Two sacraments; real bodily presence in Lord's Supper affirmed
Lutheranism recognizes two sacraments — Baptism and the Lord's Supper — as the primary means of grace instituted by Christ. Baptism is the means by which God grants forgiveness, the Holy Spirit, and regeneration (baptismal regeneration); it is administered to infants as well as adults. The Lord's Supper is the other primary sacrament, in which Lutheranism insists on the real presence of Christ's body and blood in, with, and under the consecrated bread and wine (sacramental union). This is the doctrine of the Real Presence, sharply distinguishing Lutheranism from Calvinist receptionism and Zwinglian memorialism.
The Formula of Concord (Article VII) was written specifically to defend the Lutheran doctrine of the Lord's Supper against Reformed influence. Luther's dispute with Zwingli at the Marburg Colloquy (1529) over the words of institution ('This is my body') was irreconcilable. Lutheran churches also historically recognized confession and absolution as a third sacrament in practice, though it is not always formally listed alongside Baptism and the Supper. The Augsburg Confession Article XIII defines a sacrament as an act instituted by Christ with an attached promise and external sign.
Key Distinctions
- Term used:
- sacraments
- Sacrament count:
- two (Baptism and Lord's Supper); some add Absolution
- Baptism mode:
- any mode valid; sprinkling most common
- Baptism recipients:
- infants and adults
- Eucharist presence:
- real bodily presence (in, with, and under the bread and wine — consubstantiation)
Scripture References
Sources
- Augsburg Confession, Articles IX–XIII (1530)
- Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration Article VII (1577)
- Luther's Small Catechism, Baptism and Lord's Supper (1529)