There are only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the Gospel; that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord: neither of which may be dispensed by any, but by a minister of the Word lawfully ordained.
This paragraph affirms the Protestant view of the number of Christian sacraments and distinctly denies the Roman Catholic formulation. From the Protestant perspective, a sacrament is an ordinance directly inaugurated and established for perpetuity (until he returns) by Christ himself. None of the other five observances that Rome defines as a sacrament meets this criterion.
The Confession also limits the authority to perform or dispense sacraments to the ordained ministry. This is a more controversial point than I would have thought, having encountered sincere questions when teaching this chapter. It likely goes to orderliness and seemliness, especially in the context of Paul's admonition regarding the right observance of the Supper. But I will admit to not having settled my thoughts on the matter as a whole.
Tomorrow: The continuity of sacraments.
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