293. What is a sacrament?
The Lutheran Church usually speaks of a sacrament as a sacred act
A. instituted by the command of Christ;
B. in which Christ joins His Word of promise to a visible element;
C. by which He offers and bestows the forgiveness of sins He has earned for us by His suffering, death, and resurrection.
Note: The word sacrament comes to us from the Latin translation of the Bible, where the Greek word mystery is translated sacrament. Originally, mystery/sacrament described the saving truths of the Christian faith, such as the Trinity, Christ's incarnation, redemption, and the Church (for example, 1 Corinthians 4:1; Ephesians 5:32; and 1 Timothy 3:16). Later, sacrament came to refer to divinely instituted rites, such as Baptism and the Lord's Supper, to which the Lord attached the promise of His grace. Because they were established by God's command and convey His grace, we distinguish the sacraments from ceremonies and rites established by human beings.
Eventual commentary
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