This entry is part of a series, wcf»
- Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, or his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his Churchy until the end of the world.
- The outward element to be used in the sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto.
- Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person.
- Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized.
- Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.
- The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinancy the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in his appointed time.
- The sacrament of Baptism is but once to be administered to any person.
Entries in this series:
- WCF Chapter XXXIII - Of the Last Judgment
- WCF Chapter XXXII - Of the State of Man After Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead
- WCF Chapter XXXI - Of Synods and Councils
- WCF Chapter XXX - Of Church Censures
- WCF Chapter XXIX - Of the Lord’s Supper
- WCF Chapter XXVIII - Of Baptism
- WCF Chapter XXVII - Of the Sacraments
- Chapter XXVI - Of the Communion of the Saints
- WCF Chapter XXV - of the Church
- WCF Chapter XXIV - Of Marriage and Divorce
- WCF Chapter XXIII - Of the Civil Magistrate
- WCF Chapter XXII - Of Lawful Oaths and Vows
- WCF Chapter XXI - Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath-day
- WCF Chapter XX - Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience
- WCF Chapter XIX - Of the Law of God
- WCF Chapter XVII - Of The Perseverance of the Saints
- WCF Chapter XVI - Of Good Works
- WCF Chapter XV - Of Repentance Unto Life
- WCF Chapter XIV - Of Saving Faith
- WCF Chapter XIII - Of Sanctification
- WCF Chapter XII - Of Adoption
- WCF Chapter XI - Of Justification
- WCF Chapter X - Of Effectual Calling
- WCF Chapter IX - Of Free Will
- WCF Chapter VIII - Of Christ the Mediator
- WCF Chapter VII - Of God’s Covenant with Man
- WCF Chapter VI - Of the Fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof
- WCF Chapter V - Of Providence
- WCF Chapter IV - Of Creation
- WCF Chapter III - Of God’s Eternal Decree
- WCF Chapter II - Of God, and of the Holy Trinity
- WCF Chapter I - Of the Holy Scripture
- Confession: Introduction