What sacraments has Christ instituted?

Christ instituted the Sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We do not generally call Confession a sacrament – although God in Confession also gives us His grace – because there are no visible means connected to it. We call the Word of the Gospel and the Sacraments the Means of Grace.

During the time of the Old Testament, there also were Sacraments: circumcision and the passover lamb.

Assignment: Read from the Lutheran Confessions, how they describe a sacrament: The Large Catechism, Baptism 1 and the Apology of the Augsburg confession 13.

What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is a sacred act instituted by Christ, in which God, through His Word connected to certain visible means, gives us, and assures us of the grace earned by Christ and received by faith.

Ex. 20:24: In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

Augustine: When the Word unites with the substance, a Sacrament is born.