Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 27 image

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 27

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[There are 130 questions and answers in the Heidelberg Catechism, and I agree with 129 of them. The exception is Q74; despite its venerable heritage and laudable clarity, I just can't go there. What I find interesting, however, is how extremely edifying Heidelberg's treatment of baptism still is for credobaptists like me: "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." (I want to ask the authors how this works if you make a practice of baptising those who are not believers yet, but sadly that will have to wait till the resurrection.) If you've been washed, you've been washed. Wonderful.]

Q72. Does this outward washing with water
itself wash away sins?

A72. No, only Jesus Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit
cleanse us from all sins.

Q73. Why then does the Holy Spirit call baptism
the water of rebirth and
the washing away of sins?

A73. 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.
But 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.

Q74. Should infants also be baptized?

A74. Yes.
Infants as well as adults
are included in God’s covenant and people,
and they, no less than adults, are promised
deliverance from sin through Christ’s blood
and the Holy Spirit who produces faith.
Therefore, by baptism, the sign of the covenant,
they too should be incorporated into the Christian church
and distinguished from the children
of unbelievers.
This was done in the Old Testament by circumcision,
which was replaced in the New Testament by baptism.

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