The Heidelberg Catechism (27) (Explained for Children)

This Lord’s Day speaks again about holy baptism.

Question 72: Is then the external baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?

Answer: Not at all; for the blood of Jesus Christ only, and the Holy Ghost cleanse us from all sin.

The question is asked whether your sins are washed away at the time you are baptized. The answer is “No, they are not.” Some people think that sins are immediately washed away by baptism, but that is not true. Common water can wash us externally and can make our bodies clean. However, sin is within us. Only the blood of Christ can take away our sins. It is only the Holy Ghost who can cleanse us from all sins. You will recall what that means from the previous Lord’s Day.

Question 73: Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism “the washing of regeneration” and the “washing away of sins”?

Answer: God speaks thus not without great cause, to wit, not only thereby to teach us that as the filth of the body is purged away by water, so our sins are removed by the blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ, but especially that by this divine pledge and sign He may assure us that we are spiritually cleansed from our sins as really as we are externally washed with water.

In the Bible we read that baptism is called the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins. This is not said by men, but by the Holy Ghost, for He is speaking to us in the Bible. Why then does the Holy Ghost speak of holy baptism in this way? God has important reasons for doing so. In the first place it means that it is only by the blood and the Spirit of Christ that sins can be taken away, just as water takes away the dirt of your body. This the Lord desires to teach us here.

But there is more. God’s children may be assured that they have been washed from their sins, just as they know that water washes the body. For them baptism is a sign and a seal that this washing from sin is really true and that the Lord does this for them. Their faith is often weak and small, so they often doubt it. Then they question whether it is really true that the Lord also forgives their sins. By holy baptism the Lord desires to assure them of this. By this sacrament He desires to strengthen their faith and cause it to increase. Do you still remember what was said about the weak and tender young tree, as explained in Lord’s Day 25, question 65?

Question 74: Are infants also to be baptized?

Answer: Yes, for since they, as well as the adult, are included in the covenant and church of God; and since redemption from sin by the blood of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is promised to them no less than to the adult; they must therefore by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, be also admitted into the Christian church, and be distinguished from the children of unbelievers as was done in the old covenant or testament by circumcision, instead of which baptism is instituted in the new covenant.

The question is asked whether young children are also to be baptized. There are people who say that young children may not be baptized, since infants do not understand anything about it. It is naturally true that babies do not understand, but yet they are to be baptized. Why?

The answer tells us that it is because they, just like adults, are included in the covenant and church of God. What does it mean to be included in the covenant and church of God?

God made a covenant with men. For example, we read of a covenant in the history of Abraham. The Lord said to him, “And I will establish My covenant between Me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.” In this covenant God promised to give blessings. Our answer tells us what these blessings are. It is redemption from sin by the blood of Christ, and also the Holy Ghost, who works faith in the heart. The Lord Jesus merited these great blessings, and He gives them to those whose names are written in the book of life. This is not because they merit these great blessings; no, it is only by grace that they receive them. It is for that reason that the covenant is called the covenant of grace.

The Lord promised these blessings to Abraham and his seed. His seed is his children and the great nation which would come forth from him. But the Lord also said to him, “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Thus the Lord will make His covenant known throughout the entire world. The Lord causes it also to be heard by us by means of His Word, and He permits it to be seen in baptism.

No, not only adults are to be saved, but also children. The Lord promises the congregations where children are baptized, “I will maintain My covenant. I will see to it that people, both adults and children, will be saved. I will continue doing so unto the end of the world. Baptism is the sign of the covenant, and this sign may also be received by the children. They belong to the congregation in which I will dwell and work, the places where I will convert people and also children.”

The Lord Jesus Himself said, “Suffer the little children to come unto Me.” Thus the blessings of the covenant are also promised to children. God is pleased to give these blessings also to children, and He permits this to be seen in baptism. We always have two things to consider, namely, God’s free gift of conversion and faith, and man’s responsibility.

Think of Jacob and Esau. Both of them had received the sign of the covenant. But Esau wanted to serve the world and to continue loving sin. Then we can see that it was his own fault that he was lost. With Jacob it was different. He loved the Lord and believed in Him. He greatly desired to be washed of his sins. This love and faith were given in his heart by the Holy Ghost. Do we not see here God’s free gift and man’s responsibility?

Ask the Lord therefore that you might become like Jacob. By God’s gift of grace you may say, “Lord, may I be as Jacob? That is possible, Lord, for I am baptized.”

The God of the Covenant

Ye seed from Abraham descended, To whom His favors were extended, And Jacob’s children, whom the Lord Has chosen, hearken to His Word. He is the Lord, our Judge divine; In all the earth His glories shine.

Jehovah’s truth will stand forever, His covenant-bonds He will not sever; The word of grace which He commands To thousand generations stands; The covenant made in days of old With Abraham He doth uphold.

— Psalter 425:4-5

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen