The Biblical principle regarding Sacramental signs is clear: while these signs point to spiritual things, they themselves are not a means of grace. Indeed while the baptism of a Believer may be an occasion of the Lord's grace, the exercise of obedience to the Lord is not itself a mechanism of grace. Romans 2:28,29 speaks directly to the issue. To Jews who trusted in physical circumcision as the means by which they became children of God, the Apostle Paul declared, "For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."
A material, physical thing cannot give spiritual life no matter how mysteriously it is presented. The Bible principle laid down by Jesus Christ remains true, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) God cannot be controlled by mechanical actions. The sovereign Spirit of God cannot be imprisoned in religious sacraments. The Lord Christ Jesus clearly stated, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." (John 3:6-8)
The Apostle Paul states how this same Biblical principle is lived out, "For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3) The Bible tells clearly how an individual is saved, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17. The parameters of salvation are the Lord and His grace, as is stated in Romans and Ephesians, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom 3:24) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Eph 2:8)
Religious works: a contrast to God's grace
Conversely to what is stated above, the absolute word of God continues by telling how salvation is not accomplished, "...not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:9) Salvation is not by means of the moral or ceremonial law. "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace". Rom 11:6 Yet this word "works" is the very word of which the Roman Catholic Church boasts when it declares that its seven sacraments operate ex opere, operato or "from the work, worked." In spite of clear Biblical teaching, the Roman Catholic Church claims that physical things are the effective means of grace. So strong is her teaching that an eternal curse is put on anyone who does not accept this dogma. Thus she continues to declare, "If anyone says that by the sacraments of the New Law grace is not conferred ex opere operato [from the work, worked], but that faith alone in the divine promise is sufficient to obtain grace, let him be anathema". (Canon 8 The Council of Trent, 7th Session) In Bible terms this falls in the category of idolatry, trusting the sign as if it were a medium of grace. Thus Aaron made and trusted the golden calf as a medium through which the Israelites were to worship Holy God. "These be thy gods, O Israel... ". (Exodus 32:4)
The best summary of the repeated principle of Scripture is the Lord’s own words, "God is a spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)
Biblical ordinances, rather than being power sources, point to the Lord. Physical things are used by the Lord to commemorate and to testify to the Lord and what He has done. The Lord does indeed use His written word and the preaching of the Gospel to convict the sinner of sin directly and to bring about salvation directly.
The precise line, which cannot be crossed, is to look to physical things as a means of conveying God’s grace. Here the Bible is explicit that the believer’s faith is based on the eternal God and in Jesus Christ’s finished work, a faith given to him by God and therefore spiritual. The believer’s faith cannot be based on any physical works of men whatsoever for God has shown that true faith is on Him and His finished work alone. To attempt to claim causative effects, therefore, for that which was given to testify to the Lord’s grace and His finished work is to draw nigh to the Lord with ones mouth, while in fact teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matt 15:8-9)
Richard Bennett is a former Roman Catholic Priest... More about Richard Bennett soon.
His book "Far from Rome, Near to God: The Testimonies of Fifty Converted Catholic Priests" First Ed with Pictures is on sale at P&R 1-800-631-0094
Click the image above to go to the Berean Beacon website.
