Who Should Come? H.C. Question 81
Who should come to the Lord’s table?
1 Corinthians 10:19-22 – Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
1 Corinthians 11:26-32 – For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
Different than the Mass? H.C. Question 80
How does the Lord’s Supper differ from the Roman Catholic Mass?
John 19:30 – When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Hebrews 7:27 – Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.
Hebrews 9:12 – He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:25-26 – Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 10:10-18 – And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”
Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
1 Corinthians 6:17 – But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 – Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
Acts 7:55-56 – But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Hebrews 1:3 – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
Hebrews 8:1 – Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven,
Matthew 6:20-21 – But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
John 4:21-24 – “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
Philippians 3:20 – But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Colossians 3:1-3 – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Ephesians 6:10-14; John 17:6-19 "The Belt of Truth"
Scripture says that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Paul also warns us that “his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.” As we begin to look at the specific elements of the armor of God, we come to our first and, arguably, most important defense against the father of lies: the Belt of Truth.
Despite what culture says, Truth is not relative. God’s Truth, His opinion on everything does not change based on our feelings, thoughts, rationalizations, or any cultural influence. God’s Word is the revelation of His Truth, both living and active as well as unchanging and timeless. Jesus says, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Questions to take home:
1. God’s Word is the ultimate Truth; all things are revealed when they are exposed to the light. Do we take time in our lives to run our decisions, thoughts, or the suggestions that come our way against God’s Word? What would that change?
2. What lies are you experiencing in your own life? How have they colored the way that you view yourself, those around you, and/or God? What Truth is present in Scripture that reminds you of the Truth to combat that lie?
3. Read Psalm 139:23-24; How do you think your would your relationship with God change if you prayed this Psalm each morning.
"This is My Body" H.C. Lord's Day 29
Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 29
Q 78. Do the bread and wine become the real body and blood of Christ?
A 78. No. Just as the water of baptism is not changed into Christ’s blood and does not itself wash away sins but is simply a divine sign and assurance of these things, so too the holy bread of the Lord’s Supper does not become the actual body of Christ, even though it is called the body of Christ in keeping with the nature and language of sacraments.
Q 79. Why then does Christ call the bread his body and the cup his blood, or the new covenant in his blood, and Paul use the words, a participation in Christ’s body and blood?
A 79. Christ has good reason for these words. He wants to teach us that just as bread and wine nourish the temporal life, so too his crucified body and poured-out blood are the true food and drink of our souls for eternal life.
But more important, he wants to assure us, by this visible sign and pledge, that we, through the Holy Spirit’s work, share in his true body and blood as surely as our mouths receive these holy signs in his remembrance, and that all of his suffering and obedience are as definitely ours as if we personally had suffered and made satisfaction for our sins.
Justification by Jesus Christ through faith is the cornerstone of the Christian religion. There is nothing more distinctly Christian than this doctrine. During the Reformation, there was one thing that was debated almost as much as this doctrine and that was the theology of the Lord’s Supper.
One of the main points of argument came from the attempt at interpreting what was meant when Jesus broke the bread and poured the cup saying “this is my body” and “this is my blood.”
The Catholic view at this time is a doctrine known as transubstantiation and held that, in the moment of celebrating the Lord’s Supper, the physical bread and wine were transformed literally into Jesus actually body and blood. They believed that the actual loaf was Jesus’ actual body.
This, for the Reformers, was nothing more than “hocus pocus,” a belief that was intended to draw people to church for the purpose of communion. More than this, however, comes the notion that this didn’t follow with the revelation of Scripture or Jesus’ self-revelation either. Jesus also said that He was “the Good Shepherd” and that He was “the Gate.” Neither statement was meant to be factually accurate in that Jesus tended sheep or swung on hinges, but was in fact, a metaphor for the who Jesus was and what His ministry was about.
To this doctrine, the Reformers had several thoughts:
Consubstantiation: Jesus physical Body and Blood were present alongside the physical bread and wine.
Memorial Meal: The Lord’s Supper was meant to be a time of remembrance of the sacrifice that Jesus made.
Spiritual Presence: That Jesus is really present during the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, that He indeed communes with us through the Holy Spirit, as we also remember Him. In this, we feast on Christ through faith and the experience of participating in the sacrament.
Why does this really matter, though? Each way of understanding it was trying to get at one thing: what does it mean when Scripture says that we are “participating” in the Body and Blood of Christ? How does that work and what purpose does that serve?
There are so many meanings and so much symbolism that is associated with the celebration of the sacraments. The Lord’s Supper is a memorial meal as well as a proclamation of the Gospel. It is a way in which we are spiritually nourished through a physical action.
Yet one thing that is uniquely important about celebrating Communion is that fact that it is a time in which we are invited to commune with God at His table. We are participating in exactly what we are: the Body of Christ. It is a reminder of who we are and of whose we are. It is a reminder that we are not in this alone, neither as individuals nor as a church. It is a confirmation of our identity as a child of God and as a part of His body through God’s grace, shown in Jesus one sacrifice, and accepted by faith in Him.
Real Participation: H.C. Question 79
Why then does Christ call the bread his body and the cup his blood, or the new covenant in his blood, and Paul use the words, a participation in Christ’s body and blood?
John 6:51, 55 – I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 – Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
1 Corinthians 11:26 – For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Romans 6:5-11 – For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Real or not? H.C. Question 78
Do the bread and wine become the real body and blood of Christ?
Ephesians 5:26 – to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Titus 3:5 – he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 26:26-29 – While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”
1 Corinthians 10:1-4, 16-17 – For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
1 Corinthians 11:26-28 – For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.
Genesis 17:10-11 – This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
Exodus 12:11, 13 – This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover.
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
Ephesians 6:10-20; James 5:13-16 – "Prayer Warrior"
Though Paul lays out each piece of spiritual armor, the whole topic of spiritual warfare as well as our call to “stand firm” is linked to prayer. Throughout Scripture, in fact, prayer is connected to spiritual strengthening and spiritual support; it is our connection with our general, our commander, and our Conquering King. Prayer is one of the main ways that we learn the voice of the Shepherd.
This morning in worship, we will spend an extended time in prayer both bringing our requests before God and also listening for His voice. While this will happen in a formal way during our normal congregational prayer, we believe the Holy Spirit is active both speaking to us and transforming us through all the elements of worship. Scripture urges us to “be alert,” reminding us to be attentive to how and what God is showing us through His Spirit.
Questions to take home:
What are the six ways that Ephesians 6:18-20 encourages us to pray? Does my prayer life reflect these six ways? Does the prayer life of HCC reflect this?
Scripture urges us to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). What does this look like practically in our 21st century lives? How can we foster a deeper connection with God through prayer?
Prayer can be both intercessory (praying for others) and conversational (back and forth). What’s the difference? How often do we set aside our lists of needs and wants and take time to listen in prayer? If you are interested in learning more about listening prayer, please contact pastor Jon.
The Holy Supper: H.C. Lord's Day 28
Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 28
Q 75. How does the holy supper remind and assure you that you share in Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross and in all his benefits?
A 75. In this way: Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat this broken bread and to drink this cup in remembrance of him. With this command come these promises:
First, as surely as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup shared with me, so surely his body was offered and broken for me and his blood poured out for me on the cross.
Second, as surely as I receive from the hand of the one who serves, and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, given me as sure signs of Christ’s body and blood, so surely he nourishes and refreshes my soul for eternal life with his crucified body and poured-out blood.
Q. What does it mean to eat the crucified body of Christ and to drink his poured-out blood?
A. It means to accept with a believing heart the entire suffering and death of Christ and thereby to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
But it means more. Through the Holy Spirit, who lives both in Christ and in us, we are united more and more to Christ’s blessed body. And so, although he is in heaven and we are on earth, we are flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. And we forever live on and are governed by one Spirit, as the members of our body are by one soul.
Q 77. Where does Christ promise to nourish and refresh believers with his body and blood as surely as they eat this broken bread and drink this cup?
A 77. In the institution of the Lord’s Supper:
“The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is [broken]* for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
This promise is repeated by Paul in these words:
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”
In the discourse that is the sacraments, we now take a turn in the Catechism to look at Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist. This celebration is done in response and remembrance of the Last Supper that Jesus ate with His disciples.
Sadly, in many churches today, this celebration has become more of a monotonous tradition that we “do because we have to.” Whether it’s because of the approach of the congregation or the lack of engagement from the pastor, these celebrations have become empty rituals with very little meaning.
Truly, this is a sad thing.
The Lord’s Supper is packed full of meaning; it is literally our opportunity to taste and touch the Gospel and to be filled with God’s grace. St. Augustine said of the sacraments, they are “visible signs of invisible grace.” Again, this is multi-sensory worship at it’s finest, engaging the senses that are used during the traditional sermon.
We can (and do) talk about the Gospel a lot. In fact, the Gospel is (or should be) at the center of all that we do, informing every decision and every activity. Every message should touch on it in some way. We were sinners, separated from God, and we had no hope. God stepped in by sending His Son to pay for those sins so that we would no longer be separated from Him. Faith in Jesus Christ grants of justification (forgiveness).
At the Table, when we take communion, we are reminded of this. No matter what we’ve done, from the stealing of a pencil to capital murder, we remember that Christ died for our sins and we receive forgiveness when we believe in Him. Did you fight with your spouse today? Then you need to come to the Table. Were you lazy at your job today? Then you need to come to the Table.
Did you fight with your spouse today? Then you need to come to the Table. Were you lazy at your job today? Then you need to come to the Table.
Were you lazy at your job today? Then you need to come to the Table.
Have you looked questionably at another person, whether in judgment or lust? Then you need to come to the Table.
It’s not that the sacraments themselves save us. In fact, the act of taking communion or getting baptized does not ensure salvation. Rather, they remind us that we are saved, we are forgiven, our sins our washed away because of Jesus Christ and we receive that through faith.
Maybe the way your church does communion is boring… or you just don’t like it…
Maybe your pastor doesn’t explain it well or just reads the same old stuff each time…
…if either of those are so, that is sad…
…but it is no excuse for ignoring the deep meaing and the reality of grace and forgiveness that we live in which is symbolized in the taking of the bread and the drinking of the cup!
We are forgiven! We are united with Christ! We are called to newness of life!
Take, eat, remember and believe! Be what you see and receive what you are!
Refreshments: H.C. Question 77
Where does Christ promise to nourish and refresh believers with his body and blood as surely as they eat this broken bread and drink this cup?
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 – For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Corinthians 10:16-17 – Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.
Eat and Drink: H.C. Question 76 (Part 2)
What does it mean to eat the crucified body of Christ and to drink his poured-out blood?
1 Corinthians 6:15-17 – Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
Ephesians 5:29-30 – After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body.
1 John 4:13 – This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.
John 15:1-6 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
Ephesians 4:15-16 – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
1 John 3:24 – The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
Eat and Drink: H.C. Question 76 (part 1)
What does it mean to eat the crucified body of Christ and to drink his poured-out blood?
John 6:35, 40, 50-58 – Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 – For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Acts 1:9-11 – After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
1 Corinthians 11:26 – For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Colossians 3:1 – Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Remembrance: H.C. Question 75
How does the holy supper remind and assure you that you share in Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross and in all his benefits?
Matthew 26:26-28 – While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark 14:22-24 – While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them.
Luke 22:19-20 – And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
1 Corinthians 11:23-25 – For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Ephesians 6:10-20 "Becoming Battle Ready"
- The idea of a “spiritual realm” and angels and demons fighting is very foreign to us in our culture. What do you think gets in the way of us thinking about this or believing it exists?
- Chip Ingram expands Ephesians 6:10 to say this: “allow yourself to be continually strengthened by the power already made available to you in your new position and relationship with Christ.” What power is Paul referring to here? How does this relate to your identity in Christ?
- How does the fact that we are fighting from victory, not for victory change our perspective on life and the spiritual (and perhaps, physical) battles that we find ourselves fighting?
A Sign and a Pledge: H.C. Lord's Day 27
Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 27
Q 72. Does this outward washing with water itself wash away sins?
A 72. No, only Jesus Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sins.
Q 73. Why then does the Holy Spirit call baptism the washing of rebirth and the washing away of sins?
A 73. God has good reason for these words. To begin with, God wants to teach us that the blood and Spirit of Christ take away our sins just as water removes dirt from the body.
But more important, God wants to assure us, by this divine pledge and sign, that we are as truly washed of our sins spiritually as our bodies are washed with water physically.
Q 74. Should infants also be baptized?
A 74. Yes, Infants as well as adults are included in God’s covenant and people, and they, no less than adults, are promised deliverance from sin through Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit who produces faith.
Therefore, by baptism, the sign of the covenant, they too should be incorporated into the Christian church and distinguished from the children of unbelievers. This was done in the Old Testament by circumcision, which was replaced in the New Testament by baptism.
What God first called Abraham, He gave him a sign of covenant belonging that we know as circumcision. This sign was given to all male boys that were born into Abraham’s family from that time forward, 8 days after their birth, of their belonging in the family (or nation) of Israel. In the same way that the last name of a parent is given to their children upon their birth, signifying their belonging in their family, so too were these young offspring of Abraham a part of his family.
This sign, however, saw its true meaning realized in the coming of Jesus and the revelation that it indeed was not a physical sign that distinguished God’s people, but rather an internal change that took place. Paul describes this a “circumcision of the heart” in which the Holy Spirit, through building faith, transforms a person. This inner change is marked by an outward change different than a physical mark on a body; it is a life change that happens when one turns from living their life for themselves and begins living for God.
All of this is symbolized in baptism. When people come to faith, baptism is a sign and a symbol that their sins have been washed away, that they are cleansed and renewed, and that they are sustained by Jesus Christ, the living water. Being immersed in water, going down and bring brought back up is also symbolic of dying and rising, like Christ who died and went down to the grave and was raised to life through the power of the Holy Spirit. We too, when we come to faith, experience this through dying to the “old self” and the new life that we experience in Christ.
So then, what about infant baptism? There are a great deal of questions surrounding infant baptism, especially if we talk about baptism carrying the symbolism of new life, redemption, and salvation. None of these are possible without faith and therefore, seem to be out of place within the context of infant baptism.
Furthermore, there is no place in Scripture where we are expressly told to “baptize babies.” Certainly, this is true. However, Colossians 2:11-12 links the acts of circumcision and baptism and gives both spiritual importance.
In fact, both do carry a significant amount of similar themes including belonging to the covenant community and the assurance of God’s covenant promises. Actually, the Jews also practiced baptism for those who would convert to Judiasm and it symbolized this covenant belonging.
How, then, can Baptism, which carries many other themes that are related to forgiveness and cleansing, be something we do to people before they have been forgiven or cleansed? Well, drawing from the themes of Scripture that point to the promises of God being offered uniquely to the families of those who are God’s people, we claim that God’s promises are for our children as well. The sign, symbol, and seal of those promises is seen now through the act of infant baptism in a similar way that it was seen in circumcision in the Old Testament.
Infant Baptism expands the image of circumcision, bringing both genders equally under God’s promises, reminding us of the promise of forgiveness and salvation that is ours through faith in Jesus Christ, welcomes children as full participants in the community of faith, and reminds us of our identity in Christ and God’s faithful presence in our lives through the Holy Spirit.
Infant Baptism: H.C. 74
Should infants also be baptized?
Genesis 17:7 – I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.
Matthew 19:14 – Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Isaiah 44:1-3 – “But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says— he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Acts 2:38-39 – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Acts 16:31 – They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Acts 10:47 – “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”
1 Corinthians 7:14 – For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
Genesis 17:9-14 – Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
Colossians 2:11-13 – In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,