Heidelbergian Children's Catechism (age 8- 10 years)
Lord's Day 26
Last time we said that you would hear more about Holy Baptism and Holy Supper. Did you notice that I have added the word ‘holy’? Do you know why? When you eat chips or fried fries, you dip them in the mayonnaise. That is a kind of baptism. The meal you eat late in the day, you call ‘dinner’. But you could also call it ‘supper’. That is why in church the word ‘holy’ is added. Holy Baptism is a special kind of dipping. Holy Supper is a special kind of meal. This time and the next time we will discuss Holy Baptism. Wh en did baptism begin? Were Leah and Rachel baptized? No, they were not. What about David, was he baptized? No. Baptism began in the New Testament, when Jesus Christ had almost finished his work on earth. Just before He returned to heaven, He talked about it with his disciples. He said:”Soon,1 will no longer be with you, and the Holy Spirit will be poured out. Then you must tell the gospel to all people in the world. And you must baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Here, you see again the three persons together. Yet there is one God. I am sure you remember that. But now we speak about baptism. The Lord Jesus himself instituted this baptism. Why? What do you do when your hands are dirty? You go to the tap and the water c1eanses your hands. That is why the minister uses water when he baptizes. Water washes away dirt. You look clean and new. In much the same way, the blood of Christ washes away sins. When you see the water of baptism, you should think of Christ’s blood taking away sins. The Holy Spirit also promises that He will make the baptized baby new, so that it will live as the Lord Jesus wants it to live. We call that a God-fearing life. You are God-fearing when you honor God, and out of respect for God you always work to keep sin out of your life. Then you belong to Christ, Then you are no longer just one of the crowd. You have your own place with the Lord.