Baptism

It is given in the words of Christ in the last chapter of Matthew: "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

I am baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

In Baptism I have entered into fellowship with the triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; I have become His own, and have been made heir of all His gracious gifts.

Yes; Christ Himself has said: "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

Baptism should be administered by the minister of the church, but when necessary it may be administered by any Christian.

Baptism works the forgiveness of sins, delivers from death and the devil, and gives everlasting life to all who believe what the Word and promise of God declare.

It is given in the words of Christ in the sixteenth chapter of Mark:

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be condemned."

In Baptism we come into fellowship with Christ, and are made partakers in His redemption.

It is not water indeed that does it, but the Word of God, which is in and with the water, and faith which trusts this Word of God in the water.

Because the Holy Spirit in Baptism cleanses us from sin, and gives us a new spiritual life.

Yes; Baptism is a covenant; in Baptism God gives us a new life and His grace, and we promise Him to renounce the devil, and all His works, and all his ways, and to believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

All who remain in the covenant of their Baptism.

At his confirmation, when he renews the covenant of his Baptism in the midst of the assembled congregation, having first been instructed in God's Word.

Yes; by the grace of God it is possible.

We must watch and pray, and make diligent use of the Word of God and the Lord's Supper.

1. When we little by little forget our covenant, resist the Holy Spirit, and neglect prayer, so that we become more and more worldly-minded.

2. When we fall in coarse and open sins.

Yes; God has not broken His part of the covenant, and when we again turn to Him, He is always glad to receive us.

He gets courage from considering the tender Gospel invitation of Christ, and from seeking God in prayer.

Yes; he needs daily repentance and daily renewal.See Question 250.

It signifies that the old man in us should, by daily sorrow and repentance, be drowned and die, with all sins and evil desires; and again a new man daily appear more and more, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Sin should be rooted out from us through daily sorrow and repentance, and our love to God and man should grow up within us more and more, so that it may appear in all our conduct that we have the mind of Christ.

They should pray for the child whose baptism they have witnessed, they should remember the covenant of their own Baptism, and afterwards, as far as possible, see that the child is brought up in the fear of God.