The ‘Sacraments’ Do Not Confer Grace

As the Consensus Tigurinus rightly declares-

Article 17. The Sacraments Do Not Confer Grace.By this doctrine is overthrown that fiction of the sophists which teaches that the sacraments confer grace on all who do not interpose the obstacle of mortal sin. For besides that in the sacraments nothing is received except by faith, we must also hold that the grace of God is by no means so annexed to them that whoso receives the sign also gains possession of the thing. For the signs are administered alike to reprobate and elect, but the reality reaches the latter only.

 I am not happy at all with the Catholic position on the sacraments, which I see it more like a blasphemy. Many weren't happy with the Lutheran position either. So the Reformed/Calvinistic position served as a via media for the rest of us.

Not all things that Calvin said were wrong. That's why we can't close our minds to either Luther or Calvin, or the Anabaptists for that matter.