The Sacraments: Visible Signs of Invisible Grace

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The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion recognize seven sacraments. Two sacraments that are "ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospels" and generally necessary for salvation are:

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Baptism

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In Holy Baptism, the outward and visible sign is water, in which candidates are baptized “in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (matthew 28:19). The inward and spiritual grace is death to sin and new birth to righteousness, through union with Christ in his death and resurrection (romans 6:1-11). Holy Baptism is appropriately administered within the Eucharist as the chief service on Sunday or other Holy Day. In this way the Congregation may welcome the newly baptized into Christ’s Church, and may be reminded of the benefits which they themselves received and the profession which they made in Holy Baptism.

The Bishop, when present, is normally the celebrant. Each candidate for Holy Baptism is to be sponsored by one or more baptized persons, who are themselves committed to Christ and commended by the example of their own holy living. Sponsors of adults and older children present their candidates and thereby signify their endorsement of the candidates and their intention to support them by prayer and encouragement in the Christian life. Sponsors of infants, commonly called godparents, present their candidates, make promises in their own names, and also take vows on behalf of their candidates.

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Eucharist (Holy Communion, The Lord’s Supper)

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Holy Communion is normally the principal service of Christian worship on the Lord’s Day, and on other appointed Feasts and Holy Days, and is commonly called the Lord’s Supper or the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharistic Rite is exclusively unique to Christianity being that it was first instituted by the words and actions of the Lord Jesus Christ some two-thousand years ago while leading his twelve disciples through the Jewish ritual of Passover. Jesus would use the occasion of the Passover to explain the reason for his coming to earth, his suffering on the Cross, death, and resurrection. Through this meal, the constructs of Old Testament worship (the sacrificial system, Temple, and Torah-keeping) would be transformed by the worship of the New Covenant, fulfilling the words of Jeremiah, “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah” (Jer 31:31) would find its meaning. Both in word and action, Christ instituted a certain ceremonial Rite to forever be associated with true worship: worship no longer centered in temples but centered in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).  Holy Communion is a means of grace given for the remission of sins, covenant renewal, and strengthening of the Christian life. In the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53)

 

The remaining five are "commonly called Sacraments but not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel":

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• Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession and absolution)

• Holy Matrimony

• Confirmation

• Ordination (Holy Orders or Sacred Ministry)

• Anointing of the Sick (Healing or Unction)