Read the Westminster Standards in a year.

Shorter Catechism

Q 94. What is baptism?

A. Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,1 doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.2

Larger Catechism

Q 165. What is baptism?

A. Baptism is a sacrament of the new testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,3 to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself,4 of remission of sins by his blood,5 and regeneration by his Spirit;6 of adoption,7 and resurrection unto everlasting life;8 and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church,9 and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord’s.10


  1. Matthew 28:19

    Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (ESV)

    ↩︎
  2. Acts 2:38-42

    And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

    And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

    Acts 22:16

    And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

    Romans 6:3-4

    Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

    Galatians 3:26-27

    for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    1 Peter 3:21

    Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (ESV)

    ↩︎
  3. Matthew 28:19

    Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (ESV)

    ↩︎
  4. Galatians 3:27

    For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

    Romans 6:3

    Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? (ESV)

    ↩︎
  5. Mark 1:4

    John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

    Revelation 1:5

    and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth.

    To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood

    Acts 2:38

    And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    Acts 22:16

    And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

    1 Peter 3:21

    Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (ESV)

    ↩︎
  6. Titus 3:5

    he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

    Ephesians 5:26

    that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

    Acts 2:38

    And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (ESV)

    ↩︎
  7. Galatians 3:26-27

    for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (ESV)

    ↩︎
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:29

    Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?

    Romans 6:5

    For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (ESV)

    ↩︎
  9. 1 Corinthians 12:13

    For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

    Acts 2:41

    So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (ESV)

    ↩︎
  10. Romans 6:4

    We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

    Acts 2:38-42

    And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

    And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (ESV)

    ↩︎


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Copyright © Tim Hopper. Based on Calendar of Readings in the Westminster Standards by Dr. Joey Pipa. Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.