What is a sacrament?

A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ in his church,¹ to signify, seal, and exhibit ² unto those that are within the covenant of grace,³ the benefits of his mediation;⁴ to strengthen and increase their faith, and all other graces;⁵ to oblige them to obedience;⁶ to testify and cherish their love and communion one with another;⁷ and to distinguish them from those that are without.⁸

Scripture proofs

The Westminster Assembly's proof texts (KJV). The bracketed numbers in the answer above mark the clause each set of references supports; expand a row to read the verses.

1 Gen. 17:7, 10; Exod. 12; Matt. 26:26–28; Matt. 28:19

Gen. 17:7, 10

Gen. 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Gen. 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

Exod. 12

— full text not shown for this reference —

Matt. 26:26–28

Matt. 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.

Matt. 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

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

Matt. 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

2 Rom. 4:11; 1 Cor. 11:24–25

Rom. 4:11

And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

1 Cor. 11:24–25

1 Cor. 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

1 Cor. 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

3 Rom. 15:8; Exod. 12:48

Rom. 15:8

Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

Exod. 12:48

And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

4 Acts 2:38; 1 Cor. 10:16

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

1 Cor. 10:16

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

5 Rom. 4:11; Gal. 3:27

Rom. 4:11

Gal. 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

6 Rom. 6:3–4; 1 Cor. 10:21

Rom. 6:3–4

Rom. 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

Rom. 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

1 Cor. 10:21

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

7 Eph. 4:2–5; 1 Cor. 12:13

Eph. 4:2–5

Eph. 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Eph. 4:3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Eph. 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Eph. 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

1 Cor. 12:13

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

8 Eph. 2:11–12; Gen. 34:14

Eph. 2:11–12

Eph. 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

Eph. 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Gen. 34:14

And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:

This doctrine across the Standards

Where the Confession and the Westminster Shorter Catechism treat the same matter, so the question can be studied alongside its parallel statements.

In the Westminster Confession

VII.6 Under the gospel, when Christ the substance was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are …

Under the gospel, when Christ the substance was exhibited, the ordinances in which this covenant is dispensed are the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; which, though fewer in number, and administered with more simplicity and less outward glory, yet in them it is held forth in more fulness, evidence, and spiritual efficacy, to all nations, both Jews and Gentiles; and is called the New Testament. There are not, therefore, two covenants of grace differing in substance, but one and the same under various dispensations.

→ VII.6 · Of God's Covenant with Man

XXVII.1 Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ …

Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, immediately instituted by God, to represent Christ and his benefits, and to confirm our interest in him: as also to put a visible difference between those that belong unto the Church and the rest of the world; and solemnly to engage them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word.

→ XXVII.1 · Of the Sacraments

XXVII.2 There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; …

There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified; whence it comes to pass that the names and the effects of the one are attributed to the other.

→ XXVII.2 · Of the Sacraments

XXVII.3 The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments, rightly used, is not conferred by any power …

The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments, rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them; neither doth the efficacy of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intention of him that doth administer it, but upon the work of the Spirit, and the word of institution, which contains, together with a precept authorizing the use thereof, a promise of benefit to worthy receivers.

→ XXVII.3 · Of the Sacraments

XXVII.4 There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism …

There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any but by a minister of the Word lawfully ordained.

→ XXVII.4 · Of the Sacraments

XXVII.5 The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for …

The sacraments of the Old Testament, in regard of the spiritual things thereby signified and exhibited, were, for substance, the same with those of the New.

→ XXVII.5 · Of the Sacraments

In the Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q.91 How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?

The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.