Are Catholics the only ones who have to do the 7 sacraments?

Catholics and Orthodox Christians are the only ones with 7 true Sacraments. They are based on parts of the Bible that showed how certain "milestones" of our lives are held in high importance by Jesus, especially when it has to do with earthly matter like water, bread, wine and oil.

What is the connection with the Bible?

Baptism is obvious to most Christians (and some Christian denominations even have at least this one as a Sacrament-or they may call it an Ordinance).

The Eucharist should be obvious (e.g. manna from heaven in Exodus, John Chapter 6 about Jesus saying his body is true food after feeding the 5 thousand, the Last Supper, and Luke Chapter 24 when the Apostles didn't recognize Jesus until he broke the bread).

Confirmation is the receipt of the Holy Spirit during Pentecost. It is the time the Church was started and members of Christ's body joined the Church.

Matrimony is something always of high importance in the Bible (Genesis with Adam clinging to his wife, wedding at Cana with Jesus' first miracle, the many parables about bride grooms and wedding feasts).

Holy Orders is seen in the Bible with the choosing of the Apostles; the choosing of Peter as the Rock; Romans Chapter 12 speaks about not every member of the body having the same function; and Christ in Matthew Chapter 19 speaking about how some men make themselves eunuchs for the kingdom.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also during Pentecost when Jesus tells His Apostles that they have the power to forgive and retain sins.

Anointing of the sick is from Jesus' many healing and from how His body was prepared before burial. As well, are these passages: Mark 6:13, James 5:14-15, Matthew 10:1; Luke 9:1-2.

Why don't our other Christian brothers and sisters have these Sacraments? My opinion is that in protesting against the church they think they are pulling away things that they believe are man-made principles. And as new denominations form they feel that they are coming full circle to the times when Christianity first began, right after Christ's death.

However, all they need do is research the first fathers of Christianity and read the Didache to see that, although they might not have used the word "sacrament," every one of these elements were very solemn and necessary for Christian worship. Over time the Catholic Church may have fortified the Sacraments with later decrees and pronouncements; but this is her duty as given to her by our Lord, Jesus Christ. Remember, He said, "what you shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and what you shall loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.

God Bless.

The 7 Sacraments

There are other sacramental churches. Anglicans, Lutherans, and the Orthodox for sure.

The numbers of sacraments can vary. Even Catholics have had differing numbers over the years (and before anyone freaks out, I leaned that at a Catholic seminary!). For example, Anglicans recognize two - Baptism, and Eucharist, as the ones instituted by Jesus. Basically, he said "do this." The others are seen as minor sacraments, so, not with quite the same standing. I have forgotten how many the Orthodox, and Eastern Catholics have. In my Sacraments class, we were 50:50, Catholics, and Anglicans, so, I never did hear.

A sacrament is something special - "an outward and visible sign of an inward an invisible grace." Denominations who observe the sacraments think that something real happens in them, e.g., at Eucharist, you receive the Holy Spirit directly. Non-sacramental churches, which includes a lot (not all) of the Protestant ones think these things are symbolic only. So, they put less emphasis on them. But, for the sacramental denominations, these things are vital, because of the grace of God working physically in them.

The 38,000 denominations and non denomiations of Protestant religions reject 5 of the 7 Sacraments that Jesus gave to His Catholic Church. They are all biblical too. It is an honor and very humbling experience to use all of the Sacraments

Baptism: Baptism is a Sacrament which cleanses us from original sin,

Biblical references: Acts 2:38-39; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; John 3:5; Matt 19:14;

Luke 18:15-16; Col 2:11-12; Rom 6:13; Acts 16:15; Acts 16:33; 1 Cor 1:16; Mark 16:16;

Rom 5:18-19; Mark 10:14; Jos 24:15; Matt 8:5ff; Matt 15:21

Reconciliation (also known as Confession and Penance): Penance is a Sacrament in which the sins committed after Baptism are forgiven.

Biblical references: Matt 9:2-8; Jn 20:22-23; 2 Cor 5:17-20; James 5:13-16;

Matt 18:18; 1 Jn 5:16

Holy Communion (Holy Eucharist): Biblical references: Jn 6:35-71; Mt 26:26ff; 1 Cor 10:16; 1 Cor 11:23-29; Ex 12:8,46;

Jn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; Jn 4:31-34; Matt 16:5-12; 1 Cor 2:14-3:4; Ps 27:2; Is 9:18-20;

Is 49:26; Mic 3:3; 2 Sam 23:15-17; Rev 17:6,16

Confirmation: Confirmation is a Sacrament through which we receive the Holy Ghost to make us strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.

Biblical references: Acts 19:5-6; Acts 8:14-17; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Eph 1:13; Heb 6:2

Matrimony: The Sacrament of Matrimony is the Sacrament which unites a Christian man and woman in lawful marriage.

Biblical references: Matt 19:5; Mark 10:7-12; Eph 5:22-32; 1 Thess 4:4; Mal 2:14-16;

Matt 5:32-33; Matt 19:4-6,9; Mark 10:11-12; Lk 16:18; Rom 7:2-3; 1 Cor 7:10-11

Holy Orders: Holy Orders is a Sacrament by which bishops, priests, and other ministers of the Church are ordained and receive the power and grace to perform their sacred duties.

Biblical references: Acts 20:28; Lk 22:19; Jn 20:22; Acts 6:6; Acts 13:3;

Acts 14:22; 1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6; Tit 1:5

Anointing of the Sick (formerly known as Extreme Unction or Last Rites)

Biblical references: Mk 6:12-13; Jm 5:14

Catholic Christian †

Those protestants who celebrate the sacraments, like Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopals, and some others, only recognize two sacraments; Communion and Baptism. Sacraments are a means of grace.

Sacraments are encounters with Christ. They give acts and prayers special meaning at special times. Sacraments, except Matrimony, are administered by priests. The Reformation rejected the priesthood because of clerical corruption and disagreed with the scriptural interpretations that were the basis for the seven Sacraments.

Some Protestants have some Sacraments. For example a Protestant convert to Catholicism is not "re-baptized" because Catholics agree with many Protestants that there is only one baptism.

The Orthodox Church also has the seven Sacraments.

The Anglican Church sort of has seven sacraments. It says that ones like Matrimony and Confirmations are Sacraments, but not in the way that Eucharist and Baptism are.

We Catholics have seven Sacraments because Jesus taught us to have seven Sacraments.

Protestants don't have them because their faith is incomplete, a watered down Christianity.

Catholics, Orthodox, Anglican and Episcopalian teach the same 7 sacraments. The Lutheran Church teaches two.... Baptism and Eucharist.

No Orthodox Christians have the Same Sacraments

yes they are , protestants follow the Anglican rule from the 39 articles of only having 2 sacraments , baptism and the lord's supper , Lutherans may be the exception