Sacraments

The Lutheran confessions recognize two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. According to Lutheran teaching, the sacraments are acts instituted by Christ and connected with a divine promise. Faith is necessary for a salvatory reception of the sacrament. Thus, Lutherans reject the notion that the sacraments are effective ex opere operato (operative apart from faith) or that they are only symbolic actions.  Luther limited public worship to just these two. Luther also challenged the idea of transubstantiation vs. consubstantiation. Roman Catholics believe in transubstantiation (wine and bread becoming the blood and flesh), Luther believe in consubstantiation (Real Presence of Christ is there in essence but the literal change does not occur). This challenge to transubstantiation has significantly affected the practice of communion in protestant churches. Similarly, protestant churches do not recognise all seven Catholic sacraments.