Pray! : Memorize the Bible

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Memorize the Bible - Hebrews 6:2

Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

I love this verse because it speaks to me of the Seven Sacraments. How, you ask?

Let me back up a bit. I frequently tell people that the New Testament was written on the basis of the Doctrines of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ did not write a word of the New Testament. He established a Church (Matt 16:18-19). He appointed to the Church many leaders (Matt 10:1-4). And He appointed one of them chief over all (John 21:15-17). Then He commanded this Church to teach His Doctrines to the whole world (Matt 28:19).

It is based upon these Doctrines that the Church wrote the New Testament. Not the other way around. Therefore, in order to understand Scripture, one must first understand the Doctrines of the Catholic Church.

So, what is the doctrine of Baptisms?

In my opinion, it is the doctrine of the Seven Sacraments. The Seven Sacraments are all outpourings of the Holy Spirit. In other words, they are all outpourings of the one Baptism of the Holy Spirit with which we all are baptized. Therefore, in an age where St. Paul did not have access to the theological language which took the Church centuries to develop, instead of using the word "Sacraments" which did not yet exist, he used the phrase "doctrine of Baptisms". In other places, he uses the word, "mysteries".

1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Now, the Catholic Church expressly teaches that there is one Baptism. And St. Paul says the same:

* I. ONE BAPTISM FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

977 Our Lord tied the forgiveness of sins to faith and Baptism: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved."521 Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, so that "we too might walk in newness of life."522

Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

But the Catholic Church does not contradict Scripture. And Scripture doesn't contradict Itself. Therefore, there is one Baptism from which the Seven Sacraments pour out their grace. And the Seven Sacraments can be all considered Baptisms because they all wash us in the spiritual waters of God's grace.

Anyway, that's the way I make sense of that Teaching for myself.

It occurs to me that I also like Hebrews 6:4:

Hebrews 6:4-6

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

I use this frequently because it debunks the Protestant teaching of Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS). This doesn't speak to all the Sacraments. But it does refer to more than one. Let me break it down:

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened,

Enlightenment speaks to being Baptized. It is a euphemism commonly used by the early Church Fathers in reference to Baptism.

1216 "This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . ." Having received in Baptism the Word, "the true light that enlightens every man," the person baptized has been "enlightened," he becomes a "son of light," indeed, he becomes "light" himself:

Baptism is God's most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God's Lordship.

and have tasted of the heavenly gift,

In my opinion, this is a reference to the Holy Eucharist.

and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

And this a reference to Confirmation.

5 And have tasted the good word of God,

I believe this is a reference to the Wisdom of God taught only by the Catholic Church.

and the powers of the world to come

And this is the experience of the Mass. Where we walk and commune with the Saints upon Mount Sion.

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

Of course, this is the part that debunks OSAS. Because anyone if anyone who has achieved the heights of sanctity just described, can fall from grace, anyone can fall.

Anyway, back to Hebrews 6:2.

I use this verse when someone tries to tell me that the Seven Sacraments are not mentioned in Scripture. Of course, I have to explain to them all the underlying facts in order that they may tie together "Baptisms" and "Sacraments". Because most Protestants seem to think that the New Testament was written first or that it dropped down from heaven.

I also list all of the verses which pertain to each Sacrament. (This is getting longer than I expected, so I won't list them here.) But, once it is explained, this verse covers them all in one fell swoop.

I always have to look it up, though. And that sometimes takes a lot of time.

So, let's memorize this verse.

As we did before, the book of Hebrews is visualized as a Jew brewing coffee. So, its "He brews."

6 = j, ch, sh, g (soft)
2 = n

So, let's make it, "He brews showers now."

There are four elements to this verse:
1. baptisms,
2. laying on of hands,
3. resurrection of the dead,
4. eternal judgment.

And the word picture will be seven jets of water and a great big hand coming down from the sky, catching the water and baptizing and confirming me, then then I die with Christ and my spirit rises and I am standing before the Just Judge.

So, the verse from memory:

Of the doctrine of Baptisms, of the laying of hands, of the resurrection of the dread and of eternal judgment.

Actually, I can still see the four elements I wrote above, so that wasn't purely from memory. But I'll keep working on that. Here's the exact text: