Today’s confession points to the frequency of the sacrament of baptism.

It is analogous to OT sacrament of circumcision which is administered once.

Baptism is administered once. As long as it is administerd correctly as we have looked at from earlier confessions: with water, in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and performed with a minister of the gospel, it is to be recognized as a valid baptism.

Because it only needs to be administered once, baptism is recognized among different Christian denominations and churches. So if you were baptized in the Baptist church, going to a Presbyterian church would not invalidate your original baptism.

Historical precedence includes John Calvin who even after the reformation, considered his baptism in the Roman Catholic church a valid baptism and did not get “re-baptized.”

This also applies to infant baptisms. Even as the child grows into a fuller understanding of the gospel, the child does not need another baptism. Rather, the baptism is God’s promise to that child and to her parents of God’s saving grace.

Let’s read this confession together.

7. The sacrament of baptism is to be administered only once to any person.

Today’s confession continues the look at Baptism.

Today’s confession speaks against sacerdotalism meaning baptism in itself does not have any power, the sacrament doesn’t infuse any grace to its recipients. In other words, sacerdotalism claims that one is saved through the sacraments.

Main points:

Baptism doesn’t save, Jesus saves.
Baptism doesn’t regenerate, Holy Spirit regenerates
YET neglecting Baptism is a great sin.

The act of physical water baptism doesn’t save, it is a sign that points us to the spiritual reality of our salvation in Jesus Christ. Example of this is in the end of Luke, the thief on the cross ask Jesus to “remember me when you come into your kingdom” Jesus responds, today you will be with me in paradise. The thief was not baptized, and was saved because his faith was in Christ.

There are some that are baptized who are not necessarily regenerated. We see an example in acts where Simon the Sorcerer is baptized but he did it to gain money and fame.

So if it doesn’t save, and doesn’t regenerate, what’s the point of doing it?

It is commanded by our Lord… Jesus says, if you love me, you will obey my commands. It is an act of love to Jesus.

It is also a means of grace, grace is promised to us in baptism and is exhibited and conferred to us through the Holy Spirit.

So if your faith is in Christ, do not neglect this means of grace for you.

5. Although it is a great sin to despise or neglect this ordinance, nevertheless, grace and salvation are not so inseparably connected with it that a person cannot be regenerated or saved without it. Neither is it true that all who are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.

2. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, with which the person is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is to be performed by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called to that office.

All sacraments have two elements, an outward visible sign and an inward (spiritual) sign.

The design of Baptism is to signify, seal, and confer to those who belong to Christ, it symbolizes washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, where we are united to Christ and made participants in all his redemptive grace including forgiveness of sins and newness of life… Last week we looked at the inward spiritual sign.

This week, we look at the outward elements of baptism. Baptism with water symbolizes baptism by the Holy Spirit. Christ instituted the baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, because salvation involves all three persons of the Godhead, so we too are to be baptized in the name of our triune God.

It is a sign and reminder for us as believers as well as a testimony to the world as to what God has done for us in salvation…

For those who have not partaken in this means of grace, I encourage you to be baptized in order to profess what Christ has done for you and as an act of obedience to Christ.