Communion

Communion is a practice that is meant to be observed over and over throughout the life of a Christian. It is a holy time of worship when we come together as one body to remember and celebrate whta Christ did for us. The bread and the wine become the actual body and blood of Christ in remembrance of his enduring sacrifice.

Scriptures Associated with Communion:
-And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." Luke 22:19-20
-While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." Matthew 26:26-28

For more information:
http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/f/whatiscommunion.htm

Salvation

Some Protestants hold to a similar Catholic "faith plus works" salvation theology. Others believe that the Bible proclaims strictly Sola Fide("faith in Jesus Christ alone")-based salvation without works. There is a complementary Protestant doctrine that the Bible proclaims salvation by "grace alone" or Sola Gratia. Especially in some interpretations of Calvinism this is extended to mean that God saves people (or condemns them) by freely granting or withholding his grace.

the five solas are listed below:

• 1 Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")
• 2 Sola fide ("by faith alone")
• 3 Sola gratia ("by grace alone")
• 4 Solus Christus ("Christ alone")
• 5 Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")

Information obtained from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salvation#Protestants, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_solas

Trinity

The Trinity can be considered a fundamental doctrine in Christianity, by which God is considered as existing in three persons. While the doctrine is not explicitly taught in the New Testament, early Christian communities testified to a perception that Jesus was God in the flesh; the idea of the Trinity has been inferred from the Gospel of St. John. The developed doctrine of the Trinity describes that God exists in ultimately three forms: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Information obtained from: http://www.holytrinitydc.org/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trinity

Protestant Work Ethic

The Protestant work ethic, or sometimes called the Puritan work ethic, is a Calvinist value emphasizing the necessity of constant labor in a person's calling as a sign of personal salvation. Protestant, beginning with Martin Luther, had reconceptualised work as a duty in the world for the benefit of the individual and society as a whole. The Catholic idea of good works was transformed into an obligation to work diligently as a sign of grace.

Information obtained from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_work_ethic

John Wesley

John Wesley

(1703 – 1791) In 1738, inspired by the theology of Martin Luther both men had a religious experience that convinced them that salvation was possible through faith alone. Zealous evangelists, they had great success in preaching to the masses in the succeeding decades. In 1784 John began ordaining ministers himself when the bishop of London refused to do so (despite Charles's disapproval) and declared his independence from the Church of England. The two wrote several thousand hymns, including "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" and "Christ the Lord Is Ris'n Today."

"We are determined not to yield to the Papacy. but to maintain the Protestant Religion and the Reformed Faith. It is our purpose to make crystal clear, what the Protestantism is which we are dedicated to maintain. We are not, let it be said at the outset, contending for a political Protestantism, although we are grateful for every political liberty which the Reformation has bequeathed us."

"John Wesley
"City Road, Jan. 21st, 1780."

Information Obtained from: http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=sword_010198, www.wikipedia.com/johnwesley

Saint

Saint

In short: Holy person. In the New Testament, St. Paul used the term to mean a member of the Christian community, but the term more commonly refers to those noted for their holiness and venerated during their lifetimes or after death. In Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, saints are publicly recognized by the church and are considered intercessors with God for the living. They are honored on special feast days, and their remains and personal effects are venerated as relics. Often Christian saints perform miracles in their lifetime, or miracles occur in their names after their death.



Information obtained from: www.answers.com/saintchristianity, http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=91

Sacrament

Sacrament
In Christian belief and practice, a sacrament rite instituted by Christ, that mediates grace, constituting a sacred mystery. The root meaning of the Latin word sacramentum is to "make sacred". Views concerning both what rites are sacramental, and what it means for an act to be sacramental vary among Christian denominations and traditions.

1. Christianity. A rite believed to be a means of or visible form of grace, especially:
1. In the Eastern, Roman Catholic, and some other Western Christian churches, any of the traditional seven rites that were instituted by Jesus and recorded in the New Testament and that confer sanctifying grace.
2. In most other Western Christian churches, the two rites, Baptism and the Eucharist, that were instituted by Jesus to confer sanctifying grace.

Information obtained from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrament, www.answers.com/sacrament