Lord’s Day 27Questions 72–74
Reformed Church in America English, 1879
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1879 Reformed Church in America Q&A text with inline proof references. Source: Wikisource scan transcription.
This English edition was published in the United States in 1879, before the current U.S. public-domain cutoff. Rights evidence. Verified 2026-07-14.
Is then the external baptism with water, the washing away of sin itself?
Not at all (1 Pet. 3;21), for the blood of Jesus Christ only (1 John 1;7), and the Holy Ghost, cleanse us from all sin (1 Cor. 6;11).
Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism “the washing of regeneration” and the washing away of sins?
God speaks not thus without great cause, namely, not only thereby to teach us, that, as the filth of the body is purged away by water, so our sins are removed by the blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ (Rev. 1;5): but especially that, by this divine pledge and sign, he may assure us that we are spiritually cleansed from our sins as really as we are externally washed with water (Gal. 3;27).
Are infants also to be baptized?
Yes, for since they as well as the adult are included in the covenant (Gen. 17;7), and church of God (Mark 10;14-16): and since redemption from sin by the blood of Christ, and the Holy Ghost, the author of faith, is promised to them no less than to the adult (Acts 2;38, 39): they must, therefore, by baptism, as a sign of the covenant, be also admitted into the Christian Church (Mark 16;16); and be distinguished from the children of infidels (1 Cor. 7;14); as was done in the old covenant or testament by circumcision (Gen. 17;11); instead of which baptism was instituted in the new covenant (Col. 2;11, 12).