What is a ritual?   
   ➛ a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order

What is a ceremony?   
   ➛ a formal religious or public occasion, typically one celebrating a particular event or anniversary

What is a sacrement?   
   ➛ a Christian rite or ceremony considered sacred and significant, often seen as a sign of an inward spiritual grace

Rituals have been used to
   ➛ honor a god
   ➛ cleanse a person before a god
   ➛ sacrifice to a god
   ➛ appease a god

Ceremonies have been used to
   ➛ carry out rituals
   ➛ remember past events
   ➛ certify an action

Sacrements are just rituals or ceremonies peculiar to Christianity.   

So we see that rituals and ceremonies reflect a formal interaction with whatever god is being addressed.   

Christianity is not supposed to be a religion.   However, anything can be turned into a religion when you inject ritual and ceremony into it.   

Christianity is about an intimate personal relationship with the True And Living God, Jesus Christ, by virtue of His indwelling Holy Spirit.   

In this relationship we become Sons Of The Holy Spirit.   

Beloved, now are we the sons of the Holy Spirit, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 1Jn 3:2 We know that the Creator ( Jesus Christ Joh 1:3) made all living things to produce after its kind Gen 1:11.      So, when we think about being a Son Of The Holy Spirit we aught to see ourselves as like our Heavenly Father who manifests Himself in Spirit Soul And Body - the Lord Jesus Christ.      When we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and confess Him as our risen Saviour we are born of the Word and the Holy Spirit as New Spirit beings.      Accordingly, we are now Sons Of The Holy Spirit, even in these mortal bodies.     What glory we will experience in the translation at His appearing!      The `appearing` of Christ has a two-fold meaning.         ➛ Jesus will return with every eye seeing Him and with us being translated from corruptible to incorruptible.     We will be gloriously changed into perfection    ➛ The spiritual revelation of our identity in Christ is also an appearing of Christ in our psyche.      When we begin to see ourselves as New Spirit beings empowered by the Holy Spirit we become like Christ Jesus.     The Mind Of Christ becomes our mind with the associated manifestation of His power and His authority.     - Phi 2:5 Phi 3:15 With respect to trinitarianism, is this verse saying that we will be three persons in one as we will be like Him?      Of course not.     We are already like Him in form - Spirit Soul And Body - and we shall be like Him in quality when the corruptible puts on incorruption at His appearing and our translation 1Co 15:52,53 .

But one may argue that even in father-son relationships there can be and often is a certain amount of formality.   

And he arose, and came to his father.     But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luk 15:20 The Lord has compassion - love which reaches out to heal and to make whole.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain kindness, and find grace to help in time of need. Heb 4:16 Here is understanding    ➛ the Holy Spirit is the Throne Of Majesty    ➛ the Holy Spirit is the Throne Of Grace    ➛ the Lord Jesus Christ sits upon the throne    ➛ the Holy Spirit is the Spirit Of Christ Jesus    ➛ we are in the Holy Spirit    ➛ the Holy Spirit is in us    ➛ Grace issues from the Holy Spirit.      Hence, we do not need to go anywhere as we are already In Christ by being in His Holy Spirit.      So, we literally come to the Throne Of Grace by faith in our Heavenly Father`s love, in order for us to receive, just as our Lord Jesus Christ did when He walked the earth.

Doesn't the Lord Jesus Christ expect us to revere Him as King Of Kings and Lord Of Lords?   Isn't He high above us?   

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Joh 15:15 Jesus wants us to be like Him.     In so doing we fulfil His purpose in becoming our sacrifice for sins.     He has given us His Holy Spirit whereby we too are Sons Of The Holy Spirit.

And if children, then heirs; heirs of the Lord, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Rom 8:17 Joint Heirs means that we share in all things - the glory and the persecution.

We know that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.   Aren't we supposed to fear the Lord Jesus Christ, our Mighty God?   

As the Holy Spirit Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue you in my love. Joh 15:9 The Father is the Holy Spirit Mat 1:18,20.      The Holy Spirit is the Spirit Of Christ Jesus Eph 4:4.      Jesus and His Holy Spirit Father are One Joh 10:30.      The Holy Spirit Father is the heart, the essence of Jesus.      Jesus is telling us that He loves us as He loves Himself - with all His heart .      Jesus made it possible for His Spirit to dwell in us so that His love abides in us enabling us to live in His love.

For the Holy Spirit Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from the Holy Spirit. Joh 16:27 The Holy Spirit loves those who believe and receive His manifestation in Christ Jesus.      By our faith In Christ we have access to the Throne Of Grace to which we can come boldly, confidently to receive whatever we have need of.     Heb 4:16

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment.     He that fears is not made perfect in love. 1Jn 4:18 Fear and love are mutually exclusive.         ➛ Fear has torment.         ➛ Love has peace.      When a person encounters the love of the Holy Spirit as demonstrated by Christ Jesus they enter into Grace.      As a believer fellowships with Christ in His Word and by Praying In The Spirit their awareness of His love grows and they experience more of His Grace.      Eventually, all fear vanishes as His perfect love is realized.      A believer who is not living a victorious life but is dealing with fears has not come to the realization of our Lord`s perfect love for them.     Our ministry to those in fear is to teach them of His love.

But what about the sacrements?   Aren't these critical to Christianity?   
   ➛ WaterBaptism
   ➛ Confirmation
   ➛ Communion

When we consider the thief on the cross beside Jesus and the interaction he had with our Lord, we learn much which puts the rituals, ceremonies and sacrements in their proper light.   

But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear the Lord, seeing you are in the same condemnation? Luk 23:40

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss. Luk 23:41

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Luk 23:42

And Jesus said unto him, Truly I say unto you, To day shall you be with me in paradise. Luk 23:43 Paradise, not heaven.     This malefactor went to the bosom of Abraham to hear the Gospel from Jesus and receive Him as Messiah, Saviour and Lord.

Furthermore, when we hear Jesus speak to sinners (all men were born such), we do not see Him demanding anything of them but faith.   Listen to what Jesus says about approaching Him.   

Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:28 Christ Jesus is our redeemer, our Saviour, our healer, our rest, our victory, our resurrection, our life and our future.     He is Mighty God!         ➛ We come to Jesus by believing His Words.         ➛ We receive His rest when we receive His Holy Spirit.      There is no other name under heaven whereby we may be saved.      All power in heaven and earth belongs to the One giving this invitation.      This loving God is the Righteous Judge.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst. Joh 6:35 The Holy Spirit fills us as we receive Christ in fact and in fullness, so that all of our needs and desires are met in Him.

All that the Holy Spirit Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out. Joh 6:37 Who does the Father give to the Son?      The Calvinist believes that the Father unilaterally decides who will be saved.      However, the Holy Spirit Father draws an individual to Jesus.     If the individual responds to the wooing of the Holy Spirit and receives Jesus, the Father gives that person to Christ.

And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.     Believe you this? Joh 11:26 In order for us to appropriate the truly miraculous we must believe that it has already been provided 2Pe 1:3.      Death is cessation of life.     Those In Christ will never know what cessation of life is.     When their body stops functioning they will immediately, without interrupt be alive in the presence of Christ Jesus 2Co 5:8.      Contrast this with the state of all those not In Christ Jesus.     They live in fear of death and so are in bondage to it all their lives Heb 2:15.

What conclusion do we draw then about Christianity relative to religion?   
We conclude that Christianity is not religion.   It is relationship.   

Because of humanity's long experience in separation from God they approached Him fearfully, apologetically, cautiously and formally.   

Even in Judaism, there was a formality based on law and regulation emphasizing the separation of man from God.   

The disciples came out of Judaism - a religion heavily steeped in ritual and ceremony.   It is not surprising that they valued ritual and ceremony because of their long exposure to it.   

Baptism

Listen to what Jesus said about Communion.   

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. Mat 26:26 The communion is symbolic of Christ being in us and we being In Christ.     The Holy Spirit ( Christ) is our Saviour and healer.

And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink you all of it; Mat 26:27 Oneness with Christ is His goal for us.     It requires us to receive all of Him.

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Mat 26:28 Forgiveness of sins is by His shed blood.

And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. Mar 14:22 Communion is observance of and recognition of the power of Christ`s broken body to heal and His shed blood to save.

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. Mar 14:23

And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Mar 14:24 The New Testament is the New Covenant founded on the perfect sacrifice enabling the perfect love of the Holy Spirit to be shed abroad in us.

Truly I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of heaven. Mar 14:25 Jesus drank wine with them after His resurrection.     So, the Kingdom Of God on earth began at His resurrection.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Mar 14:26

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Luk 22:19 The bread represents the broken body of our Lord.

Note that neither Matthew nor Mark quoted Jesus giving the commandment to make Communion a sacrement, as Luke did.   Now, I am not suggesting that Jesus did not say what is recorded in Luke.   I am pointing out that Jesus apparently did not lay down a law about it as He did with the love commandments.   

Since neither Matthew (who was there) nor Mark (who received his Gospel from Peter) repeats what is recorded in Luke I conclude Jesus said something along this line: " Think about me and what I have done for you any time you sup, breaking bread and drinking wine".   

What is my point?   There is no efficacy in the act of taking part in Communion.   The bread and wine are not transsubstantiated nor is there any mystical power imparted to the bread and wine.   Just as it the case with everything in Christianity, we obtain Grace for salvation, deliverance and healing solely by faith in the Words of our Lord and His sacrifice to provide us Grace.