Q.94. What is baptism?

A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,[a] doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.[b]

[a] Matt. 28:19.

[b] Rom. 6:4. Gal. 3:27.

We are here taught,

1. That water is the sign to be used in baptism.

2. That baptism is to be administered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

3. That baptism signifies the ingrafting of believers into Christ.

4. That baptism seals the ingrafting of believers into Christ.

5. That baptism signifies our having a right to the benefits of the covenant of grace.

6. That baptism seals our right to the benefits of the covenant of grace.

7. That baptism signifies and seals our engagement to be the Lord’s.

Q.95. To whom is baptism to be administered?

A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him;[c] but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.[d]

[c] Acts 8:36,37. Acts 2:38.

[d] Acts 2:38,39. Gen. 17:10. Compared with Col. 2:11,12. 1 Cor. 7:14.

We are here taught,

1. That baptism is not to be administered to any who are not members of Christ’s Church, till they profess their faith in him.

2. That a profession of future obedience to Christ is necessary, before any who are not members of his Church be baptized.

3. That children of believing parents are proper subjects of baptism, as God bestows on many of them the blessings which it signifies.

4. That children of believing parents are entitled to the sign of the covenant, as God has given them the promise of it.

5. That children are to be considered ceremonially holy, and entitled to the sign of the covenant, by the profession and membership of only one of their parents.

6. That the infants of a family are entitled to the sign of the covenant, on the profession and baptism of their parent.