Through faith in Christ his disciples was given the magnificent grace and authority to perform miracles.  One of the greatest miracles by the Lord Jesus Christ was the institution of the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  The magnificent prayers of consecration by Christ can be found in sacred Scripture.  Through his prayer the Lord Jesus Christ turned the bread and wine into his body and blood.  Look at the Biblical verification: Matthew 26:26-29;  Mark 14:17-21;  Luke 22:17-19;  1 Corinthians 11:23-26!  This magnificent miracle, the change of the bread and wine into the "Body-Blood-Soul and Divinity of Christ" was given to the Apostles, the first Hierarchical or Ministerial Priests in the Catholic Church.  This magnificent miracle is the greatest promise of the spiritual realm in Christ.  The Lord Jesus Christ will always be with his Church.

Look closely at these words of Christ:

In this Advent Season in our great anticipation of the celebration of the glorious birth of our Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, let us be aware of the marvelous and magnificent promises of the spiritual realm in Jesus Christ.  The magnificent and glorious promises gathering around our lives have all the refinement and ennoblement of our nature.  The nature of God is infused in our hearts.

Natural Law is the nature of God infused in our hearts established by reason (Genesis 1:26-27).  Genesis 5:1 gives definitive affirmation that man is made in the image and likeness of God.  The purification of our affections, the regulation of our will, the enlightenment of our understanding comes through the illumination of the Holy Spirit which we received at our Baptism.  The great Angelic Doctor of the Church St. Thomas Aquinas gives magnificent advice to seek perfect union with God.

Let us always seek with all of our heart, mind, and soul a perfect union with God.  Let us never forget the words of the Angelic Doctor that perfect union with God consists of the perfect vision of God, the perfect knowledge of God, the perfect praise of God, the perfect fulfillment of desires, perfect security, and the companionship of the blessed.  The Sacramental life along with prayer and fasting is an absolute necessity in our spiritual life.  Let us lead an ascetical life in firm discipline, walking in the light of Christ.  The renouncement of one's autonomy to the point of abandonment of all spontaneous and independent reflections, intellections, volition, even feelings, sometimes presented as an ascetical ideal is not Catholic teaching.  To attempt to live in this manner absolutely violates Christian truths and comes through the ascetical teaching of eastern religions.  Living in this manner violates the integrity of the human person.  God's grace is our salvation, God's grace is sufficient for mankind.  The Biblical texts explain that the grace of God is the magnificent condescension or special benevolence and free favor of God who loves mankind.

In the objective sense grace is the unmerited gift of God that proceeds from God's benevolent disposition.  Grace is the supernatural gift of God he bestows on man in which we become partakers of the divine nature.  Grace is the greatest spiritual gift given to mankind.  Ephesians 2:4-5 states

Ephesians 2:8-9 states

Supernatural grace is an absolute necessity for salvation of man.  Supernatural grace is a necessity for the very beginnings of faith and salvation.  Let us never forget the magnificent words of the Apostle Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians.  2 Corinthians 3:4-5 states

Never forget!  Our sufficiency is from God!

The Catholic Church in the Second Council of Orange decreed

The Biblical texts give absolute definitive affirmation that God's grace is sufficient for the salvation of mankind.  Romans 5:5:

God's grace is the bestowing of the love of God on man, taking him into communion and friendship with himself and letting him participate by the power of the Holy Spirit into the divine life.  Man becomes a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).  The effects of the Holy Spirit are a foretaste of the future glory of God bestowed on man (2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:14, 2 Corinthians 12:9).  God's grace is sufficient for us.  Phillipians 4:13 states

Again please consider the words of Christ in John's gospel.  In John 14:12, Jesus exhorts,

Here the Lord Jesus Christ promise of the Sacramental life is evident.  The magnificent miracle of the Eucharist comes through the words of consecration by the Hierarchical or Ministerial Priest.  His prayers coming from the authority of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, changes the bread and wine into the "Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity" of Christ.  A Sacrament is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.  Sacraments are efficacious, visible signs of invisible grace.  The English word Sacrament is borrowed from the Latin word sacramentum.

The Greek word for sacrament is mysterion.  The Greek word mysterion is used in Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 3:3-4,6, Colossians 1:26, Colossians 2:2, Colossians 4:3, 1 Timothy 3:16, and Revelations 1:7.  Read the Biblical text in which the mystery of God, the mystery of Christ and his will, the mystery of revelation, are used.  Christ instituted seven Sacraments.  The Sacraments are the magnificent promises of the spiritual realm.  Sacred Scripture gives definitive affirmation of the right administration of the Sacraments: 1 Corinthians 10:14-17,21;  1 Corinthians 11:23-30.

Look at the following Biblical Texts regarding paradosis or "Divine Tradition" and the Sacraments using the King James Version and New International Versions of the Bible.  Acts 1:3 states,

The infallible proofs, the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, had to be the Sacramental life.  How can Protestants deny this, when tradition gives affirmative evidence?  In this Advent season it bothers me to bring up Protestant heresy, but the magnificent promises of the spiritual realm that many Fundamentalist Protestants teach are heretical:

Eternal Security – Once Saved, Always Saved

The one time acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior for justification and salvation

Mortal sin does not affect salvation

The denial of paradosis Divine Tradition

Denial of the Hierarchical or Ministerial Priesthood of the Catholic Church

Denial of the intercessory prayer to the Virgin Mary and the Saints

Apostolic Tradition can be found in the sacred Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 11:1-2;  2 Thessalonians 2:13-15;  2 Thessalonians 3:6;  2 Timothy 1:13-15;  2 Timothy 2:1-2.

Let us get back to Acts 1:3, the infallible proofs given to the apostles and disciples.  Everything Jesus Christ had spoken to the apostles for the forty days is not recorded in the Bible.  Sacred Scripture itself gives definitive affirmation.  John 20:30 states,

John 21:25 states,

Amen.

In Luke 10:16, Jesus states

In 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15, St. Paul writes

This truly correlates to the Church's first anathema.  Look closely at the Apostle St. Paul's first condemnation against heresy.  In Galatians 1:6-9 St. Paul exhorts,

Consider the twofold condemnation by the Apostle Paul for heretical teaching.  Look closely at 2 John 9-11:

More Biblical passages regarding doctrine and discipline to reflect on:

Protestants must realize that the New Testament presents the Word of God as attested in the form of doctrine:  Romans 5:17;  2 Timothy 4:2;  Titus 1:9.

Sacred Scripture gives definitive affirmation that the responsibility of correct doctrine is especially entrusted to the Church as successors of the Apostles:  Luke 10:16;  Ephesians 5:6, 11;  2 Thessalonians 3:14-15;  1 Timothy 1:20;  1 Timothy 4:10;  1 Timothy 5:20;  2 Timothy 1:13-14;  2 Timothy 2:1-2;  2 Timothy 4:1-2;  Titus 1:10-11;  Titus 3:10.

Sacred Scripture gives definitive affirmation of the faithful exercise of Church discipline:  Matthew 18:15-17;  Acts 20:28-30;  Romans 16:17-18;  1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 13;  Galations1:6-9;  Galations 6:1.

Sacred Scripture gives definitive affirmation that the true Church of Christ be called to complete unity.  Oneness in Christ!  Read the following Biblical Texts for absolute evidence:

Read the Priestly prayer of Christ to the Almighty Father in John 17:20-23!

Read the following Biblical Revelation regarding Church unity:  Romans 15:5-6;  Ephesians 2:14-16;  Ephesians 4:3-6;  Phillipians 2:2;  Colossians 3:12-14.  The Oxford Christian Encyclopedia (1982 Edition) gives verification that there were 20,800 different denominations and Bible churches in Protestantism.  Sacred Scripture gives definitive affirmation that God calls the Church to sanctification.  1 Thessalonians 4:3 states,

In John 17:15-19, Jesus prays,

See also:  1 Corinthians 3:16-19;  2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1;  Ephesians 4:24;  Ephesians 5:25-27;  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24;  1 Peter 1:13-16;  1 Peter 2:9.

There are a vast number of philosophical problems and problems of coherence coming from the Protestant doctrines of Sola Fides and Sola Scriptura.  Sacred Scripture teaches and absolutely points to delegated authority and extra-biblical traditions.  "Salvation by Faith Alone" absolutely violates the principle of sufficient reason.  Sacred Scripture absolutely teaches Obedience of faith or Faith and deeds.  "Faith Alone" is logically inconsistent, not historical, and a self-refuting proposition, as it violates the principle of sufficient reason.  Sola Fides and Sola Scriptura leads to private interpretation of Holy Writ leading to hermenuetical anarchy, denominational factionalism, and deconstructionism of the sacred texts.

The teachings of Christ give a definitive mandate we must persevere in the faith:  Matthew 10:22;  Matthew 24:13;  Mark 13:13.  Jesus Christ exhorts,

Sacred Scripture gives numerous definitive evidence of an obedience of Faith - evidence of an ongoing justification, evidence we must have an Obedience or Faith.  Yes, continue in the faith.  Yes!  Faith and Works.  Look at the Biblical texts presented by the Apostle Paul that do not correlate to the Protestant doctrine of Sola Fides:

Romans:
1:5     2:6-9     8:12-13     11:22-24     16:25-26

Corinthians:
3:10-17     4:5     6:8-9     9:24-27     10:11-12     15:1-3     15:58

Corinthians:
1:12     5:20-21     9:8     11:3     12:21     13:3-7

Galations:
5:17-21     6:4-5     6:7-9

Ephesians:
2:10     4:12-13     5:5-6

Phillipians:
2:12-13     3:10-16

Colossians:
1:21-23     3:5-11:1

Thessalonians:
1:3     4:8

Thessalonians:
2:13-17

Timothy:
2:10     5:10     5:15     6:10-21

Timothy:
2:14-26

Titus:
1:10-16     2:14     3:8-11

Hebrews:
3:1     3:12-14     4:1     4:11-14     6:4-6     6:10-12     10:26-27    10:35-38     12:1-3     12:14-17     chapters 25-29

These are all Biblical texts in the Epistles of St. Paul that absolutely teach an ongoing justification, an obedience of faith, and yes, faith and good works.  I mentioned the Biblical texts from the Apostle Paul because the crux of Reformation Protestantism doctrines comes from the Protestant interpretation of the writings of the Apostle Paul.

Let us look at the Sacraments.  Baptism saves.  In Baptism we are saved, there is soul a regeneration of the soul, the soul is infused with sanctifying grace.  "Born Again" - born of water and the Spirit is Baptism (John 3:3-8)!  In Baptism we become children of God.  In Mark 16:16 Jesus exhorts,

In 1 Peter 3:20-21, St. Peter writes

Titus 3:4-5 states

This is absolutely Baptism.  There is no difference between regeneration of the soul, and the soul infused with grace.  Look at Romans 6:3-6 and Ephesians 5:26 which give magnificent evidence of Baptism.

Let us look at the Sacrament of Confirmation.  St. Clement said we receive the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation.  In Confirmation we become soldiers in the army of Jesus Christ.  Confirmation is the Sacrament in which by the imposition of hands, the anointing of oil, and prayers of the Bishop, the baptized faithful is filled with the power of the Holy Spirit for the strengthening of the supernatural life.  The magnificent power of the Holy Spirit is made manifest through the prophetic words of the Old Testament Prophets, as seen in Joel 2:28, Isaiah 44:3-5, and Ezekiel 39:29.  The great promise of Christ with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit can be found in the New Testament in such verses as Luke 24:49, John 7:37-38, John 14:16, John 16:7, Acts 1:4-5, and Acts 8:14-19.  The magnificent and great Sacrament of Penance was instituted by Christ on Easter evening.  John 20:21-23 gives definitive affirmation that Christ stated

Let us never forget we are all sinners.  Romans 3:9-20 gives evidence of the universality of sin.  1 John 1:10 gives evidence we are all sinners.  In Romans 6:23, St. Paul exhorts,

Revelations 21:27 gives definitive evidence that nothing impure, nothing unclean enters heaven, nor anyone who practices abominations or falsehood.  Romans 3:21-25 and Romans 5:8-9 gives definitive evidence that the "Blood of Christ" is the expiation of our sins.  The Blood of Christ is our justification!

1 John 2:1-2 states

1 John 1:9 states

Although many Protestants in their belief state that they go to God directly in the confession of their sins, John 20:21-23 gives definitive affirmation Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Jesus Christ wanted it this way.  Yes, sacred Scripture gives affirmative evidence.  It is significant of divine and heavenly grace which is imparted to the recepient who is in the state of grace to feed, nurture, and preserve the soul.  The Catholic Council of Trent mandated a Sacramental confession before receiving this great Sacrament if one was in the state of mortal sin.  This still is the teaching of the Catholic Church.

The Eucharist is the foreshadowing of the future eternal joy and glory.  In the reception of the Sacrament of the Eucharist we receive the "Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ".  Patristic study, the study of the first 60 Church Fathers, gives absolute evidence that truly correlates with the teaching of the Catholic Church has always taught about the Eucharist.  After the prayers of consecration by the Hierarchical or Ministerial Priest, the bread and wine become the "Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ".  Look at the following Biblical texts regarding the Eucharist with the New International Version of the Protestant Bible.

The Apostle Paul gives absolute evidence of condemnation of the reception of the Eucharist in mortal sin.  Here is the question to ponder.  How can you sin against a symbol?  If the Eucharist was symbolic, how can the Apostle Paul state one is sinning against the body and blood of Christ?  The celebration of the Eucharist is the great anticipation of the heavenly marriage feast, the wedding feast of the Lamb in the Apocalypse.  Revelations 19:9 gives definitive affirmation of the marriage supper of the Lamb.  The great Eucharistic celebration in the sacrifice of the Mass is the earthly marriage supper of the Lamb.

Let us be attentive and obedient to the Word of God.  Let us seek wisdom, understanding and be obedient to the Word of God, walking in the light of Christ.  Look at the magnificent promises of the spiritual realm in Christ:

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all mankind on earth.  May the peace of Christ manifest in your hearts.  Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!  May God Richly bless You!  Amen!  Hallelujah!