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    Question 78

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    Section 3: Of the Sacraments

    Why then doth the Holy Ghost call Baptism the washing of the New-birth, and forgiveness of Sins?

    God speaketh so not without great cause, to wit, not only to teach us that as the filth of our Body is purged by Water, so our Sins also area purged by the Blood and Spirit of Christ, but much more to assure us by this divine Token and Pledg, that we are as verily washed from our Sins with the inward washing, as we areb washed by the outward and visible Water.

    Why then does the Holy Ghost call Baptism the washing of the New-birth, and forgiveness of Sins?

    God speaks so not without great cause, to wit, not only to teach us that as the filth of our Body is purged by Water, so our Sins also area purged by the Blood and Spirit of Christ, but much more to assure us by this divine Token and Pledge, that we are as verily washed from our Sins with the inward washing, as we areb washed by the outward and visible Water.

    1. a. Revelation 1:5; Revelation 7:14; 1 Corinthians 6:11

      Revelation 1:5

      1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

      1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,

      Revelation 7:14

      7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

      7:14 "Sir," I answered, "you know." So he replied, "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

      1 Corinthians 6:11

      6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

      6:11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    2. b. Mark 16:16; Galatians 3:27

      Mark 16:16

      16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

      16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

      Galatians 3:27

      3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

      3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

      King James VersionBerean Standard Bible

    Diff style

    Changes from Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 73

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 73

    Why then doth the Holy Ghost call Baptism the washing of regeneration,” the New-birth, and “the washing away forgiveness of Sins?

    God thus speaketh so not without great cause, to wit, not only thereby to teach us that as the filth of the our Body is purged away by Water, so our Sins also are removed purged by the Blood and Spirit of Jesus Christ, but especially, that much more to assure us by this divine pledge sign he may assure us, Token and Pledg, that we are spiritually cleansed as verily washed from our Sins as really, with the inward washing, as we are externally washed with by the outward and visible Water.

    Heidelberg Catechism (1563), Question 73

    Why then doth the Holy Ghost call baptism “the washing of regeneration,” and “the washing away of sins?”

    God speaks thus not without great cause, to wit, 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; 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.

    An Orthodox Catechism (1680), Question 78

    Why then doth the Holy Ghost call Baptism the washing of the New-birth, and forgiveness of Sins?

    God speaketh so not without great cause, to wit, not only to teach us that as the filth of our Body is purged by Water, so our Sins also are purged by the Blood and Spirit of Christ, but much more to assure us by this divine Token and Pledg, that we are as verily washed from our Sins with the inward washing, as we are washed by the outward and visible Water.

    Commentaries (3)