The 39 Articles of Religion: Article XXV. Of the Sacraments
- reagancocke
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
What exactly is a sacrament? Anglicans describe a sacrament as an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given to us and ordained by Jesus himself. That is why Baptism and the Supper of the Lord are the two primary sacraments. He commanded his disciples to practice them. Since the sacraments are means of God's grace, it is God who is the chief actor in the sacraments. They are highly relational and personal and not mechanical. For example, debated on exactly how one does a baptism or officiate at the Lord's Table, often devolve into the mechanics of the acts, not the actual relational aspect that God is having with his people. Sacraments are effective as the means of a vital relationship between God and his people. Sacraments are misused when abstracted from that relationship.
XXV. Of the Sacraments.
Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens of Christian men's profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our Faith in him.
There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.
Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God.
The Sacraments are not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation: but they that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as Saint Paul saith.
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