WCF 28: Of Baptism

In places with a Christian heritage the weightiness of baptism can easily be underestimated. Many people get baptized, or baptize their children, out of impulse, or as a matter of custom. It isn’t usually a sobering decision.

Believers under persecution understand baptism differently. Immediately after Paul’s conversion Ananias said to him, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16). We would understand if Paul was hesitant. Jesus had already told him how much he would suffer for his name. Being baptized would mark him as a follower of Jesus and an enemy of the world. Still, Paul “arose and was baptized” (Acts 9:18). He knew there was no other way; he was a disciple of Jesus. Baptism marked his new life in God’s Son.

To treasure baptism, whether we are living in times of persecution or peace, we need to know that it is commanded by Christ and offers rich benefits.

The Command of Baptism

Baptism is ordained by Jesus as a sign and seal of the covenant of grace. Jesus himself did not baptize (John 4:2). But he commanded his disciples to do it (Matt. 28:19). And their example shows us what it looks like. Whether by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling, a baptized person receives the outward element of water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Jesus didn’t invent water baptism. The Jewish people baptized various household goods with water (Mark 7:4). They themselves were baptized in the red sea (1 Cor. 10:2); God bound them to himself and separated them from their former owners. This old symbol now tells of how Jesus’ blood washes away our sins.

So important is baptism for the Christian life that Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize the nations. This command is why Christian ministers baptize today. In fact, for baptism to be useful it cannot be performed by any but “a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto.” This is not because he has special skill in baptizing or lends any virtue to the ceremony. But because, like the original baptizers, he has been called by Jesus with authority to speak and act for him. When a true ambassador of Christ baptizes it as though Christ himself is confirming his covenant promises (cf. 2 Cor. 5:20).

By Jesus’ command all disciples must be baptized. This surely includes adult believers. Throughout the book of Acts Luke records this pattern: adults who came to believe in Jesus were baptized. When the Ethiopian eunuch came to believe that he was healed by Christ’s wounds, he was baptized (Acts 8:36, 38). After God opened Lydia’s heart to pay attention to spiritual things “she was baptized” (16:15). When the Philippian jailer got saved by trusting in the Lord Jesus “he was baptized at once” (16:31). 

But baptism isn’t only for adult believers. Lydia and the Philippian jailer were baptized with their households. This fits with Peter’s insistence that the gospel promise is for both adults and their children (Acts 2:39). From the beginning God made a covenant with believers and their families (Gen. 17:7, 8). The covenant sign that Abraham and his sons received—circumcision—will no longer do. Christ was cut off for his people, shedding his blood to make us clean. In the place of circumcision all covenant members should receive the sign of baptism (Col. 2:11, 12). That infants should be baptized does not imply that grace necessarily changes them when they receive the water and the words of institution. Surely God can and does do this. But sometimes baptism is like a slow acting medicine. Sometimes it is no medicine at all if not used properly in combination with faith. Nonetheless, on the testimony of Scripture infants of believers should be baptized.

Finally, only those who have never been baptized should be baptized. Rebaptisms lack Scriptural warrant. And while the urge to get re-baptized may be sincere it is misguided. You need not remember being baptized so long as you affirm what your baptism means.

And the meaning of baptism is rich.

The Benefits of Baptism

There is much confusion about the virtue of this rite. Some people believe that receiving the outward sign works salvation. But not every person who receives the sign of water is “undoubtedly regenerated.” Simon was baptized but proved to be insincere (Acts 8:12, 21). Nor is baptism so essential that “no person can be regenerated, or saved, without it.” Cornelius, like Abraham, is described as a believer apart from receiving the sign of the covenant (Acts 10:22, 47). But this disclaimer doesn’t mean baptism is insignificant. “It is a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance.” If God outfits us for our spiritual journey it is the height of folly and arrogance to discard the equipment he provides. So we should believe that baptism has great advantages. Here are four.

Baptism Identifies Church Members

God wants his people to know that we are part of his body. This is true even for the youngest members of Christ’s church. Long before they publicly profess their faith those baptized in infancy are part of Christ’s church and covenant. Baptized infants aren’t future church members but actual church members.

Baptism Is a Sign and Seal of the Gospel

God doesn’t guarantee that every baptized person will be saved. But in every legitimate baptism the gospel is symbolized and validated. Baptism tells us that God makes a covenant of grace “wherein he freely offereth unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ” and promises “to give his Spirit to all of the elect” (WCF 7.3). Baptism communicates the objective truth of the gospel, “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:16). In baptism God acts-out the good news and pledges his sincere promise of grace to all who believe.

Baptism Testifies to the Real Experience of Salvation

For the disciple baptism speaks to “his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, [and] of remission of sins.” Baptism says “The crucified Christ loves and saves sinners.” But it should also help us say, “I have been crucified with Christ.” He “loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20). Baptism doesn’t unite me to Christ, or cause me to be born again, or forgive my sins. But baptism combined with repentance is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38; cf. Mark 1:4), and regeneration, and union with Christ. Baptism confirms to our consciences what we have in Christ.[i]

Baptism Enforces Christian Obedience

In baptism we are buried and raised with Christ so that “we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). As baptism is administered at the beginning of a disciple’s walk with the Lord it tells us to be constantly growing up in new obedience. Are you? Are you maturing spiritually? Baptism urges you to consider the beauty and majesty of Christ to be more than sufficient to inspire you to press on to greater faithfulness.

Early Christians knew the weight of their baptism. It came with risks. But they received it with gladness believing that it was God’s gift at the start of a hard but eternally rewarding walk with God. That truth hasn’t changed. Let us trust that Christ has commanded us to be baptized as a means of enjoying a rich walk with the Lord to the praise of his glory.