(note: This node is 28th in a series of 33 nodes. for the entire series, please see the metanode
Westminster Confession of Faith.)
CHAPTER 28 - Of Baptism
I.
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 Church until the end of the world.
II. 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.
III. Dipping of the person into the water is
not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by
pouring or sprinkling water upon the person.
IV. 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.
V. Although it be a great sin to
condemn 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.
VI. 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.
VII. The sacrament of Baptism is but
once to be administered to any person.
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Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapter 27 | on to
Westminster Confession of Faith - Chapter 29