Lord's Day 42

Devotion

When a branch is grafted into the vine, the life, health, and strength of the branch comes from the vine itself, and the branch can only bear fruit as long as it remains connected to the vine. So it is with our life in Christ. In Baptism, our lives are so identified with Christ’s that he becomes the vine and we the branches. As we are submerged in the water, we die a death like Christ’s; as we come up from the water, we are raised to a new life in Christ. The life we now live we live in Christ, and, as the apostle Paul writes, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within me.”

United with Christ in Baptism, we receive the blessings of the covenant life, namely regeneration by the Spirit of Christ in us, the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Christ, adoption as the heirs of God in Jesus Christ, and the sure and certain hope of resurrection unto everlasting life. Moreover, as members of the body of Christ, we are placed within the covenant community of the church, in which we are nurtured in our faith, equipped for ministry, and called to serve one another in the love of God.

Baptism is given to all who publicly profess their faith, as well as their children. Whereas circumcision, the sign of the old covenant, was given to the sons of Israel when they were 8 years old, baptism, the sign of the new covenant in Jesus Christ, is also given to our children as a sign of their inclusion (Acts 2:38-39; Gal 3:17-18). Matthew Henry has once wrote, “I cannot but take occasion to express my gratitude to God for my infant baptism; not only as it was an early admission into the visible body of Christ, but as it furnished my pious parents with a good argument for an early dedication of my own self to God in my childhood. If God has wrought any good work upon my soul, I desire with humble thankfulness, to acknowledge the moral influence of my infant baptism upon it.”

Prayer

Almighty God, we thank you for giving us the sign of Baptism which teaches us to trust in Christ alone for our salvation, showing us how we are united with Him in faith, and sealing us with your Holy Spirit. Teach us to live and grow as your covenant family, raising our children to know and trust in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Question 94

Q. 94. What is Baptism?

A. Baptism is a Sacrament, wherein the washing with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.

Scripture Proofs

Matt. 28:19;

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Rom. 6:4;

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Gal. 3:27.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Question 95

Q. 95. To whom is Baptism to be administered?

A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible Church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible Church are to be baptized.

Scripture Proofs

Acts 8:36;

And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

Acts 2:38-39;

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

Gen. 17:10;

This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised.

Col. 2:11-12;

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

1 Cor. 7:14.

For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

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