Would that be the catholics who are serious about their faith that receive grace through the sacraments?
For the cause of Christ
Roger
The Sacraments:
1. Baptism
The RCC's teaching on this is that, at the time one receives Christ, all sin is forgiven up to the point of baptism. The sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament in which the priest, as the agent of God, forgives sins committed after Baptism, when the sinner is heartily sorry for them, sincerely confesses them,
and is willing to make satisfaction for them. Yet scripture states that Jesus made satisfaction for our sins and ascended to the right hand of God and makes intercession for those who pray to God the Father in his name. Also, there is only one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus. Therefore, we can go boldly before the throne of grace in the name of the Lord Jesus and when we confess our sins to him (not another man and not through Mary) then he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. All sin has been paid for by Christ past, present and future for the one who continues in faith.
2. The Eucharist
The Lord instituted his supper with two elements, the bread and the wine, which figuratively represents his body that was broken for us and his blood that was shed for us, respectively. The RCC has changed that into a pagan ritual taking the two elements and making them one in a Eucharist wafer. The priest calls Christ down out of heaven who enters into the Eucharist so that the partaker is literally eating the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus thousands of times per day all over the world. This is why in some Catholic services, you will see them hold what is called a "communion plate" underneath the Eucharist in case it falls and that because they believe that Christ is in the Eucharist. This sounds more like pagan ritual of Mithraism Yet, scripture states that Christ died once and for all and ascended to heaven and sat down at the right hand of the God the Father where he ever makes intercession for all believers.
3. Reconcilation
By this sacrament Christians are freed from sins committed after baptism. The sacrament of penance is considered the normal way to be absolved from mortal sins which would otherwise condemn a person to Hell. The RCC teaches that there are there are venial and mortal sins. Venial are lesser sin's that do not lead to punishment, whereas mortal sin's can. Scripture states that the only sin that cannot be forgiven is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The example of this is when the Jewish leaders said that Jesus was casting out demons by the prince of demons (Satan) and therefore calling the Holy Spirit, evil. One would have to perform something directly similar in order to commit this sin, which would have to be willful. Other than blasphemy against the Spirit, all sin is sin, of which Jesus said, "all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven. Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man it shall be forgiven him." Therefore, all sin is forgivable if we confess and repent and it does not require personal works on our part to be absolved of them.
4. Confirmation
According to the RCC, Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Scripture states that those who heard the message of salvation of Jesus Christ, most of the time immediately received the gifts of the spirit, such as Cornelius' household, who as Peter was still speaking the gospel to them, they began to speak in languages and prophesy and that because God purified their hearts through faith and faith alone. They must have matured really fast!
5. Marriage
The sacrament of marriage has nothing to do with salvation, unless the unbelieving husband is saved by his believing wife and vise versa. However it can affect salvation if a man is with another man's wife and vise versa, which is adultery. Otherwise, it is an institution between man and woman that God created for all.
6. Holy Orders
In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, or Ordination, the priest being ordained vows to lead other Catholics by bringing them the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), by proclaiming the Gospel, and by providing other means to holiness. (Regarding the Eucharist, see above)
7. Anointing the sick
The Catholic Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, formerly known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is a ritual of healing appropriate not only for physical but also for mental and spiritual sickness. According to the RCC, The last rites are meant to prepare the dying person's soul for death, by providing absolution for sins by penance, sacramental grace and prayers for the relief of suffering through anointing, and the final administration of the Eucharist, known as "Viaticum", which is Latin for "provision for the journey."
Again, going over the same information, scripture states that for believes who continue in faith, no last rites are required and that because a true believer their sins are all covered by the shed blood of Christ past, present and future. Also, providing the dying person with the Eucharist prior to death is not necessary again, see Eucharist above. This thinking is all based on sins committed after baptism as not being covered by Christ, but needing to be resolved by a priest through the sacraments, as well as the teaching of Purgatory. According to the RCC dogma, all Catholics must first go to Purgatory in order to be purged by fire of any sins that were not absolved while living. Yet scripture states that, Jesus paid the penalty for all sins and that when we confess our sin's he is faithful and just to forgive us for all sin and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness. After Stephen was stoned and dying, did he have a priest run over to him to give him his last rites and administer the Eucharist? No! Stephan saw the Lord standing at the right hand of God and said, "Lord, receive my spirit." His sins were already covered by grace through faith and at the time of death his spirit departed his body and went immediately to be in the presence of the Lord.
