CHAPTER 28
Of Baptism.
I. Baptism is a sacrament of
the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ,a not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized
into the visible church,b
but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace,c
of his ingrafting into Christ,d
of regeneration,e of
remission of sins,f
and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of
life:g which
sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his church
until the end of the world.h
a Matt. 28:19.
b 1 Cor. 12:13.
c Rom.
4:11
with Col. 2:11,12.
d Gal. 3:27; Rom.
6:5.
e Tit. 3:5.
f Mark 1:4.
g Rom. 6:3,4.
h Matt. 28:19,20.
II. The outward element to be
used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a
minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto.i
i Matt. 3:11; John
1:33; Matt. 28:19,20.
III. Dipping of the person into
the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or
sprinkling water upon the person.k
k Heb. 9:10,19-22;
Acts 2:41; Acts 16:33; Mark 7:4.
IV. Not only those that do
actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ,l
but also the infants of one or both believing parents, are to be baptized.m
l Mark 16:15,16;
Acts 8:37,38.
m Gen. 17:7,9,10
with Gal. 3:9,14 and Col. 2:11,12 and Acts 2:38,39 and Rom. 4:11,12; 1 Cor.
7:14; Matt. 28:19; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15.
V. Although it be a great sin
to contemn or neglect this ordinance,n
yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no
person can be regenerated or saved without it,o or, that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.p
n Luke 7:30 with
Exod. 4:24-26.
o Rom. 4:11; Acts
10:2,4,22,31,45,47.
p Acts 8:13,23.
VI. The efficacy of baptism is
not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered;q
yet notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace
promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by
the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth
unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in his appointed time.r
q John 3:5,8.
r Gal. 3:27; Tit.
3:5; Eph. 5:25,26; Acts 2:38,41.
VII. The sacrament of baptism
is but once to be administered to any person.s
s Tit. 3:5.
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Westminster
Confession of Faith (index)
