Sacraments or sacrifice

The Roman Catholic list seven sacraments. In the early church sacraments was used both in a restricted sense referring to baptism and the Eucharist, and in a wider sense referring to many other rites such as the Lord’s Prayer. But what is sacrament? According to Augustine, sacrament is a sign of a sacred thing; a sacrament is the visible form of an invisible grace; a sacraments bears a likeness of that thing those sign it is. To sum up this thought sacrament which is a sign of the grace of God and a form of invisible grace, so that it bears its image and exists as it cause. It is instituted for the sake, not only of signifying but also of sanctifying. It is a means of increasing humility, instruction and spur to activity. 

The Roman Catholic believed that sacrament is a channeling grace of God, because through sacraments they could submit himself out of respect to God’s command and through outward visible form the mind may be taught to understand the inward invisible virtue. The reality is as Christian I believe that God could give grace to man without the sacraments and has not tied his power to them. It gives me more clarity of viewing God’s grace, Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by God’s grace . . .” This statement denotes that God’s grace is extended to those who believe and have faith in Him, and not by the sacraments. God’s grace is a mirror of Christian living. 

Therefore, as believer and follower of Christ we can inherit God’s grace not by our own effort, it is by the word itself, meaning “unfavorable gift from God”. What a promising word from God that, I am God’s recipient of His kindness, goodness and love. A person who is bound to the grace of God is more fulfilling and satisfying, because we are in the hands of God. I should not seek more than anything else, but rather is to seek God with all my life. God doesn't need to follow sacraments because He is the one who made the sacrifice, for me to be saved.