Baptism: “An act involving a God created element demonstrating position with God.”
(A) You won’t get this definition from a dictionary!
(B) What you will get is a lot of religious mumbo jumbo pertaining to doctrine of Catholicism and her daughters.
You will notice that “water” is nowhere in this definition. (This definition is offensive to “Church of Christ, Inc.” et al., because they know of no baptism except “water baptism” as they fancy it applies to them in Acts 2:38.) “Water” is not a part of every baptism,” only some of them, and most biblical baptisms can not be “performed,” and never will be “performed” by an “elder” or “priest,” so such persons will naturally ignore this doctrinal issue because the truth does not exalt them or make them look good.]
[The priests of Catholicism and their daughter harlots (“Church of Christ, Inc., modern day “Lutheranism,” etc., ad nauseam) teach that a professional religious person (sanctioned by the state) can do something TO you (perform an act) to get YOU right with God. This sacerdotal concept is a corruption of the power of God, pretending to transfer to men, only what God can do! This pretense is slickly defended occasionally by comparing it with preaching the gospel to make it appear legitimate, but look at this argument more closely to see the lie in its use.
Example: while there is power in preaching the gospel (which is sanctioned by God), it is through “hearing” and “believing” (ON THE PART OF THE HEARER) that the hearer is edified and a change is made to the man. Compare these two scriptures:
James 5:19-20 “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
[While its true that this verse implies power on the part of the preacher, the power is exercised by specifically doing what God said to do, which is to “convert” the man in HIS way of thinking.]
Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
[First, it’s not just what somebody does here, but specifically what he says! Secondly, this only helps the man if (1) what’s said is “by the word of God”, (2) the man “hears” it, and changes his way of thinking, and (3) is called of God. (If he is not, nothing happens at all!)
John 6:44 “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him. . . .”
[Most important for your thinking process, the POWER is completely in the hand of God to give the Holy Spirit according to a man’s “change of heart” as judged by the Lord’s opinion, not yours.]
(1) AN OLD TESTAMENT BAPTISM
1st Corinthians 10:1-2 “And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. . . .”
OBSERVATIONS
(1) only the Lord could give this baptism,
(2) only the children of Israel got this baptism,
(3) this baptism only pertained to the time when it was done,
(4) water was used in this baptism, but
(a) it was salt water,
(b) nobody even got his feet wet,
(c) the same water that parted for Israel destroyed Egypt,
(d) just because water is available to anyone doesn’t mean anyone can do this baptism
(5) neither Moses nor water saved anybody that day
(a) the Lord saved them, and
Exodus 14:28-30 “Thus the Lord saved Israel that day. . . .”
15:1-2 “The Lord is . . . become my salvation. . . .”
(b) “eating and drinking” were involved, but these did not save them, either. (1st Corinthians 10:3-4)
(6) This baptism did NOT make Israel “right with God”
(a) it only got them to the other side of the Red Sea,
(b) where they were mostly all rejected of God later, anyway. (1st Corinthians 10:5&7)
(7) Nobody got the Holy Spirit as a result of this baptism.
(2) BAPTISM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (a water baptism of repentance to Israel, and nobody gets the Holy Spirit here.)
[This baptism has nothing to do with the new testament church. Only John the Baptist and his servants could do this baptism, and it was only good for that time when he did it.]
(Prophesied of:) Isaiah 40:3 “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Matthew 3:1-6 “Repent ye . . . .and all . . . were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.”
(This is the first use of the word “Repent” in the new testament.)
John 3:23 “. . . because there was much water there. . . .”
1:29-33 “. . . John saith, . . . that [Jesus] should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.”
(Christ is “made manifest” to the church according to John 14:21-23 and 2nd Corinthians 4:10-11)
Acts 13:23-24 “John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.”
OBSERVATIONS
(1) Only John the Baptist and his servants could give this baptism,
(2) just because water is available to anyone doesn’t mean anyone can do this baptism
(3) only the children of Israel got this baptism,
(3) this baptism only pertained to the time when it was done,
(4) water was involved in this baptism, but this baptism was not about water, rather
(a) to openly declare Israel’s repentance of their sins, and
(b) make the coming of Jesus Christ “manifest to Israel”.
(5) Nobody was saved by this baptism,
(6) this baptism did not make anybody “right with God,” and
(7) nobody got the Holy spirit as a result of this baptism.
(3) BAPTISM TO FULFIL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS
Matthew 3:13-17 “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. . . . And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water. . . .” [Not “of repentance” or “for his sins.”]
[This baptism does NOT make you “right with God”: it showed Christ as our example: humble, obedient, and righteous.]
OBSERVATIONS
(1) Only John the Baptist, personally, would ever give this baptism,
(2) only the Lord Jesus Christ come in the flesh would ever get this baptism.
(No, you did NOT “fulfil all righteousness” when you were dunked by a “Church of Christ, Inc.” elder!)
(3) Water was involved in this baptism, but it was not about water, rather
(a) it openly declared the Lord’s submission to his father as pertaining to his role in the flesh, and
(b) made that perfection submission “manifest to Israel”.
(4) Nobody was saved by this baptism, (The Lord does not need to be saved. Saved from what?)
Hebrews 4:14-15 “Jesus the Son of God . . . was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
(5) this baptism did not make anybody “right with God,” (The Lord was already right with his Father.)
Isaiah 42:1 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”
Matthew 12:18 “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.”
(6) If I may speak as to what appears, the Holy Spirit came upon the Lord’s flesh at this Baptism.
Matthew 3:16 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. . . .”
(4) WATER BAPTISM FOR ISRAEL WITH THE KINGDOM AT HAND (a transition baptism) [Men performed this.]
(John Baptist and the Lord have both been killed, but Israel could still repent and receive her king?)
Acts 1:1-8 Whether “the kingdom” comes “at this time” depends upon the Lord being received as king “at this time”.
2:36-47 “. . . let all the house of Israel know. . . . they . . . said . . . what shall we do?”
(This is the “Church of Christ” proof-text, receiving Israelites in baptism with the kingdom imminent to Israel, to prove the formula of salvation-by-water for gentiles “entering the church” when the church is later included.)
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
NOTE: (1) This is written to “the house of Israel”.
(2) This baptism (which follows repentance) provides “remission of sins”.
(3) With this water baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost comes AFTER water.
(For the church, “remission of sins” comes by the “blood” (Matthew 26:28) of Jesus Christ, and by “belief” on Jesus Christ (Acts 10:43), not by water.)
“And all that believed were together, and had all things common. . . .” (Why doesn’t the “Church of Christ” have “all things common” if this reference is to the church, and not to Israel awaiting the imminent arrival of her king and kingdom?)
Matthew 3:1-2 “In those days came John . . . saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach . . . Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
10:5-7 “Go not into the way of the Gentiles . . . as ye go, preach . . . The kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 10:5-7,23 “Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”
QUESTION: WHAT HAPPENED?
ANSWER: (1) The apostles did not go over the cities of Israel.
(2) THE LORD DID NOT COME! (and still hasn’t!) [Never mind what “Church of Christ, Inc.” says.]
(3) The gospel went out to the Gentiles.
(Matthew 21:42-45 “The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”)
Acts 13:45-46 “. . . but seeing ye . . .judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.”
14:27 “. . . that God . . . had opened the door . . . unto the Gentiles.”
18:5-6 “. . . from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.”
Λ Acts 19:1-5 “And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.”
QUESTION: What is changed here in this water baptism since Paul has gotten involved?
ANSWER: Compare Matthew 28:16-20 with Acts 19:5:
“. . . baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. . . .”
vs. “. . . they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
(The former baptism was not a “church” baptism.)
22:10-22 “And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.”
28:22-28 “Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles. . . .”
Λ There are several things going on here, but this is the present issue:
(A) This water baptism made Israel’s repentance in Christ manifest to the Jews.
(B) This water baptism has nothing to do with anyone in the church: “performing this water baptism in the church wouldn’t make him “right with God” or “get him the Holy Ghost.”
(5) HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM FOR ISRAEL WITH THE KINGDOM AT HAND (There are signs involved.)
[This baptism comes by the power of God by promise and through laying on of the Apostle’s hands.]
(Prophesied of:) Isaiah 44:3 “. . . I will pour my spirit upon thy seed. . . ” (Israel)
Luke 24:49 “but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
John 7:37-39 “. . . for the Holy Ghost was not yet given because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”
Acts 1:5 “. . . but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
QUESTION: Who is “ye” here?
ANSWER: “the apostles whom he had chosen” from verse 2.
[This is not the “gentile church:” it does not yet exist.]
Acts 2:1 “they were all with one accord in one place.” (Who is “they?” See the previous verse!)
(1st Corinthians 1:22 “For the Jews require a sign. . . .” The Lord gave them a sign.)
v. 2 “there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind. . . .”
v. 3 “there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.”
(This is the Baptists’ proof text for the “Holy Ghost and farr” that they think they have.)
v. 4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues. . . .”
QUESTION: Why do the “Charismatics,” who say this is their baptism, claim verses 1 & 4, but not 2 & 3?
ANSWER: They can’t fake what’s in 2 & 3.
QUESTION: Why do Baptists, who claim this is their baptism, not wonder that “fire” never “appeared”.
ANSWER: Baptists cannot READ, or do NOT BELIEVE what they read!
Acts 8:1-17 “(For as yet [the Holy Ghost] was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 19:1-6 “He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. . . . they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”
[This baptism did NOT make Israel “right with God”: it gave them power to boldly make Jesus Christ manifest to Israel.]
(6) HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM FOR THE CHURCH [Only God can do this one.]
OBSERVATIONS:
(a) This baptism was prophesied before hand,
Joel 2:28 “. . . afterward . . . I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. . . .”
(b) Receiving the Holy Spirit is not the end of the matter, but a down payment on greater promises.
Ephesians 1:14 “Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
(c) Receiving the Holy Spirit comes “by the hearing of faith” not by water or other outward acts.
Galatians 3:2 “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
(d) The Gentiles got the Holy Spirit first and were baptized in water afterward, as the answer of a good conscience.
Acts 10:44-48 “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”
(e) These Gentiles got signs for Jews present.) [It was the Jews who needed signs to be convinced that Gentiles have been included.]
Romans 10:19 “But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.”
1st Corinthians 1:22 “For the Jews require a sign. . . .” (We do not:)
2nd Corinthians 5:7 “(For we walk by faith, not by sight. . . .)”
Acts 11:1_16 “. . . [Peter] shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.”
(Nobody has been “dunked,” “sprinkled,” or “dribbled” yet.)
(Acts 9:1-18) Paul gets the Holy Spirit first and then gets water. (The new testament Gentile baptism plan.)
QUESTION: Why does Paul, being a Jew, get the gentile baptism.
ANSWER: Paul is to be the Apostle to the Gentiles:
Romans 11:13 “For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles. . . .”
Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
(The significance of the Holy Spirit in a man)
Genesis 2:16-17 “. . . for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
3:4-5 “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. . . .” (OK, somebody’s lying!)
QUESTION #1 Did Adam and Eve die that day they ate the fruit?
ANSWER: Yes, they had to have died that day because God said they would?
QUESTION #2 Did they die physically or did they die spiritually?
2nd Corinthians 5:4-5 “. . . that mortality might be swallowed up of life. God . . . hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.” [And we have been made spiritually alive, as opposed to spiritually dead, as all are in Adam.]
Acts 18:24-26 “This man . . . knowing only the baptism of John. . . . whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” (Apollos was raised “Church of Christ”.)
Matthew 3:11-12 (again) “. . . he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. . . ” (“Water” has nothing to do with this!)
John 1:12-13 “. . . born, not of blood . . . nor of the will of man, but of God.”
(Two people deciding to go down to the river, and getting soaked, can’t accomplish this. If you disagree, then you believe in Voodoo! You are a papist, “Church of Christ” (Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc.) sacerdotalist.)
3:3-7 “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a “birth”.)
(The “water” in v. 5 was your mama’s water bag, referring to the flesh of the first birth referred to in v. 6.)
1st Corinthians 12:13 “by one spirit are we all baptized into one body. . . .” (There is NO “water” in 1st Corinthians.)
Ephesians 4:5 “. . . One Lord, one faith, one baptism. . . .” (This is the operation of God!)
Romans 8:5-11 “. . . if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.”
6:3-4 “. . . we are buried with him by baptism into death?” (Water baptism is symbolic of this, but doesn’t cause it.)
Colossians 2:8-12 “circumcised . . . without hands . . . buried . . . in baptism . . . through . . . the operation of God. . . ”
Ezekiel 36:26 only this “operation of God” gives a “new heart.” (Water can’t do that.)
Psalm 51:10 David asks for “the operation” – “a clean heart”
1st Samuel 10:9,6 God gave Saul “the operation” and later Saul was rejected of God.
Philippians 3:3 “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit . . . and have no confidence in the flesh.”
(“priests,” “elders,” and witch doctors dunking, sprinkling, and “performing the sacraments.”)
2nd Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works. . . .”
Romans 11:29 “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” (Not to mention water!)
QUESTION: Was this true with John the Baptist’s baptism?
Ephesians 1:17-19 “. . .the hope of his calling . . . according to the working of his mighty power. . . .” (Not yours!)
Galatians 3:1-2 “. . . Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”
vs. 26-27 “as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
(There’s NO “water” in all of Galatians.)
Titus 3:5 “Not by works . . . which we have done, but . . . he saved us, by the . . . renewing of the Holy Ghost. . . .”
[This baptism does not make us “right with God”: it gives us spiritual life (whereas we were dead); power to preach Jesus Christ to the world in the face of certain death and persecution; and power to endure unto the end.]
(Mark 13:13 “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”)
(7) WATER BAPTISM FOR THE CHURCH [Men perform this baptism.]
1st Peter 3:18-21 “. . . the answer of a good conscience toward God. . . .”
Acts 8:26-38 (Phillip and the eunuch) [The calling is of God and WATER FOLLOWS CONVERSION.]
Mark 16:16 “He that [1] believeth and [2] is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
(Notice the word order above.)
[This baptism makes nobody “right with God”, but it lets the church know about your decision and “conscience”.]
(Ephesians 2:1-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”)
(1st Corinthians 1:10-18 “ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel. . . .”)
(8) BAPTISM OF BEING MURDERED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE [God and men can perform this baptism.]
[The Lord got this baptism (as do many of his followers.)]
Luke 12:50 “But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!”
(Mark 14:35-36 “. . . take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will. . . .”)
Matthew 20:17-23 “Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. . . .”
(10:24 “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”)
Λ [This baptism, which Jesus Christ endured, makes every man “right with God” who comes to Him by Jesus Christ.]
(Ephesians 2:13 “. . . Gentiles . . . aliens . . . made nigh by the blood of Christ.”)
(Isaiah 53:4 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”)
(Hebrews 10:4-5 “Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. . . .”)
(13:11-12 “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”
(John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that . . . the world through him might be saved.”)
(9) BAPTISM OF FIRE (That is HELL FIRE in the lake of fire!) [Only God can perform this baptism.]
(Prophesied of:) Matthew 3:11 “. . . he shall baptize you [1] with the Holy Ghost, and [2] with fire. . . .”
[This is an all inclusive prophecy for everybody: if you reject the first baptism, you will get the second!]
Acts 1:4-5 “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
[1] The Lord offers the gift of the baptism of the Holy Ghost now!
Revelation 20:13-15 “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
[2] Having rejected the gift of life, men will be given this baptism of fire.
(John 3:7 “Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”)
Matthew 3:10-12 “. . . he shall baptize you with . . . unquenchable fire.” (“fire”, “fire”, & “fire”)
7:19 “. . . that bringeth not forth good fruit is . . . cast into the fire.”
13:37-42 “The Son of man . . . shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
13:50 (same)
18:8-9 “everlasting fire” / “hell fire”
25:41-46 “everlasting fire” / “everlasting punishment”
2nd Peter 3:5-7 “. . . reserved unto fire against . . . ungodly men.”
Revelation 14:9-11 “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever. . . .”
Daniel 12:2 “. . . them that sleep . . . shall awake . . . to . . . everlasting contempt.”
2nd Thessalonians 1:7-9 “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction. . . .”
Mark 9:43-48 (five times) “the fire is not quenched”
John 5:28-29 “resurrection of damnation” (this is the second resurrection)
Revelation 19:20 “These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
20:14-15 “. . . the second death . . . cast into the lake of fire.”
Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
[The priests of Catholicism teach that a little of this baptism, for some undetermined amount of time, can make you right with God (“Purgatory”): they are all liars.]
SUMMATION:
(1) AN OLD TESTAMENT BAPTISM [Only God could perform this baptism.]
[This baptism did NOT make Israelites “right with God”: it just got them to the other side of the Red Sea (where they were nearly all rejected of God later and mostly did not enter into the promised land.)]
(2) BAPTISM OF JOHN THE BAPTIST [Only John the Baptist ans his servants could do this baptism.]
[This baptism made nobody “right with God”: it made Jesus Christ manifest to Israel through repentance.]
(3) BAPTISM TO FULFIL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS (Only the Lord Jesus Christ got it. Only John the Baptist officiated.)
(4) WATER BAPTISM FOR ISRAEL WITH THE KINGDOM AT HAND [Men performed this one, they can’t do it now.]
[This baptism makes nobody in the church “right with God”: it made Israel’s repentance in Christ manifest to the Jews.]
(5) HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM FOR ISRAEL WITH THE KINGDOM AT HAND [Only God could do this one.]
[This baptism did NOT make Israel “right with God”: it gave them power to boldly make Jesus Christ manifest to Israel.]
(6) HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM FOR THE CHURCH [Only God can do this one.]
[This baptism does not make us “right with God”: it gives us spiritual life (whereas we were dead); power to preach Jesus Christ to the world in the face of certain death and persecution; and power to endure unto the end.]
(7) WATER BAPTISM FOR THE CHURCH [Men perform this one, and nobody is saved by it.]
[This baptism makes nobody “right with God”, but it lets the church know about your decision and “conscience”.]
(8) BAPTISM OF BEING MURDERED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE
[Men performed this baptism on the Son of God and also on many Christians.]
[This baptism, which Jesus Christ endured, makes every man “right with God” who comes to Jesus Christ believing it.]
(9) BAPTISM OF FIRE [Only God can perform this baptism.]
[The priests of Catholicism teach that a little of this baptism, for some undetermined amount of time, can make you right with God (“Purgatory”): they are all liars.]
DEFINITIONS: (from Webster’s unabridged dictionary)
sacerdotalism, n. [L. sacerdotalis, from sacerdos, a priest.] the sacerdotal system or spirit; the character, system, method, or practices of the priesthood; priestcraft: often in a hostile sense. (emphasis added)
sacrament, n. [L. sacramentum, a military oath of allegiance, an oath, from sacer, sacred.]
1. in ancient Rome; the military oath taken by every Roman soldier, pledging him to obey his commander, and not to desert his standard.
2. in Christianity, any of certain rites ordained by Jesus: in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Eastern Church it is held that there are seven sacraments, namely, baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, extreme unction, holy orders, and matrimony. Protestants in general acknowledge but two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. [Of course, real Christians acknowledge no such thing as a “sacrament” at all. – tf)]