15And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. Mark 16
Thoughts: baptism symbolizes washing away of sin by the Holy Spirit applying Christ's blood to us.
It is a reminder that we are His people. On our call to believe repent and be baptized.
It is a command to us- "repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38) or above "believe and be baptized."
But it is not just an ordinance to be obeyed. There is something that really happens when we are baptized that should encourage us. It is called the "water of rebirth" and the "cleansing of sins." The obedience to the command is tied to the reality of the spiritual baptism.
Baptism is not something we should ignore, but something we should seek. Baptism is not done simply as an individual. There is a person who baptizes and a group that affirms to encourage the person in their faith. There are 7 instances of whole houses that were baptized in the New Testament. The Philippian Jailer, when he came to Christ, invited his whole family to come to the water and they did. Baptism is a family, group, church, fellowship event. The promise is not just for the adults but "for you children and all those whom the Lord will call."
Prayer: Lord, help me to remember the importance of baptism and remember my own baptism.
It is a command to us- "repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38) or above "believe and be baptized."
But it is not just an ordinance to be obeyed. There is something that really happens when we are baptized that should encourage us. It is called the "water of rebirth" and the "cleansing of sins." The obedience to the command is tied to the reality of the spiritual baptism.
Baptism is not something we should ignore, but something we should seek. Baptism is not done simply as an individual. There is a person who baptizes and a group that affirms to encourage the person in their faith. There are 7 instances of whole houses that were baptized in the New Testament. The Philippian Jailer, when he came to Christ, invited his whole family to come to the water and they did. Baptism is a family, group, church, fellowship event. The promise is not just for the adults but "for you children and all those whom the Lord will call."
Prayer: Lord, help me to remember the importance of baptism and remember my own baptism.
Q & A 69
Q. How does holy baptism remind and assure you that Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross
benefits you personally?
benefits you personally?
A. In this way: Christ instituted this outward washing and with it promised that, as surely as water washes away the dirt from the body, so certainly his blood and his Spirit wash away my soul’s impurity,
that is, all my sins.2
Q & A 70
Q. What does it mean
to be washed with Christ’s blood and Spirit?
to be washed with Christ’s blood and Spirit?
A. To be washed with Christ’s blood means that God, by grace, has forgiven our sins because of Christ’s bloodpoured out for us in his sacrifice on the cross.1
To be washed with Christ’s Spirit means
that the Holy Spirit has renewed
and sanctified us to be members of Christ,
and sanctified us to be members of Christ,
so that more and more
we become dead to sin
and live holy and blameless lives.2
and live holy and blameless lives.2
1 Zech. 13:1; Eph. 1:7-8; Heb. 12:24; 1 Pet. 1:2; Rev. 1:5
2 Ezek. 36:25-27; John 3:5-8; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 6:11; Col. 2:11-12
2 Ezek. 36:25-27; John 3:5-8; Rom. 6:4; 1 Cor. 6:11; Col. 2:11-12
Q & A 71
Q. Where does Christ promise that we are washed with his blood and Spirit As surely as we are washed
with the water of baptism?
with the water of baptism?
A. In the institution of baptism, where he says: “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.”1
“The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned.”2 This promise is repeated when Scripture calls baptism “the water of rebirth”3 and the washing away of sins.4
Lord’s Day 27
Q & A 72
Q. Does this outward washing with water
itself wash away sins?
itself wash away sins?
A. No, only Jesus Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit
cleanse us from all sins.1
cleanse us from all sins.1
Q & A 73
Q. Why then does the Holy Spirit call baptism the water of rebirth and
the washing away of sins?
the washing away of sins?
A. God has good reason for these words. To begin with, God wants to teach us that
the blood and Spirit of Christ take away our sins
just as water removes dirt from the body.1But more important, God wants to assure us, by this divine pledge and sign, that we are as truly washed of our sins spiritually as our bodies are washed with water physically.2
just as water removes dirt from the body.1But more important, God wants to assure us, by this divine pledge and sign, that we are as truly washed of our sins spiritually as our bodies are washed with water physically.2
Q & A 74
Q. Should infants also be baptized?
A. Yes. Infants as well as adults are included in God’s covenant and people,1and they, no less than adults, are promised deliverance from sin through Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit who produces faith.2 Therefore, by baptism, the sign of the covenant, they too should be incorporated into the Christian church and distinguished from the children of unbelievers.3T This was done in the Old Testament by circumcision,4 which was replaced in the New Testament by baptism.5
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