WCF 27.2

Westminster Confession of Faith

27.2. Of the Sacraments

There is in every sacrament a spiritual relation, or sacramental union, between the sign and the thing signified: whence it comes to pass, that the names and effects of the one are attributed to the other.

Proof texts

Gen. 17:10 — [10] This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
Matt. 26:27, 28 — [27] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, [28] for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Tit. 3:5

For discussion

The Assembly cited Gen. 17:10 in support of this answer. Read it in context — how does it bear on what is claimed here?
3 passages are cited here. Which does the most work, and is anything claimed that the proofs do not obviously carry?
WSC Q91 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?
WSC Q92 treats the same ground. What does it add, and why might it put things differently?

Read alongside

WSC Q91 · WSC Q92 · WLC Q162 · WLC Q163 · WLC Q149 · WSC Q88 · BC 8.1 · BC 8.2 · BC 8.3 · HC Q65 · 1689 28.1 · SD 28.1 · IAR 7.1 · SC60 6.1 · SC60 6.2 · SC60 6.3 · SC60 6.4 · SC60 6.5 · SHC 6.1 · SHC 6.2 · IAR 8.1 · SC60 7.1 · SC60 7.2 · SC60 7.3 · SHC 7.1 · SHC 7.2 · SHC 7.3

Leader's notes

A Commentary on the Confession of Faith (A.A. Hodge): this Section proceeds to guard this important truth from abuse, by carefully showing upon what this grace-conveying efficacy of the sacraments does not, and upon what it does, depend. 1st. This grace is not contained in the sacraments themselves, nor " is it conferred by any power in them." According to the Romish and Ritualistic view, the grace signified is contained in the sacrament itself, as qualities inhere in substances, and it is together with the outward sign presented as a real objective sense to every recipient, whether believer or unbeliever. They hold also that the sacrament confers this grace upon every recipient who does not positively resist, as an ojpus operatum — by the sole force of. the sacramental…

An Exposition of the Confession of Faith (Robert Shaw): The parts of a sacrament are two — the sign and the thing signified. The sign is something sensible and visible — that may be seen and handled. Thus, the outward sign in baptism is water^ which is visible to us ; and the outward signs iir the Lord's supper are bread and icine^ which are also visible, and which we can handle and taste. The things signified are Christ and the benefits of the new covenant. These are called the matter of the sacrament. The form consists in the spiritual relation or sacramental union, established between the sign and the thing signified by the divine institution. Though there is some analogy or resemblance between the outward signs and the…