Lutheran/Orthodox-The Sacraments
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Lutheranism
The Sacraments
· The sacraments are God’s means of grace through which God comes to sinful man to forgive sins.
· In Lutheranism there are certainly two, sometimes three, sacraments; Holy Baptism, Holy Eucharist, Holy Absolution. Lutherans have never confessed a certain number of sacraments. The number depends on the definition of “sacrament.”
· We also confess the Spirit’s presence through the sacraments as well as the affirmation of the incarnation through the use of means.
· Baptism is necessary for salvation. “For He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” Mark 16:16
Eastern Orthodoxy
The Sacraments
· Orthodoxy prefers to call the sacraments “Mysteries.”
· The sacraments disclose and reveal God to man and also serve to make us receptive to God. All sacraments affect the personal relationship to God and to one another.
· The Holy Spirit works through the sacraments leading us to Christ.
· Orthodoxy does not limit the number of sacraments, though they confess seven, as does Rome. They admit that only two were literally instituted by Christ: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The others were instituted by Christ through His apostles and the Church.
· The use of means (water, bread, wine, oil) affirm the incarnation.
Sacraments are necessary for salvation.
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