Are Catholic Sacraments in the Bible? A Simple Look
What’s This About? The Catholic Church teaches seven special rituals called sacraments. They say these give God’s grace. As believers who follow the Bible alone (like at bornagainchristians.org), we want to check if these are in God’s Word. Let’s look at each one simply and see what the Bible says.
- Baptism
- What Catholics Say: Baptism washes away sin, even for babies, and brings you into the Church.
- What the Bible Says: Jesus told us to baptize (Matthew 28:19). It shows we believe in Him, like a picture of dying and rising with Christ (Romans 6:4). But the Bible shows people believing first, then getting baptized (Acts 2:41).
- Problem: The Bible doesn’t talk about baptizing babies or washing away sin through water. It’s about faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8).
- Confirmation
- What Catholics Say: A bishop prays over you to give you more of the Holy Spirit.
- What the Bible Says: When you believe in Jesus, you get the Holy Spirit right away (Acts 2:38, Ephesians 1:13).
- Problem: The Bible doesn’t show a special ritual like Confirmation. The Spirit comes when you trust Christ, not later.
- Communion (Eucharist)
- What Catholics Say: Bread and wine turn into Jesus’ real body and blood. It’s a sacrifice that gives grace.
- What the Bible Says: Jesus said to eat bread and drink wine to remember Him (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). It’s a way to thank Him for the cross.
- Problem: The Bible calls it a symbol, not a real change. Jesus’ sacrifice was finished once (Hebrews 10:12), not repeated.
- Confession (Reconciliation)
- What Catholics Say: You tell your sins to a priest, and he forgives you.
- What the Bible Says: We confess sins to God, and He forgives us (1 John 1:9). Jesus is our only go-between (1 Timothy 2:5).
- Problem: The Bible doesn’t say we need a priest to forgive sins. We go straight to Jesus.
- Anointing the Sick
- What Catholics Say: A priest puts oil on sick people to give grace or forgive sins.
- What the Bible Says: Elders pray for the sick and use oil, asking God to heal (James 5:14).
- Problem: The Bible talks about praying for healing, not a special ritual for grace or dying.
- Holy Orders
- What Catholics Say: Men become priests or bishops through a special ceremony.
- What the Bible Says: The Bible has leaders like elders (1 Timothy 3:1), but all believers are priests (1 Peter 2:9). Jesus is our only High Priest (Hebrews 7:27).
- Problem: The Bible doesn’t show a special priest class or ceremony like this.
- Marriage (Matrimony)
- What Catholics Say: Marriage is a sacred ritual that gives grace.
- What the Bible Says: God made marriage for a man and woman (Genesis 2:24). It’s a promise, not a ritual.
- Problem: The Bible doesn’t call marriage a sacrament or say it gives grace.
Why This Matters At Born Again Christians, we believe the Bible is God’s only guide (2 Timothy 3:16). Only Baptism and Communion are clear in the Bible, and they’re about obeying Jesus, not getting grace through rituals.
The other sacraments come from Catholic tradition, not God’s Word. We trust Jesus alone for salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), not extra rituals.
What Can We Do?
- Read the Bible to know Jesus’ truth (John 17:17).
- Share this gently with others (1 Peter 3:15).
- Pray for people to follow God’s Word alone.