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The Westminster Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism
1. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace. They were instituted by God along with that covenant[1] to represent Christ and his benefits, to confirm our position with and in him,[2] to demonstrate a visible difference between those who belong to the church and the rest of the world,[3] and solemnly to engage believers in the service of God in Christ according to his word.[4]
[1] Rom 4:11, Gn 17:7, 9-11, Mt 28:19, 1 Cor 11:23, Ex 13:9-10, 12:3-20.
[2] 1 Cor 10:16, 11:25-26, Gal 3:27.
[3] Rom 15:8, Ex 12:48, Gn 34:14, 1 Cor 10:21, Heb 13:10, 1 Cor 11:27-29.
[4] Rom 6:3-4, 1 Cor 10:2, 14-16, 21; see context.
2. In every sacrament there is a spiritual relationship or sacramental union between the sign and the thing signified. And so the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.[5]
[5] Gn 17:10, Mt 26:27-28, Ti 3:5.
3. The grace revealed in or by sacraments in their right use does not come from any power in them. Neither does the effectiveness of a sacrament depend on the devoutness or the intention of whoever administers it. Rather the power and effectiveness of the sacraments are the result of the work of the Spirit[6] and rest on God's word instituting them, since his word authorizes their use and promises benefits to worthy receivers of them.[7]
[6] Rom 2:28-29, 1 Pt 3:21, Mt 3:11, 1 Cor 12:13, 3:7, 6:11, Jn 3:5, Acts 8:13-23.
[7] Mt 26:27-28, 28:19-20, Jn 6:63, Lk 22:19-20, 1 Cor 11:26.
4. There are only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the gospel: baptism and the Lord's supper.[8] Ordinarily, neither of these may be administered by anyone but a lawfully ordained minister of the word.[9]
[8] Mt 28:19, 1 Cor 11:20,23, 4:1, Heb 5:4.
[9] See General Note.
5. The sacraments of the Old Testament signify and reveal in substance the same spiritual things as those of the New.[10]
[10] 1 Cor 10:1-4, 5:7-8, Col 2:11-12.
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