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?