Protestants: Why Is Communion A Sacrament?

Question

I don't really understand this: 

Most Protestants state they only have 2 Sacraments unlike Catholics who have 7. They state that the 2 they have are Baptism and Communion (Lord's Supper), which are 2 of the 7 that Catholics have, but here's my confusion:

According to Catholicism, a Sacrament is "A sensible sign, instituted by Jesus Christ, by which invisible grace and inward sanctification are communicated to the soul."

http://www.catholicreference.net/index.c…

Thus, they have power within them and are not symbolic in the Catholic faith, but in the Protestant faith, the Sacrament of Baptism is not symbolic while Communion is. 

So how can Communion be a Sacrament if it is a symbol? If it is nothing more than bread and wine and has no grace behind it, why is it then called a Sacrament? 

I did ask what a Sacrament is to Protestants and here is the answer I received:

"A sacrament is an outward sign of an inward grace, which actually achieves what it signifies.

Each sacrament carries with it the promise of God's Word. Since everything God says is true, His Word makes a sacrament more than what we see with human eyes: A miracle occurs with the administration of a sacrament, because God's Word always accomplishes what it promises."

This makes sense to me and agrees with the Catholic belief of a Sacrament, but it does not explain how Communion--which is a symbol only--can be considered a Sacrament.

Baptism is said to be a Sacrament and taken to literally have infused grace within the act, but Communion is not seen this way and yet is called a Sacrament. How can they both be Sacraments if one is symbolic and one is not?

Marysia · Accepted Answer

some also have Confirmation.  I'm going to star you as this will (hopefully) be interesting.  Never realized that "marriage" was not considered a sacrament in the protestant denominations.

admyr75 · Answer

many protestants may not understand your question, after all the theme with protestants is that most of them believe in sola scriptura. You may not get the responses you want. Christ himself tells everyone in John 6, and still many of His followers can not accept His teaching. They walk away from Him, God who is before their very eyes. The same you'll find here. If anyone is really interested in knowing about the sacrament of Communion, pray and discern John 6.

John the Buddhist,-Lotus fan 卐卐 · Answer

I saw in a documentary that this came from Luther and the Bible.  He was against the idea that you should also rely on tradition, as the Catholic Church says you should, like in addition to the Bible.

I can not say if it is true, but I guess the Bible only talks about 2 of them.

edit: I am not arguing that they are not.  I doubt that all 7 are but I do not really care as it does not affect me religiously.  I saw it in a documentary about the protestant reformation, what matters is LUTHER saw only 2.  And there are people who follow Luther.  I did for a while, I was raised Lutheran.

? · Answer

This is how I see it.
Baptism is a command that we are to obey, as we can see through out the Bible, as well as other commands. Believe, confess, repent...
Romans Chapter 6 explains the significance of this action of obedience.
It is part of our excepting the salvation plan of God.

Communion was sanctified by Christ at the last supper. Christ "set aside"
His commemoration, from the passover meal that they were eating at the time. Therefore sanctifying it, makes it a sacrament right?
The bread and fruit of the vine are symbolic of the body and blood of Christ. Symbolic-Sanctified-Sacrament.
Baptism in a one time act of faith.
Communion is an onward observance of your faith, for we are told by Jesus to do "this often".

Anonymous · Answer

Communion (which is a symbol only) can be considered a Sacrament.*

One would never use two dashes for this.

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Protestants: Why Is Communion A Sacrament?

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