So when the Church tells you that the Sacraments are necessary for salvation, and Jesus taught that only belief was necessary, in whom do you put your trust? Part 6: Holy Orders

Faith and the Sacraments: Trusting What Jesus Actually Taught

Part 6: Holy Orders – Shepherds for the Flock

“So when the Church tells you that the Sacraments are necessary for salvation, and Jesus taught that only belief was necessary, in whom do you put your trust?”

Welcome to Part 6 of our 7-part series exploring the Sacraments and answering one of the most important questions Catholics face today: If Jesus taught that belief alone is necessary for salvation, why does the Catholic Church teach that the Sacraments are necessary?

When I first began responding to the challenges from a fundamentalist Christian back in 1998, I already knew that Holy Orders was a sacrament, instituted by Christ and essential to the life of the Church. I had a deep respect for priests and bishops and understood their role in leading and sanctifying the faithful. But what I hadn’t yet explored was where this sacrament comes from in Scripture, and how it connects the Old Testament priesthood with the New Covenant ministry of Christ and His apostles.

That same fundamentalist had asked me:

“If Jesus taught that belief alone is necessary for salvation, why does the Catholic Church teach that the Sacraments are necessary?”

And once again, the answer led me deeper — into the Old Testament, where God established a priesthood to serve His people, and into the New Testament, where Jesus fulfilled and transformed that priesthood, commissioning His apostles to continue His work through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

In this post, we’ll explore:

• The biblical foundations of Holy Orders,
• Its continuity from the Old Testament priesthood,
• How Jesus commissioned His apostles to carry on His mission, and
• What the early Church Fathers and saints taught about the sacredness of ordination.

Faith Alone? Why Holy Orders Matter

Jesus didn’t just call people to believe — He called and commissioned specific men to teach, sanctify, and govern His Church. He gave them real authority, and through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, that authority has been passed down through apostolic succession for over 2,000 years.

2 Corinthians 5:20 – “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us.”

The ordained priesthood is not a human invention — it is a divine calling, a continuation of Christ’s own priestly ministry.

Biblical Foundations of Holy Orders

Old Testament Priesthood

• Exodus 28–29 – God commands Moses to consecrate Aaron and his sons as priests, with sacred garments and rituals.
• Numbers 3:5–10 – The Levites are appointed to assist the priests and serve in the tabernacle.
• Psalm 110:4 – “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

These passages show that God established a ministerial priesthood distinct from the general priesthood of all believers — a pattern fulfilled and transformed in Christ.

Jesus Establishes the New Priesthood

• Luke 22:19 – At the Last Supper, Jesus says: “Do this in memory of me.” This is a command to offer the Eucharist, a priestly act.
• John 20:21–23 – Jesus breathes on the apostles and gives them authority to forgive sins — a priestly function.
• Matthew 28:19–20 – Jesus commissions the apostles to teach, baptize, and lead — the core duties of ordained ministry.

These weren’t symbolic gestures. Jesus was establishing a sacramental priesthood, rooted in His own authority.

Apostolic Succession and Ordination

The apostles understood that their ministry was not temporary — it was to be handed on:

• Acts 6:5–6 – The apostles lay hands on the first deacons.
• Acts 13:2–3 – Paul and Barnabas are commissioned through prayer and laying on of hands.
• 1 Timothy 4:14 – “Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you… when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”
• 2 Timothy 1:6 – “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

This laying on of hands is the essential act of ordination, still used today in every Holy Orders ceremony.

What the Early Church Believed About Holy Orders

St. Clement of Rome (1st century)

“The apostles appointed bishops and deacons… and gave instructions that when these should fall asleep, other approved men should succeed them.”

St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 110 A.D.)

“Let everyone respect the bishop as they would the Lord Himself.”

St. John Chrysostom

“The priesthood is the most sublime of all orders… it is exercised on earth, but ranks among heavenly things.”

St. Thomas Aquinas

“Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the spiritual power is conferred for the sanctification of souls.”

The early Church saw Holy Orders as a divine institution, not a human hierarchy. It was the means by which Christ continued to shepherd His people.

Conclusion: Shepherds for the Flock

Holy Orders is not about status — it’s about service. It’s not about authority for its own sake — it’s about sacrificial leadership, modeled after Christ the Good Shepherd.

So when someone asks, “If Jesus taught that belief alone is necessary for salvation, why does the Catholic Church teach that the Sacraments are necessary?” — we can answer:

Because Jesus didn’t just say “believe.” He said, “Feed my sheep.” He gave us the priesthood to continue His ministry of teaching, healing, and sanctifying.

Stay Tuned for Part 7: Anointing of the Sick – Grace in Suffering

In the final post of this series, we’ll explore the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, a powerful gift of healing, peace, and grace for those who are suffering. We’ll look at its biblical roots, its presence in both Old and New Testaments, and how the Church continues Christ’s healing ministry today.

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