Question 45: Is baptism with water the washing away of sin itself? Answer: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin. Some Christians argue that the sacraments/ordinances are "visible words," and as such they have the same power to impart salvation as does the preaching of the gospel. Were this the case, it is hard to imagine how Paul could say that he was called not to baptize but to preach the gospel, clearly setting the latter

Question 45: Is baptism with water the washing away of sin itself? Answer: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin. Baptism is an event that marks conversion to Christ. As such, it is closely associated with the spiritual blessings of conversion: the forgiveness of sins, the new birth, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. For example, Peter could say to his hearers on the day of Pentecost, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in

This week we begin with Question 45 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. Question 45: Is baptism with water the washing away of sin itself? Answer: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin. The ordinances can only properly be received in faith, but it is important to keep in mind where our faith is directed when we receive them. We must not t

NOTE: I have modified some of the language in the answer to this question in alignment with my own Baptist convictions. Question 44: What is baptism? Answer: Baptism is immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; it signifies our death and resurrection with Christ, our cleansing from sin, and our commitment to belong to the Lord and to his church. Does baptism save us? Although we may be tempted to answer that question with a quick "yes" or "no

NOTE: I have modified some of the language in the answer to this question in alignment with my own Baptist convictions. Question 44: What is baptism? Answer: Baptism is immersion in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; it signifies our death and resurrection with Christ, our cleansing from sin, and our commitment to belong to the Lord and to his church. Who should be baptized? Many Christian denominations baptize both those who profess faith in the g

NOTE: I am slightly adjusting the wording of the answer to this question by removing the word "seals," which has not historically been used by Baptists in reference to the ordinances. Question 43: What are the sacraments or ordinances? Answer: The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely baptism and the Lord's Supper, are visible signs that we are bound together as a community of faith by his death and resurrection. By our use of them the Holy Sp

This week we begin with Question 43 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 3 (questions 36-52), which focuses on the Spirit, restoration, and growing in grace. NOTE: I am slightly adjusting the wording of the answer to this question by removing the word "seals," which has not historically been used by Baptists in reference to the ordinances. Question 43: What are the sacraments or ordinances? Answer: The sacraments or ordinances given by God and instituted by Christ, namely

Question 38: What is prayer? Answer: Prayer is pouring out our hearts to God in praise, petition, confession of sin, and thanksgiving. Why do we need to confess our sins regularly to God if we are already forgiven of all sins in Christ? It is important to recognize what the purpose of confession is not so that we can get a better understanding of what it is. When we confess our sins to God, we are not seeking to be justified before him again. Justification, or being declared

Question 35: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from? Answer: All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself. Jesus told the Jewish religious leader Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). Religious credentials and a respectable life do not gain entrance to the kingdom. Why is that? It is because “flesh” (f

Question 35: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from? Answer: All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself. In his first letter to the church in Thessalonica, Paul gave thanks to God for his brothers and sisters, mentioning specifically their faith, hope, and love (1 Thess. 1:2-3). And then he explained the reason for which he thanks God for these things, tracing them back to

This week we begin with Question 35 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 2 (questions 21-35), which focuses on Christ, redemption, and grace. Question 35: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through faith alone, where does this faith come from? Answer: All the gifts we receive from Christ we receive through the Holy Spirit, including faith itself. In John 6, Jesus feeds a crowd of over 5,000, and then the next day encounters them again on the other side of the Sea of Ga

This week we begin with Question 34 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 2 (questions 21-35), which focuses on Christ, redemption, and grace. Question 34: Since we are redeemed by grace alone, through Christ alone, must we still do good works and obey God’s Word? Answer: Yes, because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, also renews us by his Spirit; so that our lives may show love and gratitude to God; so that we may be assured of our faith by the fruits; and so that

Question 33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else? Answer: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior. False teachers always add to and subtract from the truth. They add mediators alongside Jesus Christ, and by doing so they subtract from the full accomplishment of his saving work on the

Question 33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else? Answer: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior. We bring glory to Christ when we refuse to trust in our works, even in the tiniest way, to save us. Our faith in Christ rightly recognizes that he alone is qualified to be our Mediator

This week we begin with Question 33 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 2 (questions 21-35), which focuses on Christ, redemption, and grace. Question 33: Should those who have faith in Christ seek their salvation through their own works, or anywhere else? Answer: No, they should not, as everything necessary to salvation is found in Christ. To seek salvation through good works is a denial that Christ is the only Redeemer and Savior. Why can’t we rely on our good works to

This week we begin with Question 31 of the New City Catechism, found in Part 2 (questions 21-35), which focuses on Christ, redemption, and grace. Question 31: What do we believe by true faith? Answer: Everything taught to us in the gospel. The Apostles’ Creed expresses what we believe in these words: We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffer

Question 30: What is faith in Jesus Christ? Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. Saving faith consists of knowledge, assent, and trust. We must know the truth of the gospel and assent to its truth. But if we stop there, we have only gone as far as the demons have gone. Demons have no trouble assen

Question 30: What is faith in Jesus Christ? Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. Saving faith consists of knowledge, assent, and trust. We have already addressed the importance of knowledge, so now we will move on to assent. In order for anyone to be saved by the truth of the gospel, that person o

This week we begin with Question 30 of the New City Catechism, found in found in Part 2 (questions 21-35), which focuses on Christ, redemption, and grace. Question 30: What is faith in Jesus Christ? Answer: Faith in Jesus Christ is acknowledging the truth of everything that God has revealed in his Word, trusting in him, and also receiving and resting on him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. Historically, theologians have argued that saving faith involv

Question 29: How can we be saved? Answer: Only by faith in Jesus Christ and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross; so even though we are guilty of having disobeyed God and are still inclined to all evil, nevertheless, God, without any merit of our own but only by pure grace, imputes to us the perfect righteousness of Christ when we repent and believe in him. Conversion to Christ involves repentance and faith, inseparable actions of turning away from the lordship o