Lord’s Day 26
Q69. How does baptism remind you that Christ's sacrifice on the cross is for you?
Christ set up this washing with water and promised that, just as surely as water washes dirt from your body, his blood and his Spirit wash away all the sin from your soul.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Matthew 28:19
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 2:38
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
Matthew 3:11
“I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and fire:”
Mark 16:16
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
John 1:33
“And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.”
Acts 22:16
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Romans 6:3–10
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also of resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with , that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.”
1 Peter 3:21
“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does the water in baptism represent about what Christ does for us?
- 2
Why does the catechism compare washing dirt off your body to what Christ does for your soul?
- 3
Have you ever felt so dirty from playing outside that you needed a bath right away?
Illustration
After a long day playing in the mud, nothing feels better than a warm bath that washes all the dirt away. You come out clean. Baptism points to something far deeper. Christ's blood and Spirit wash away sin from our souls, and baptism is the sign that makes that cleaning visible.
Application
The next time you wash your hands or take a bath, let it remind you of what Christ promises in baptism. Thank him that his blood can wash away what no soap ever could.