Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 92 of 107

What is a sacrament?

A.A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Which Bible passages support this answer?

The Westminster Assembly attached these Scripture proofs to answer 92. Read them together and ask what each one shows about the answer.

Genesis 17:7, 10
⁷I will confirm my covenant as a perpetual covenant between me and you. It will extend to your descendants after you throughout their generations. I will be your God and the God of your descendants after you. ¹⁰This is my requirement that you and your descendants after you must keep: Every male among you must be circumcised. (NET)
Exodus 12
The whole chapter. Read Exodus 12 in the NET Bible
1 Corinthians 11:23, 26
²³For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, ²⁶For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. (NET)

What does this answer mean?

A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ himself. In it, by signs we can see, touch and taste, Christ and the benefits of the new covenant are represented, sealed and applied to believers. A sacrament pictures the gospel, confirms it like a seal, and gives it to faith.

What can we ask our children?

Who started the sacraments?
What are 'sensible signs'?
What does a seal on a letter or document do?

Can I print this question?

Yes. Every printable here is free for home, church and co-op use. Press Print on any of these pages for a clean sheet.

Memory card for question 92 (fold-over card, question on the front)
Copywork page for question 92 (trace, then copy)
Memory cards for questions 91 to 100
Copywork for questions 91 to 100
All Westminster Shorter Catechism printables

Text: The Shorter Catechism, constitutional text of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Public domain (1647). Proof references: Scripture proofs added by the Westminster Assembly, as transcribed by The Westminster Standard. Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible; see permissions.

Checked against a second edition on November 15, 2026. Explanation and questions by Household Theology Press. Last updated November 15, 2026.

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