What is Baptism?
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,1 to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself,2 of remission of sins by his blood,3 and regeneration by his Spirit;4 of adoption,5 and resurrection unto everlasting life;6 and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church,7 and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord's.8
Scripture proofs
The Westminster Assembly's proof texts (KJV). The bracketed numbers in the answer above mark the clause each set of references supports; expand a row to read the verses.
1 Matt. 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
2 Gal. 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
3 Mark 1:4; Rev. 1:5
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
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,
4 Titus 3:5; Eph. 5:26
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
5 Gal. 3:26–27
Gal. 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal. 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
6 1 Cor. 15:29; Rom. 6:5
Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
7 1 Cor. 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
8 Rom. 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
This doctrine across the Standards
Where the Confession and the Westminster Shorter Catechism treat the same matter, so the question can be studied alongside its parallel statements.
In the Westminster Confession
XXVIII.1 Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission …
Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible Church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ's own appointment, to be continued in his Church until the end of the world.
→ XXVIII.1 · Of BaptismXXVIII.2 The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized …
The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel lawfully called thereunto.
→ XXVIII.2 · Of BaptismXXVIII.3 Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or …
Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person.
→ XXVIII.3 · Of BaptismXXVIII.4 Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of …
Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be baptized.
→ XXVIII.4 · Of BaptismXXVIII.5 Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not …
Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no person can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all that are baptized are undoubtedly regenerated.
→ XXVIII.5 · Of BaptismXXVIII.6 The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, …
The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God's own will, in his appointed time.
→ XXVIII.6 · Of BaptismXXVIII.7 The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered to any person.
The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered to any person.
→ XXVIII.7 · Of BaptismIn the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q.94 What is Baptism?
Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, 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.
→ Open Q.94Q.95 To whom is Baptism to be administered?
Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.
→ Open Q.95