I did the Sacraments Bible Study with Dr. Scott Hahn and here are my notes from Lesson 1 of 11…
The sacraments are an outward sign instituted by Christ to give us grace………
The sacraments receive their power to give grace from God, through the merits of Jesus Christ.
Sacraments are “powers that come forth” from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving."
They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church.
They are the masterworks of God in the new and everlasting covenant.
Read about Jesus physical cures in the Bible. He used outwards signs to perform a deeper more lasting spiritual healing.
Notice he used physical means. Mud, spittle, spoken words, and eye contact…… WHY?
Because he knows as human beings we learn through our senses. So he brought it down to our level
God knows we learn through our senses, so he set the sacraments up to appeal to our humanity.
The sacraments use physical matter but provide supernatural and natural benefits.
The sacraments are the ordinary means which Christ uses to extend salvation to the whole world.
Jesus was only with humanity for 33 years. He left us the sacraments to allow us to experience His physical touch and presence now and in the generations to come.
Sacraments are efficacious signs. They help bring about the very reality they signify. They sanctify us. They cause grace that get us to heaven.
The new covenant sacraments bring about the old covenant promises of God. They are the continuation and fulfillment of the way God dealt with us from the beginning.
THE SACRAMENTS AREN’T SOMETHING WE DO FOR GOD. THE SACRAMENTS ARE GOD’S GIFT TO US.
THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS WE BECOME CHILDREN OF GOD.
GOD SHARES HIMSELF WITH US THROUGH THE SACRAMENTS.
If you ever get the chance to do that study I highly recommend it.
God Bless
