Jesus commanded his church to baptize in all nations to the end of the world. Baptism signifies our admission into the church. It is a sign and seal that we belong to God in Christ, and it is united through the faith of the believer with the benefits of the covenant of grace. Therefore, baptism signifies our union with Christ’s death and resurrection and adoption into the family of God, our regeneration by the Spirit, repentance and the forgiveness of sins, and the believer’s commitment to walk in newness of life. Baptism has been much argued about in the church, and the confession responds with answers to many of the controversies: baptism rightly administered by a minister of the Gospel lawfully called thereto, immersion unnecessary, infants of believers should be baptized, people can be saved though not baptized and lost though baptized, the grace promised in baptism truly given to the elect by the Spirit, baptism should be done exactly once. The Westminster Larger Catechism in further teaching about baptism reminds us to “improve” our baptism, that is, to meditate on its meaning for us, especially in times of temptation, and when we witness a baptism. |
