Catholic Conversations
Discovering the
Supremacy of Grace
Catholic Conversations
Week 1: Scripture (How does God speak to the world?)
Week 2: Sin (How are we made in the image of God?)
Week 3: Sacraments (What is the church?)
Week 4: Salvation (Why are people accepted by God?)
What is the Church?
The Catholic Church claims that …
“…the sole Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him” (CCC 816).
Salvation actually flows from the “fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church” (CCC 819).
Protestants are considered “Christians” but their assemblies are not real churches, but “ecclesial communities.”
– Pope Benedict XVI (July 10, 2007)
Why the Catholic Church is Exclusive
The Catholic Church’s understanding of the
Church is rooted in two key principles:
1) Nature-Grace interdependence
2) Christ-Church connection
Nature-Grace interdependence
Catholic Tradition affirms that nature is capable of receiving,
cooperating with and transmitting grace (e.g. water, oil, bread, and
wine).
Through the power of God, nature conveys grace and grace must be
mediated through nature.
Explains why the sacraments are necessary for salvation: they are the
means by which grace is infused into people.
Baptism – infuses grace through consecrated water and cleanses
people of original sin and actual sin.
Eucharist – infuses grace through consecrated bread and wine, thus
augmenting our relationship with Christ and separating us from sin.
Nature-Grace interdependence
Mediation is needed between the:
Realm
of
NATURE
Realm
of
GRACEThe Catholic Church’s purpose is to mediate grace
through the consecration of elements from the
realm of nature and administer those elements
(sacraments) in the realm of grace.
Christ-Church Connection
The Catholic Church affirms that Christ – both his divine nature
and his human nature – is present in the Catholic Church.
Therefore, the Church is an extension, or continuation, of the
incarnation. As such, the Church acts as the person of Christ,
thereby mediating between God and fallen people.
The Church’s leadership (Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests)
mediates grace and the laity receive grace. Through the
sacrament of Holy Orders, consecrated men from the realm of
nature become conveyers of grace as they consecrate the
sacraments and administer them to the Catholic faithful.
Implication and Biblical Response
Implication: The Church, with the pope and the hierarchy
leading it, with particular emphasis on the sacraments
mediating grace through nature, is “necessary for
salvation” (CCC 846).
Biblical Response: Protestants reject:
Nature-grace interdependence because it doesn’t
account for the devastating impact of sin on nature,
and sin has rendered us hostile to grace (see last week’s
notes).
Biblical Response to the Christ-Church Connection
The metaphor of Christ as head of the church and the
church as his body portrays an intimate relationship of
unity between the two (1 Corinthians 12; Eph. 5)
Jesus ascended into heaven (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9)
Jesus intercedes for us at the right hand of God (Romans
8:34); he is our advocate (1 John 2:1-2)
Jesus promised to come again so that believers may be
with him (John 14:3)
Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit who would take his
place and continue his work (John 14:16-17)
Assessing the Christ-Church Connection
Misrepresents the metaphor of the church as the
body of Christ and forces a literal interpretation
Collapses the distinction between Christ and the
church so that they become essentially the
same reality
Reduces the uniqueness of the Incarnation
Minimizes the work and presence of the Holy
Spirit
Understanding “the Church”
Catholic View
Christ
Church
Believer
Biblical View
Christ
Believer
Church
Who is the Pope?
Catholic Tradition affirms that the Pope:
Is the “Vicar” – the concrete, visible representative of Christ
Is the successor of Peter and wields the apostolic “keys to the kingdom” (Matthew 16:19)
Opens the treasury of Christ and the saints and distributes indulgences, or the “remission of the temporal punishment due for their (lay people’s) sins” (CCC 1478)
Serves as the pastor of the entire Church, possessing “full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered” (CCC 882).
What about Papal Infallibility?
“When the Roman Pontiff (the pope) speaks EX
CATHEDRA, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority,
he defines doctrine concerning faith or morals to be
held by the whole Church, he possesses, by the divine
assistance promised to him in blessed Peter, that
infallibility which the divine Redeemer willed his
Church to enjoy in defining doctrine concerning faith
or morals. Therefore, such definitions of the Roman
Pontiff are of themselves . . . irreformable.”
- Vatican Council I (July 18, 1870)
Upon what “rock” will the church be built?
All pronouns “you” are singular (Matt. 16:17-19)
“Peter” (v. 18) is a masculine noun
Vs. 18 reads literally: “… and on this the rock” - “this” (feminine), “the” (feminine), and “rock” (feminine)
Jesus entrusted all the disciples with the “confession” of the gospel and the mission (John 13-17; Matthew 28:19-20)
Acts 2:42 and Ephesians 2:20 reveal that the church is built and focused on the foundation of the apostles’ teaching (confession) with Jesus as the cornerstone
James, the brother of Jesus, presided over the church in Jerusalem (Acts 15)
In Acts, Peter is featured in chpts. 1-12; Paul is featured in chpts. 13-28
What are the sacraments?
The Catholic Church defines a sacrament as an outward sign
instituted by Christ to give sanctifying grace. The sacraments
are Christ’s own gift that provide us with his grace.
The Catholic Church affirms and celebrates seven sacraments:
“Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, Eucharist, Penance or
Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and
Matrimony” (CCC 1113).
Overview of the SacramentsSacraments of Christian Initiation
Baptism: the gateway sacrament that confers grace through
consecrated water. It cleanses people from original sin, causes them
to be regenerated, and incorporates them into the Church.
Confirmation: bestows grace through the consecrated oil and the
laying on of the bishop’s hand. It confers the fullness of the Holy Spirit,
increases baptismal grace and unites people more closely with Christ.
Eucharist: is the “source and summit of the Christian life” (CCC 1324).
Grants grace through the bread and cup that are transubstantiated
into the body and blood of Christ. The Eucharist augments people’s
union with Christ, separates them from sin and unites them with the
Church.
Overview of the SacramentsThe Sacraments of Healing
Penance: bestows grace through the prescribes “signs, gestures, and
works of penance” (CCC 1430) upon people who have committed
mortal sin after their baptism. Penance requires 3 acts: contrition,
confession of sin, and satisfaction.
Anointing of the Sick: confers grace through consecrated oil applied
on the sick and dying to heal them or to prepare them for facing
death. This sacrament is ideally preceded by Penance and the
Eucharist.
Overview of the SacramentsThe Sacraments of Service of Communion
Holy Orders: bestows grace through the laying on of the bishops’
hands to consecrate men to the priesthood. It confers the “gift of the
Holy Spirit that permits the exercise of a sacred power . . . which can
come only from Christ himself through the Church” (CCC 1538). There
are three degrees of Holy Orders: Episcopal (bishops), Priesthood
(priests), and diaconate (deacons). Holy Orders guarantees that
when bishops and priests sin, their sin cannot prevent grace from
being bestowed on the recipients.
Matrimony: confers grace that initiates and seals a marital covenant
between a husband and wife.
How do the sacraments work?
Catholics believe that the sacraments are a means of grace – they
actually bestow the grace of which they are a sign.
Catholic Tradition affirms that the sacraments are valid or effective ex
opera operato (by the work worked). This means that the sacraments
confer the benefits of grace as if “Christ himself is at work” (CCC 1127) in
the sacrament.
In the sacraments, grace is infused regardless of the state of the man
who administers the sacrament or the person who receives them.
Catholic Tradition insists that the recipients’ faith, while essential, is not
first and foremost. It is, rather, the faith of the Church that is first and
foremost. As Catholics confess, “It is the Church that believes first, and
so bears, nourishes, and sustains my faith” (CCC 168; CCC 1124).
7 sacraments or 2 ordinances?
Most Protestants celebrate two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s
Supper
Why only two ordinances?
1.They were specifically ordained by Christ
2.They are accompanied by tangible signs/symbols
BAPTISM: Ordained by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20 and accompanied by
the sign or symbol of water
LORD’S SUPPER: Ordained by Jesus in Matthew 26:26-29 and
accompanied by the signs or symbols of bread and wine (or juice!)
The Ordinance Test
What about the other five sacraments?
Confirmation: Not ordained by Jesus and there is no sign for it
Penance: Not ordained by Jesus and there is no sign for it
1. Matthew 4:17 does not read “do acts of repentance”
2. Jesus did not institute threefold action of contrition, confession and
satisfaction
Anointing the sick: Not ordained by Jesus but there is a sign (oil)
Holy Orders: Not ordained by Jesus; and while some Protestants ordain
pastors and deacons, they are acts of consecration not sacraments
Matrimony: Ordained by God (Genesis 1:28; 2:24) and endorsed by Jesus
(Matthew 19:1-9), but Christ did not institute it formally. Additionally,
marriage is a rite for all people, not reserved exclusively for Christians.
Catholic Conversations
Next Week: SalvationWhy are people accepted by God?
What is justification and sanctification?
Is our salvation certain and secure?
How should we understand the Gospel?