Meaning of Confirmation in Anglican Tradition

The concept of Confirmation in the Anglican tradition is historically complex, yet its theological status is distinct from the Reformed understanding of sacraments. In the Anglican framework, Confirmation is often viewed as a rite of maturity or a public affirmation of faith following infant baptism. However, the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, which provide a foundational statement of Anglican doctrine, explicitly exclude Confirmation from the category of Gospel Sacraments. Article 25 states that those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and extreme Unction, are not to be counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the Scriptures; but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of God. This distinction is crucial because it separates Confirmation from the two ordinances explicitly instituted by Christ in the New Testament.

From a Reformed perspective, the Westminster Confession of Faith aligns with this exclusion by affirming that there are only two sacraments ordained by Christ: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Reformed theologians like John Calvin argued that sacraments must be instituted by Christ with a visible sign and a promise of grace. Since Confirmation lacks a direct institution by Christ in the Gospels or Epistles, it does not carry the same covenantal weight as Baptism. The theological significance here is that grace is mediated through the Word and the two ordinances, not through additional humanly devised rites. While some Anglican traditions may treat Confirmation as a necessary step for full communion or spiritual growth, Reformed theology maintains that the Holy Spirit is given through faith in the Gospel, not through a subsequent ritual.

A common misconception is that Confirmation imparts a unique, indelible character or grace that is absent in Baptism. This view is more closely aligned with Roman Catholic scholastic theology, such as that found in Aquinas, who argued that the character of Confirmation presupposes the baptismal character and represents a spiritual growth akin to adulthood. However, Reformed theology rejects the notion that sacraments operate ex opere operato (by the work performed) independent of faith. Instead, the pastoral reality is that believers are sealed by the Holy Spirit at the moment of true faith, which may be publicly declared in Baptism. Therefore, while the Anglican church may administer Confirmation as a meaningful moment of public profession, it is not a Gospel sacrament in the strict Reformed sense. The ultimate assurance of salvation rests not on the receipt of a rite, but on the promises of God in Christ, who has sealed His people with the Spirit of adoption. This truth reminds the church to focus on the sufficiency of Scripture and the two ordinances, avoiding the addition of human traditions that might obscure the clarity of the Gospel.