Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 28: Baptism

Order of Service

• Sermon

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Sermon Title: Baptism in the Reformed Presbyterian Tradition

Scripture: Genesis 17:9-14

I. Baptism Replacing Circumcision

A. This position is hermeneutical, not merely a proof-text argument — it rests on covenant theology and the continuity of God's redemptive plan B. The Abrahamic covenant, signified and sealed by circumcision, is fulfilled in Christ

1. Genesis 17:9-14 — God institutes circumcision as the sign and seal of the Abrahamic covenant, including all male offspring
2. Galatians 3:7-18 — the promises to Abraham are fulfilled in Christ; all who are in Christ by faith are heirs of the covenant
3. Colossians 2:11-12 — New Covenant believers are circumcised through baptism; circumcision and baptism point to the same spiritual realities in Christ C. Two key summary conclusions
4. Circumcision and baptism signify the same spiritual reality — the removal of sin fulfilled in Christ
5. Both are emblems of inclusion into the covenant community — circumcision for the old, baptism for the new (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

II. The Mode of Baptism

A. Reformed Presbyterians affirm immersion as true baptism but hold that pouring or sprinkling is the most biblical mode B. Biblical evidence for sprinkling and pouring

1. Hebrews 9:10, 19-22 — Old Covenant baptisms (washings) are described as sprinkling with water and blood, symbolizing forgiveness of sins
2. Hebrews 10:22 — sanctification described with sprinkling language: "hearts sprinkled clean"
3. Acts 2:17-18 — the Spirit's work at Pentecost (quoting Joel 2) described as being "poured out"
4. Acts 11:15-16 — the baptism of the Holy Spirit described as "falling on" the recipients
5. Matthew 3 — at Jesus's baptism the Spirit descends and falls upon him, not the reverse C. The burial imagery of Romans 6 and Colossians 2 is the primary case for immersion, but Palestinian burial customs (horizontal, behind a stone) weaken that picture

III. Baptism of Believers and Their Children

A. There is full agreement between Presbyterians and Baptists on believers baptism — the disagreement concerns whether children of believers receive baptism before faith B. The case for infant baptism rests on the new covenant as fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant

1. Romans 4:9-12 — Paul defines circumcision as "a sign and seal of the righteousness that he had by faith"; Abraham had a believer's circumcision, yet God commanded him to circumcise all male children in his household
2. The household baptisms in Acts mirror this pattern: the adult believes, receives baptism, and the household receives the sign (Acts 10, Acts 16, 1 Corinthians 1)
3. Luke 19:9 — Jesus declares to Zacchaeus, "salvation has come to this house," using covenant household language even though only Zacchaeus believed C. Baptism signifies the internal work of the Holy Spirit — a reality shared with circumcision
4. Romans 2:25-29 — true circumcision is a matter of the heart by the Spirit; circumcision was always an outward sign of an inward, Spirit-wrought reality
5. Just as the outward sign of the Spirit's work was applied to children in the Old Covenant, so it is to be applied to children in the New Covenant
6. The reality signified is appropriated only by faith in both covenants; but the promise belongs to the believer and their children (Acts 2:39) D. Children belong to the visible New Covenant community by virtue of a believing parent
7. 1 Corinthians 7 — children of even one believing parent are considered "holy," i.e., set apart within the covenant community
8. Luke 18:15-17 — believing parents bring infants to Jesus; he blesses them and declares, "to such belongs the kingdom of God"
9. 1 Corinthians 12:13 — members of the body of Christ are baptized into that body; children declared to belong to the kingdom should receive the mark of membership E. Important clarification: infant baptism is inclusion into the visible church, not a guarantee of election or final salvation; as in the Old Covenant, the outward sign may be present without the inward circumcision of the heart