Theological Inquiry Of Grace And Sacraments Essays Examples

The relationship between grace and sacrament reinforces the underlying nature of human and divine encounter. The principles of ecclesiology offer a concise framework of sacramental theory that fosters the belief inherent in the primordial presence of God. According to Mueller (178), it is evident that the actions that signify the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are reveled in the mystery of God’s love. This reflects the essence of grace through which the human and divine encounter is evidenced in sacraments. On the other hand, Miller and Mueller (216) underscore that the fundamental sacrament of the presence and action of Jesus Christ is the sacrament. Accordingly, the implication of this understanding shapes the thinking that the presence of Christ in the contemporary world is enhanced through sacrament. As a result, the church is the sacrament through which the essentials of grace are dispensed to human beings.
The relationship between the church and Jesus Christ informs the theology of sacraments. The importance of symbols and signs define the conceptualization of sacrament in Christian faith. Mueller (179) underscores that all communication between human beings and Jesus Christ are established through the common use of symbols and signs. The interpretation of such basic build block of Christian philosophy demonstrates the ideology of sacraments necessary for creating meaning from experiences. Sacrament are metaphorical representation of grace serving as processes and outcomes of divine retention, transmission and translation of God’s love. Parker (233) further addresses the role of symbolic rituals to demonstrate the context of sacraments. The work of people through liturgical celebration fosters the relationship of sacramental participation allowing grace to symbolically manifest in human life through a reciprocal and significant locus of the mystery of birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The definition of the sacraments within the spectrum of the theological understanding of grace and sacrament is pegged on the mystery of God. The basic components of sacraments are the church and Christ himself. The roots of sacred scripture linked to both New and Old Testament establishes the Christology and ecclesiology of the Christian faith infused in the symbolic functioning of the seven sacraments. According to Parker (161), the changing contour of the Christian experience in the contemporary society is a manifestation of the theological and religious fundamentalism emphasized the mission of the church in the world.
Christians as living sacraments embodies the designated liturgical assembly of communities to understand that the role of sacraments is to give grace. The unmerited assistance of sacraments is to enhance human salvation. The need for grace is an extensive objective of participating in the life and love of God. Through sacraments, grace makes Christians to take part in the communion of God. This gift to man is the source of healing, transformation and nurturing of human existence. According to Mueller (186), sacraments reflect the theological understanding of uncreated grace because the presence of God dwells in sacraments. The divine human encounter transcends the mystery of salvation evident in the desire to relate with God through Jesus Christ the son and the Holy Spirit.
The foundation of grace is clearly captured in the manifestation of the presence of Christ though the seven sacraments. The role of initiation through baptism, confirmation and Eucharist is the basis for Christian ability to become more like Christ. The healing approach of sacraments evident through reconciliation and anointing of the sick capture the forgiveness and strengthening dimension of sacrament. The vocation sacraments such as marriage and holy order are concerned with service and thus the continued use of sacraments signify the reenactment of grace and Christ action through the Holy Spirt.
The sacramental reality of the church is founded through the continuous ministry of salvation. The facet of grace reveal the presence, love and manifestation of God’s love. Mueller (p208) underscores that the power of the Holy Spirit is animated in sacraments and grace, contributing to the salvation and service of the Christian fraternity. The implication of this understanding established a theological design on which the relationship between sacrament and grace facilities the trajectory for fulfilling the mission of the church, which is to build a kingdom of God through His people.
Christians play a leading role in being living sacrifices. Meuller (208) shapes the thinking that the celebration of sacramental life is evidenced because of the human nature of Christians. The dimension of grace emerges on the basis on symbolic ritual and merited grace that God communicates to his people. The understanding of the symbolic rituals takes the form of sacraments which help Christians in identifying, interpreting, enacting and manifesting the mystery of the encounter of God and man. Essentially, the role of grace and sacrament conform the ‘masterpiece of God that invite human devotion to a theological relationship. The communion with God reinforces the symbolic language of liturgy through which the values of sacrament facilitates the role of grace in enabling Christians to mediate an interpersonal communion with God.

Works Cited

Miller, Sally and Mueller, Cheri. Walk with Me: Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey Together. Faith Walk Publishing, 2005
Mueller, John. Theological Foundations: Concepts and Methods for Understanding Christian Faith. Saint Mary's Press, 2007
Park, Chan Ho .Transcendence and Spatiality of the Triune Creator. Peter Lang, 2005