# Prison Ministry

# Holy Sacraments

#### Salvation for the Christian

According to the Early Church and Traditional Christianity

##### Are you saved?

Saved From What?

1. Sin
2. Death
3. Corrupted Nature

**Three Answers**: Past, Present, Future

1. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">I was saved</span> by the Blood of Christ, shed on the Cross for me
2. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">I am being saved</span> through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and Her Sacraments
3. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">I will be saved</span> through God's mercy on Judgment Day when I am "judged according to my works" (Revelation 20:12)

##### Grace and the Blood of Christ

**What is Grace?** Gift freely given. Not because of the worthiness of the receiver, but because of the goodness of the Giver.

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that <span style="text-decoration: underline;">**while we were still sinners**</span>, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been <span style="text-decoration: underline;">**justified by His blood**</span>, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Romans 5:8-9)

- The Blood of Christ is available to all.
- The Blood of Christ is able to save all.
- The Blood of Christ is ready to save all.
- And yet... not all are saved.

**A gift must be accepted.** The Blood of Christ, capable of saving, will <span style="text-decoration: underline;">**not**</span> save <span style="text-decoration: underline;">against your will</span>.

What is needed?

1. Faith
2. Baptism
3. Confirmation (Chrismation)
4. Repentance &amp; Confession 
    - Repenting from Evil Deeds
    - Doing Good Deeds
5. Eucharist (Communion)

##### Faith

“For by **grace** you have been saved through **faith**, and that not of yourselves; it is the **gift of God**, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

“If you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">**Faith is**</span>:

1. Living Faith 
    - “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble!” (James 2:19)
    - “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26)
2. Faith Working Through Love 
    - “And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor 13:2)
    - “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:13)

##### Baptism

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3, 5)

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:4-5)

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">**Baptism is**</span>: Dying with Christ and Rising with Him

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were <span style="text-decoration: underline;">**baptized into His death**</span>? Therefore we were <span style="text-decoration: underline;">**buried with Him**</span> through baptism into death, that just as <span style="text-decoration: underline;">**Christ was raised from the dead**</span> by the glory of the Father, even so <span style="text-decoration: underline;">**we also should walk in newness of life**</span>." (Romans 6:3-5)

##### Confirmation

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">**Confirmation is**</span>: The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

Fellowship with the Holy Spirit means that He will comfort me, support me, aid me in my struggle, strive with me, rebuke me.

##### Repentance &amp; Confession

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

"Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16)

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">**Repentance and Confession is**</span>: Baptism removes the original sin, the initial "filth" - but we walk in the world daily and our "feet get dirty" and we need to wash our feet. (John 13)

##### Eucharist

"Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:53-58)

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">**Eucharist is**</span>: The Body and Blood of Christ, given for salvation, remission of sins, and eternal life to those who partake of It.

##### Other Sacraments (Non-Redemptive)

1. Priesthood 
    - Not everyone will become a priest in order to be saved
2. Matrimony 
    - Not everyone will get married in order to be saved
3. Unction of the Sick 
    - Not everyone will get sick, in order to be saved

Why are they called Sacraments? Or Mysteries?

**<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Sacraments</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> are</span>**: Visible Sign conferring an Invisible Grace

- Baptismal Water ⇒ Removal of Original Sin
- Christmation Oil ⇒ Indwelling of the Holy Spirit
- Speaking of the Absolution ⇒ Loosing of Sins
- Bread and Wine ⇒ Body and Blood of Christ

##### Action

1. Pray that the Lord guide me to the fullness of The Truth
2. Search the Scriptures
3. Stay in Communication with the Good Shepherd Ministry

The Good Shepherd Ministry  
St Peter the Apostle Coptic Orthodox Church - Orlando, FL  
StPeterGoodShepherdMinistry@gmail.com