Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1995 - Rparchives.org

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 177administered elsewhere; but, in any event, the church must be represented inthe service.Baptism2. Baptism marks admission into the visible church and symbolizesingrafting into Christ. It is therefore not to be repeated. The water ofbaptism is properly applied by sprinkling or pouring.3. Baptism is to be administered to those who make a credible professionof faith in Christ and to their children. The baptism of infant covenantchildren is not to be unnecessarily delayed. Notice of intention to present achild for baptism must be given to the session by a parent who is a believer.The baptism of adults must follow their public profession of faith in Christand assent to the Covenant of Church Membership.4. In the administration of baptism, the minister should follow the patterndescribed in the following sections, although he may employ differentlanguage, using his own liberty and godly wisdom, as the edification of thepeople shall require.4.1 Before administering baptism, instruction should be given as to theinstitution, nature, use and ends of the sacrament:"Baptism is a sacrament ordained by our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a sign andseal of the inclusion of the person who is baptized in the covenant of grace.Teaching that we and our children are conceived and born in sin, it witnessesand seals to us the remission of sins and the bestowal of all the gifts ofsalvation through union with Christ. Baptism with water signifies and sealscleansing from sin by the blood and Spirit of Christ, together with our deathto sin and our resurrection to newness of life by virtue of the death andresurrection of Christ. Since these gifts of salvation are the gracious provisionof the triune God, who is pleased to claim us as His very own, we arebaptized into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.Since baptized persons are called upon to assume the obligations of thecovenant, baptism summons us to renounce the world and the flesh and towalk humbly with our God in devotion to His commandments."When an infant is to be baptized, the minister shall give instruction as to theground of infant baptism:"Although our young children do not yet understand these things, they arenevertheless to be baptized. For the promise of the covenant is made tobelievers and to their seed, as God declared to Abraham, 'And I will establishMy covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in theirgenerations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and yourdescendants after you' (Genesis 17:7). Under the New Testament, no less