Systematic Theology (Vol 3) - Hodge - XXX - Chapter 20 (The means of grace) continued

Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 20 by reading up to the subheading '7. Baptism'.

My summary
Firstly, today, Hodge discusses the necessity of the sacraments.  Most of the time is spent refuting the Roman Catholic teaching that they are necessary.  Hodge notes that such teaching is:
(i) contrary to the express teachings of the Bible;
(ii) utterly inconsistent with the whole genius of Christianity;
(iii) leads to the divorce of religion and morality;
(iv) not applicable to the Lutheran system.

Secondly, Hodge teaches us about the validity of the sacraments, particularly about the elements used and who administers them.

What grabbed me
I liked the clear statement that faith alone is necessary for salvation: 'In this sense food is a necessity of life ; light is necessary to the exercise of vision ; the Word is necessary to the exercise of faith, for it is its object, the thing which is to be believed ; and faith is, on the part of adults, necessary to salvation, for it is the act of receiving the grace of God offered in the Bible. And therefore times almost without number, it is said in Scripture, that we are saved by faith, that he that believeth shall be saved, and that he that believeth not shall not see life.'

Amen!

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 20 by reading up to the subheading '9. The subjects of Baptism'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.