2.3.3
Sacrament
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The Role and Meaning of Sacrament
The word sacrament means sign. In the Christian Church, sacraments are usually special ceremonies that are signs of God’s grace. Christian Churches that celebrate the sacraments believe that they were instituted by Christ.

Signs and ceremonies
- Each sacrament involves signs and ceremonies that mark the imparting of God’s grace.
- One description calls a sacrament ‘an outward sign of inward grace’.
- This means that the ceremony is the outward expression, but at the same time God gives people the gift of inner grace or strength.

Different Churches
- The Catholic and Orthodox Churches believe that Christ instituted seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation, the Eucharist, Matrimony, Holy Orders and the Anointing of the Sick.
- The Church of England and many Protestant Churches accept that Jesus intended to institute only two, baptism and the Eucharist, as being supported by evidence from the Bible.
- There are some Christian groups which do not believe Christ intended to institute any sacraments.
1Buddhism
1.1Key Beliefs
1.2Practices
2Christianity
2.1Key Beliefs
2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3Worship & Festivals
3Catholicism (Christianity)
3.1Key Beliefs
3.2The Seven Sacraments
4Islam
4.1Key Beliefs
4.2Authority
5Judaism
5.1Key Beliefs
5.2Covenant & The Mitzvot
Jump to other topics
1Buddhism
1.1Key Beliefs
1.2Practices
2Christianity
2.1Key Beliefs
2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3Worship & Festivals
3Catholicism (Christianity)
3.1Key Beliefs
3.2The Seven Sacraments
4Islam
4.1Key Beliefs
4.2Authority
5Judaism
5.1Key Beliefs
5.2Covenant & The Mitzvot
Practice questions on Sacrament
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1
- 2What does the word sacrament mean?Multiple choice
- 3What are Christian beliefs about sacraments?True / false
- 4
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