
whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God.
COMMENT: Peter as usual had the correct view. He believed and knew that Christ was God, therefore he
accepted his divine word, difficult to understand, though it may have been. Catholics lovingly do the same.
Eight
Saint Paul teaches that the unworthy reception of Holy Communion constitutes a desecration of the Body and
Blood of Christ and is the cause of damnation.
I Cor. 11, 27: Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of
the body and blood of the Lord.
I Cor. 11, 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning
the Lord's body.
COMMENT: Let unbelievers in the truth of our Lord's real presence endeavor to show how the taking of a mere
piece of bread or a sip of wine could be a desecration of Christ himself and a crime worthy of damnation.
CONFESSION
ONE
The Bible teaches that the confessing of sins is a usual requisite for obtaining forgiveness.
Numbers 5, 6-7: Speak unto the children of Israel. When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit . .
. Then they shall confess their sin which they have done, etc.
Proverbs 28, 13: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have
mercy.
II Samuel 12, 13: After David confessed his sins to the prophet Nathan he was given assurance of pardon.
Luke 23, 43: When the thief on the cross confessed, our Lord promised him paradise.
I John 1, 9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness, etc.
Matt. 3, 5-6: Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan. And were
baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Acts 19, 18: And many that believed came (to the Apostles), and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
COMMENT: Private confession is necessarily contained in the double power which Christ gave to the Church-the
power to forgive or retain sins as the circumstances require. To do so prudently-the "minister of reconciliation"
must have the required information, which the penitent supplies by confession.
Two
The Bible teaches that Christ gave to the validly ordained ministers of his own Church the power to forgive sins.
2 Cor. 5, 20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
John 20-21: Then said Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you.
23, Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them: And whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Matt. 18, 18: Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth,
shall be loosed in heaven.
2 Cor. 5, 18, 20: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us
the Ministry of reconciliation.
COMMENT: All purely spiritual powers which Christ conferred upon his Church were given to it perpetually except
where no need of such a power remained. But who will say there is no longer any need of the power to forgive sin,
that sin is no longer a live problem upon earth?
EXTREME UNCTION
The Bible teaches that the anointing of the sick with oil and prayer by the priests of the Church (called Extreme
Unction) may obtain forgiveness of sins and even refreshment Of body.
James 5, 14-16: Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders (i. e., priests) of the church; and let them pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
COMMENT: As all such spiritual ordinances derived from Christ and the Apostles were of their very nature
perpetual, there is absolutely no reason for saying that Extreme Unction as here described was but a temporary
institution
HOLY ORDERS
One
The Bible teaches that Christ has ambassadors or agents (his bishops and priests) who represent Him in this
world.
2 Cor. 5-20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
I Cor. 4, l: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
John 20, 21: Then said Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you .
COMMENT: No wonder that the Catholic Church imposes such serious obligations upon her priests. The fact that
an occasional individual may be faithless to his obligations proves nothing against Christ or his Church. The fact
that many slander and vilify the priests, only makes them so much the more like their Divine Master.
Two
The Bible teaches that the office of the bishop, priests, etc., in the true Church comes by divine appointment; i. e.,
God gives individuals a special vocation to this calling.
Heb. 5, 4: And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Heb. 5, 1: For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may
offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
John 15, 16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth
fruit; and that your fruit should remain- that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
John 20-21: Then said Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
COMMENT: Most unscriptural, therefore, is the practice of congregations ordaining, commissioning their ministers
to preach the gospel to them. This authority comes from Christ, through the Apostles and their lawful successors.
Three
The Bible teaches that the Apostles actually appointed lawful assistants and successors to carry on their work.
Titus 1-5: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain
elders (i. e., priests) in every city, as I had appointed thee.
Acts 13, 2 and 3: As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul
for the work whereunto I have called them. 3. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them,
they sent them away.
COMMENT: Holy Orders is a special sacrament which transmits the Apostolic power and authority down through
the centuries.
Matrimony
Gen.2:24, after creating Eve, says "this is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his
wife, and they become one flesh".
Mark 10:6-9: But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this cause a man shall
leave his father and mother; and shall cleave to his wife. And they shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are
not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.
At the wedding feast in Cana, Jesus blessed the Sacrament of Marriage both with his presence and making his
first miracle (Jn.2).
One
Holy Scripture teaches that in apostolic times whole families were baptized which would include infants.
Acts. 16-15 : And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be
faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
Acts 16-33: And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all
his, straightway.
I Cor. 1-16: And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides I know not whether I baptized any other.
COMMENT: So we see unquestionably there were children in these families. Moreover, the earliest records of the
Church prove that children were baptized a few days after birth.
Two
The Bible teaches that (for grown persons to whom the Gospel can be preached) faith is a necessary condition for
baptism.
Mark 16-16: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matt. 28-19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost.
COMMENT: In this text there is no question of children, to whom the Gospel could not be preached and who
therefore could not believe. For them not faith but only baptism is required, that original sin may be washed away
and supernatural grace imparted to them.
Three
The Bible teaches that no one at all (hence not even an infant) can enter the Kingdom of God without baptism.
John 3-5: Jesus answered. Verily, verily, I say unto thee. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he
cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.
COMMENT: The expression "a man" or "tis" in Greek means any one at all. Hence this text applies to both babes
and adults.
CONFIRMATION
The Bible teaches that there is such a Christian ordinance or Sacrament as confirmation or "the laying on of
hands" by which we receive the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8. 14-15 and 17: Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word
of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15. Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they
might receive the Holy Ghost: 17. Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Acts 19-6: And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with
tongues, and prophesied.
Heb. 6-2: Of the doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal
judgment.
COMMENT: In the early Church, the Sacrament of "the laying on of hands" was often attended with visible
miraculous effects, which is not now usually the case. But the Sacrament itself remains the same when conferred
by a lawfully consecrated Bishop as a successor of the Apostles.
THE HOLY EUCHARIST: CHRIST ACTUALLY PRESENT THEREIN
One
The Bible teaches that when making his last will and testament Christ gave to us his own Body and Blood.
Mark 14, 22-24: And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said,
Take, eat: This is my body. 23. And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks. he gave it to them: and they
all drank of it. 24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
COMMENT: Christ having said "this is my body," who shall deny it and say "this is not your body." Christ having
said "this is my blood," who shall deny and say, "this is not your blood."
Two
The Bible teaches that Our Lord solemnly claimed that his Eucharist was superior to the miraculous food (John
6-11 to 13) and to the manna (Exodus 16-15).
John 6, 26: Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you; ye seek me, not because ye saw the
miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27. Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for
that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. etc. 31, Our fathers did
eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32. Then Jesus said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from
heaven.
COMMENT: But if the Holy Eucharist were only bread and wine and not the Body and Blood of Christ, these
statements would constitute gross deception.
Three
The Bible teaches that Christ's Holy Eucharist actually came down from Heaven; in other words that it was really
his own very self.
John 6, 33: For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 35. . . I am
the bread of life ... 38.... For I came down from heaven, etc. 41. The Jews then murmured at him, because he said I
am the bread which came down from heaven, etc. 48. I am that bread of life. 49. Your fathers did eat manna in the
wilderness, and are dead. 50. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and
not die. 51. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever:
and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
COMMENT: Here Our Lord sums up and confirms what He had said in Parts One and Two above; reflect also that
mere bread and wine does not come down from Heaven. Nor is it Christ's flesh as He expressly states of his Holy
Eucharist.
Four
The Bible teaches that upon hearing Our Lord's claim about the Holy Eucharist, many Jews became Protestors or
Protestants.
John 6, 52: The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat?
COMMENT: If they had said, how can this God do this, there would have been no difficulty, for God can do all
things.
Five
The Bible teaches that in spite of the Jews' most strenuous objections-Christ did not correct or modify his
statement (which he would have done had there been a misunderstanding); but insisted the more upon the reality
of his presence in the Eucharist.
John 6, 53: Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and
drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will
raise him up at the last day. 55. For my flesh is meat indeed, and by blood is drink indeed. 56. He that eateth my
flesh, and drinketh my blood dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the
Father; so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58. This is that bread which came down from heaven; not
as your fathers did eat manna and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.
COMMENT: Even taken as an isolated proof, this is unassailable, but taken as a part of a chain of proofs, it
becomes as impregnable as a wall of solid granite.
Six
The Bible teaches that Jesus allowed many of his disciples to abandon Him, rather than to substitute the
Protestant version of his Holy Eucharist, for what He had given.
John 6-60: Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is an hard saying; who can hear it?
66. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
COMMENT: What a strange concept one must have of Christ to imagine that He would have acted in this manner
if the disciples had really misunderstood Him. (See also John 3, 3 to 7 and John 8, 56-9).
Seven
The Bible teaches that Jesus would have allowed his twelve Apostles also to abandon Him rather than to give
them the Protestant version of his Holy Eucharist.
John 6, 67: Then said Jesus unto the twelve. Will ye also go away? 68. Then Simon Peter answered him. Lord, to
whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ,
the Son of the living God.
COMMENT: Peter as usual had the correct view. He believed and knew that Christ was God, therefore he
accepted his divine word, difficult to understand, though it may have been. Catholics lovingly do the same.
Eight
Saint Paul teaches that the unworthy reception of Holy Communion constitutes a desecration of the Body and
Blood of Christ and is the cause of damnation.
I Cor. 11, 27: Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of
the body and blood of the Lord.
I Cor. 11, 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning
the Lord's body.
COMMENT: Let unbelievers in the truth of our Lord's real presence endeavor to show how the taking of a mere
piece of bread or a sip of wine could be a desecration of Christ himself and a crime worthy of damnation.
CONFESSION
ONE
The Bible teaches that the confessing of sins is a usual requisite for obtaining forgiveness.
Numbers 5, 6-7: Speak unto the children of Israel. When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit . .
. Then they shall confess their sin which they have done, etc.
Proverbs 28, 13: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have
mercy.
II Samuel 12, 13: After David confessed his sins to the prophet Nathan he was given assurance of pardon.
Luke 23, 43: When the thief on the cross confessed, our Lord promised him paradise.
I John 1, 9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness, etc.
Matt. 3, 5-6: Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan. And were
baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
Acts 19, 18: And many that believed came (to the Apostles), and confessed, and shewed their deeds.
COMMENT: Private confession is necessarily contained in the double power which Christ gave to the Church-the
power to forgive or retain sins as the circumstances require. To do so prudently-the "minister of reconciliation"
must have the required information, which the penitent supplies by confession.
Two
The Bible teaches that Christ gave to the validly ordained ministers of his own Church the power to forgive sins.
2 Cor. 5, 20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
John 20-21: Then said Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so I send you.
23, Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them: And whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
Matt. 18, 18: Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth,
shall be loosed in heaven.
2 Cor. 5, 18, 20: And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us
the Ministry of reconciliation.
COMMENT: All purely spiritual powers which Christ conferred upon his Church were given to it perpetually except
where no need of such a power remained. But who will say there is no longer any need of the power to forgive sin,
that sin is no longer a live problem upon earth?
EXTREME UNCTION
The Bible teaches that the anointing of the sick with oil and prayer by the priests of the Church (called Extreme
Unction) may obtain forgiveness of sins and even refreshment Of body.
James 5, 14-16: Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders (i. e., priests) of the church; and let them pray
over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord
shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
COMMENT: As all such spiritual ordinances derived from Christ and the Apostles were of their very nature
perpetual, there is absolutely no reason for saying that Extreme Unction as here described was but a temporary
institution
HOLY ORDERS
One
The Bible teaches that Christ has ambassadors or agents (his bishops and priests) who represent Him in this
world.
2 Cor. 5-20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
I Cor. 4, l: Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
John 20, 21: Then said Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you .
COMMENT: No wonder that the Catholic Church imposes such serious obligations upon her priests. The fact that
an occasional individual may be faithless to his obligations proves nothing against Christ or his Church. The fact
that many slander and vilify the priests, only makes them so much the more like their Divine Master.
Two
The Bible teaches that the office of the bishop, priests, etc., in the true Church comes by divine appointment; i. e.,
God gives individuals a special vocation to this calling.
Heb. 5, 4: And no man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
Heb. 5, 1: For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may
offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.
John 15, 16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth
fruit; and that your fruit should remain- that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
John 20-21: Then said Jesus to them again. Peace be unto you; as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
COMMENT: Most unscriptural, therefore, is the practice of congregations ordaining, commissioning their ministers
to preach the gospel to them. This authority comes from Christ, through the Apostles and their lawful successors.
Three
The Bible teaches that the Apostles actually appointed lawful assistants and successors to carry on their work.
Titus 1-5: For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain
elders (i. e., priests) in every city, as I had appointed thee.
Acts 13, 2 and 3: As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul
for the work whereunto I have called them. 3. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them,
they sent them away.
COMMENT: Holy Orders is a special sacrament which transmits the Apostolic power and authority down through
the centuries.
Matrimony
Gen.2:24, after creating Eve, says "this is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his
wife, and they become one flesh".
Mark 10:6-9: But from the beginning of the creation, God made them male and female. For this cause a man shall
leave his father and mother; and shall cleave to his wife. And they shall be in one flesh. Therefore now they are
not two, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.
At the wedding feast in Cana, Jesus blessed the Sacrament of Marriage both with his presence and making his
first miracle (Jn.2).
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