The Second Helvetic Confession
CHAPTER XX
Of Holy Baptism
THE INSTITUTION OF BAPTISM. Baptism was instituted and
consecrated by God. First John baptized, who dipped Christ in the water in
Jordan. From him it came to the apostles, who also baptized with water. The
Lord expressly commanded them to preach the Gospel and to baptize “in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).
And in The Acts, Peter said to the Jews who inquired what they ought to do: “Be
baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of
your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37
f.). Hence by some baptism is called a sign of initiation for God’s people,
since by it the elect of God are consecrated to God.
ONE BAPTISM. There is but one baptism in the Church of
God; and it is sufficient to be once baptized or consecrated unto God. For
baptism once received continues for all of life, and is a perpetual sealing of
our adoption.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BAPTIZED. Now to be baptized in the
name of Christ is to be enrolled, entered, and received into the covenant and
family, and so into the inheritance of the sons of God; yes, and in this life to
be called after the name of God; that is to say, to be called a son of God; to
be cleansed also from the filthiness of sins, and to be granted the manifold
grace of God, in order to lead a new and innocent life. Baptism, therefore,
calls to mind and renews the great favor God has shown to the race of mortal
men. For we are all born in the pollution of sin and are the children of wrath.
But God, who is rich in mercy, freely cleanses us from our sins by the blood of
his Son, and in him adopts us to be his sons, and by a holy covenant joins us to
himself, and enriches us with various gifts, that we might live a new life. All
these things are assured by baptism. For inwardly we are regenerated, purified,
and renewed by God through the Holy Spirit and outwardly we receive the
assurance of the greatest gifts in the water, by which also those great benefits
are represented, and, as it were, set before our eyes to be beheld.
WE ARE BAPTIZED WITH WATER. And therefore we are baptized,
that is, washed or sprinkled with visible water. For the water washes dirt
away, and cools and refreshes hot and tired bodies. And the grace of God
performs these things for souls, and does so invisibly or spiritually.
THE OBLIGATION OF BAPTISM. Moreover, God also separates us
from all strange religions and peoples by the symbol of baptism, and consecrates
us to himself as his property. We, therefore, confess our faith when we are
baptized, and obligate ourselves to God for obedience, mortification of the
flesh, and newness of life. Hence, we are enlisted in the holy military service
of Christ that all our life long we should fight against the world, Satan, and
our own flesh. Moreover, we are baptized into one body of the Church, that with
all members of the Church we might beautifully concur in the one religion and in
mutual services.
THE FORM OF BAPTISM. We believe that the most perfect form
of baptism is that by which Christ was baptized, and by which the apostles
baptized. Those things, therefore, which by man’s device were added afterwards
and used in the Church we do not consider necessary to the perfection of
baptism. Of this kind is exorcism, the use of burning lights, oil, salt,
spittle, and such other things as that baptism is to be celebrated twice every
year with a multitude of ceremonies. For we believe that one baptism of the
Church has been sanctified in God’s first institution, and that it is
consecrated by the Word and is also effectual today in virtue of God’s first
blessing.
THE MINISTER OF BAPTISM. We teach that baptism should not
be administered in the Church by women or midwives. For Paul deprived women of
ecclesiastical duties, and baptism has to do with these.
ANABAPTISTS. We condemn the Anabaptists, who deny that
newborn infants of the faithful are to be baptized. For according to
evangelical teaching, of such is the Kingdom of God, and they are in the
covenant of God. Why, then, should the sign of God’s covenant not be given to
them? Whey should those who belong to God and are in his Church not be
initiated by holy baptism? We condemn also the Anabaptists in the rest of their
peculiar doctrines which they hold contrary to the Word of God. We therefore
are not Anabaptists and have nothing in common with them.
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