Sacraments: Baptism & Holy Communion
What Is a Sacrament?
A sacrament is a sacred ritual through which Christians believe they receive God’s grace. The word comes from the Latin ‘sacramentum’, meaning a solemn oath. Sacraments are outward, visible signs of an inward, spiritual blessing. Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians recognise seven sacraments, while most Protestant churches recognise only two — baptism and Holy Communion. These two were specifically commanded by Jesus in the Gospels.
A sacrament is an outward sign of inward grace. Roman Catholics recognise seven sacraments, while most Protestants recognise only two — baptism and Holy Communion — because only these were directly instituted by Jesus.
Infant Baptism
Infant baptism is practised by Roman Catholic, Anglican and Methodist churches. During the ceremony, a priest or minister pours water over the baby’s head three times in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Parents and godparents make promises on the child’s behalf to reject evil and turn to Christ.
For Catholics, infant baptism removes original sin — the sinful state inherited from Adam and Eve. The baby receives a white garment symbolising purity and a candle symbolising the light of Christ. Other Christians see it as a way of welcoming the child into the Church community and dedicating them to God. Jesus himself said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them” (Mark 10:14).
Believers’ baptism is practised by Baptist and Pentecostal churches. It involves the full immersion of a person who is old enough to make their own declaration of faith. The person is submerged completely under water and then raised up — symbolising dying to their old sinful life and being raised to new life in Christ, mirroring Jesus’s death and resurrection.
Baptists argue that babies cannot understand the commitment being made. They point to the example of Jesus, who was baptised as an adult by John the Baptist in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13–17). Believers’ baptism is a personal choice and a public declaration of faith, making the commitment more meaningful.
Different Beliefs About Baptism
Christians hold different views on which form of baptism is correct. Those who practise infant baptism believe that God’s grace should be available to everyone from birth and that parents can make promises on a child’s behalf. Those who practise believers’ baptism argue that faith requires a conscious, personal decision and that Jesus was baptised as an adult. Some Christians, such as the Salvation Army and Quakers, do not practise baptism at all — they believe the inward spiritual change matters more than the outward ritual.
Infant baptism and believers’ baptism share the same purpose — entry into the Christian faith — but differ in method and timing. Infant baptism uses pouring of water and relies on parents’ promises; believers’ baptism uses full immersion and requires a personal declaration of faith.
Holy Communion / The Eucharist
Holy Communion (also called the Eucharist, the Lord’s Supper or the Mass) remembers the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his crucifixion. At this meal, Jesus took bread and said, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me,” and took wine saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:19–20).
In the Roman Catholic Church, the Mass is the central act of worship. Catholics believe in transubstantiation — that the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ during the service. Only a priest can celebrate Mass, and the service follows a strict liturgical structure.
In Orthodox churches, the Divine Liturgy is a highly elaborate and symbolic celebration. The bread and wine are also believed to become the body and blood of Christ, though the Orthodox Church does not use the term transubstantiation.
In Protestant churches, Holy Communion is generally seen as a symbolic act of remembrance rather than a literal transformation. Anglicans vary in their interpretation — some lean towards the Catholic view, others see it as symbolic. Methodists and Baptists see the bread and wine as symbols of Jesus’s body and blood, taken in remembrance of his sacrifice.
The Salvation Army and Quakers do not celebrate Holy Communion. They believe that the spiritual reality of Christ’s presence does not depend on physical elements and that every meal can be sacred.
Holy Communion is important to Christians for several reasons. It obeys Jesus’s direct command to “do this in remembrance of me.” It brings Christians closer to God and to one another through a shared sacred meal. It reminds believers of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross and the promise of salvation. For Catholics, receiving the Eucharist is considered essential for spiritual nourishment — Jesus said, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53).
The biggest difference in Holy Communion is between Catholics, who believe the bread and wine literally become the body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation), and most Protestants, who see it as a symbolic remembrance of Jesus’s sacrifice at the Last Supper.