The Heidelberg Catechism
27. Lord’s Day
Q. 72.
Is then the external baptism with water the washing away of sin
itself?
A.
Not at all: (a)
for the blood of Jesus Christ only, and the Holy Ghost cleanse us from all sin.
(b)
(a) Matt.3:11; 1 Pet.3:21; Eph.5:26,27. (b) 1 John 1:7; 1 Cor.6:11.
Q. 73.
Why then does the Holy Ghost call baptism “the washing of regeneration,”
and “the washing away of sins”?
A.
God speaks thus not without great cause, to-wit, not only thereby to
teach us, that as the filth of the body is purged away by water, so our sins
are removed by the blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ; (a)
but especially that by this divine pledge and sign he may assure us, that we
are spiritually cleansed from our sins as really, as we are externally washed
with water. (b)
(a) Rev.1:5; Rev.7:14; 1 Cor.6:11. (b) Mark 16:16; Gal.3:27.
Q. 74.
Are infants also to be baptized?
A.
Yes:
for since they, as well as the adult, are included in the covenant and church
of God; (a)
and since redemption from sin (b)
by the blood of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is promised to
them no less than to the adult; (c)
they must therefore by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, be also admitted
into the christian church; and be distinguished from the children of
unbelievers (d)
as was done in the old covenant or testament by circumcision, (e)
instead of which baptism is instituted (f)
in the new covenant.
(a) Gen.17:7. (b) Matt.19:14. (c) Luke 1:15; Ps.22:10; Isa.44:1-3;
Acts 2:39. (d) Acts 10:47. (e) Gen.17:14. (f) Col.2:11-13.
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46