1. Sacraments are holy signs and seals of the covenant of grace, directly instituted by God, to represent Christ and his benefits and to confirm our connection to him. They also put a visible difference between the rest of the world and those who belong to the Church, and solemnly commit them to the service of God in Christ, according to his Word.

2. In every sacrament there is a spiritual relationship, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified. Because of this, the names and effects of the one are often attributed to the other.

3. The grace which is exhibited in or by the sacraments, rightly used, is not conferred by any power in them. Nor does the effectiveness of a sacrament depend upon the piety or intentions of him who administers the sacrament. Rather, it depends on the work of the Spirit and the word of institution, which contains a promise of benefit to those who receive it in a worthy fashion, together with a precept authorizing the use of it.

4. There are only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel, namely, baptism and the Lord’s supper. Neither of these may be dispensed by anyone except a lawfully ordained minister of the Word.

5. The sacraments of the Old Testament were the same in essence as those of the New Testament in regard to the spiritual things signified and exhibited by them.