Counterfeit WK 3 - Wednesday Night

Week 1 Recap: The Word of God vs Tradition

The Counterfeit – The Bible, Sacred Tradition, and Magisterium are an equal source of authority.

The biblical truth is the Bible is our ultimate and final authority.

2 Timothy 3:16,17

Week 2 Recap: Grace plus works vs Grace Alone

The Counterfeit – Salvation according to Roman Catholicism is Grace plus works.

The biblical truth is that we are saved by grace alone. Ephesians 2:8-9

Week 3: Sacraments vs Ordinances

The Counterfeit - The seven sacraments of Catholicism are channels of grace

· The sacraments are the ways through which God’s saving and sanctifying grace is delivered to people.

1. Baptism – Entrance into the Christian life; cleanses from original sin and makes one a member of the Church.

2. Confirmation – Strengthens the grace of Baptism through the Holy Spirit, sealing a person in faith.

3. Eucharist (Holy Communion) – Receiving the body and blood of Christ, the source and summit of Christian life.

4. Penance (Reconciliation or Confession) – Confessing sins to a priest for absolution and receiving God’s forgiveness.

5. Anointing of the Sick – Special grace of healing, strength, and forgiveness given to those who are seriously ill or near death.

6. Holy Orders – The sacrament through which men are ordained as deacons, priests, or bishops.

7. Matrimony – The sacramental union of a man and woman in lifelong covenant, reflecting Christ’s love for the Church.

Biblical Truth: We believe God’s grace is received directly by faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9).

Ordinance is a practice Jesus ordained/commanded that His followers observe.

Ordinances (Baptism and Communion) are symbols and testimonies of grace already received, not the channels through which grace comes.

• Catholic: Grace flows through the sacraments like water through pipes.

• Evangelical: Grace flows directly from Jesus by faith, and ordinances are symbols to show it.

I. Sacrament of Water Baptism vs the Ordinance of Water Baptism

II. The Sacrament of the Eucharist vs the Ordinance of Communion

A. The Eucharist

1. Jesus is substantially present in the sacrament of the Eucharist following the words of consecration.

2. Transubstantiation involves the change of the whole substance of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ and the change of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of the blood of Christ.

3. Since Christ is said to be really present in the Eucharist, the elements themselves following consecration are worthy of worship.

4. The Sacrifice of the Mass is properly called propitiatory in that it brings about the pardon of sin.

5. In the institution of Mass as the Lord’s Supper, Christ offered His own body and blood to the Father in the signs of the bread and wine, and in doing so ordained the Apostles as the priests of the New Testament.

6. The sacrifice of the Mass is properly offered for sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities not only for the living, but also the dead as well.

7. Anyone who denies the truthfulness of any of these proclamations is under the anathema of God.

Canon 1 If anyone denies that in the sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist are contained truly, really, and substantially the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ, but says that He is just in it only as in a sign or a figure or force, let him be anathema.

Catechism article 1367 The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice. The victim is one and the same, the same now offers through the ministry of priest who then offered Himself on the cross; only the manner of the offering is different. In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered Himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner.

B. The Truth broken down in the Bible

We believe communion is an ordinance that we are to practice and do often to remember what Christ did on the cross with the glorious message of the gospel.

1. Addressing transubstantiation Biblically

a. The symbolism:

Matthew 26

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus often used symbolism:

• I am the true vine John 15:1

• I am the door; if anyone enters through me they will be saved John 10:9

• I am the bread which came down from heaven John 6:41

b. A challenge of taking it literally.

Matthew 26:28 and Mark 14:24 both have the phrase, this is my blood of the covenant.

Luke 22:20 and I Corinthians 11:25 both have the phrase, this cup is the new covenant of my blood.

Christ’s blood according to Matthew and Mark?

Or the new covenant according to Luke and Paul?

2. Addressing continued sacrifice of Christ Biblically

Hebrews 9

25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Hebrews 1

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

John 19

30 When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

The blood of Jesus being shed was of importance, not a bloodless sacrifice.

3. Addressing the presence of Christ in communion

• Matthew 18:20 Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in your midst.

• We sit at the table where He meets us

• As we feast our hearts upon Him and interact with the representation

• When we are intentional to draw near, He meets us there.

• You feel His presence where you activate your faith the most.

1. There should be a seriousness and reverence when we take communion.

2. There should be an expectation we come to the communion table with.