We are a community of Christian believers, who are in association with John Knox Presbyterian Church. We are committed to:
- The Bible as our only rule of faith and practice. It is inerrant, infallible, inspired by God in its original autographs, and preserved by Him for His people throughout the ages.
- The Westminster Standards, which include the doctrines of grace, which are known by the acronym T.U.L.I.P
- The preaching of The Word, the exercise of Church discipline, and the right celebration of the sacraments.
| WESTMINSTER LARGER CATECHISM QUESTION OF THE WEEK |
Agreed upon by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, with the assistance of commissioners from the Church of Scotland, as a part of the covenanted uniformity in religion between the Churches of Christ in the kingdoms of Scotland, England, and Ireland and approved Anno 1648, by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, to be a directory for catechising such as have made some proficiency in the knowledge of the grounds of religion, with The Proofs from the Scripture. Assembly at Edinburgh, July 2, 1648. Sess. 10. Act approving the Larger Catechism.
Question 165
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, (Matt. 28:19) to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself, (Gal. 3:27) of remission of sins by his blood, (Mark 1:4, Rev. 1:5) and regeneration by his Spirit; (Tit. 3:5, Eph. 5:26) of adoption, (Gal. 3:26–27) and resurrection unto everlasting life; (1 Cor. 15:29, Rom. 6:5) and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church, (1 Cor. 12:13) and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord’ s. (Rom. 6:4)
Question 166
Unto whom is baptism to be administered?
Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him, (Acts 8:36–37, Acts 2:38) but infants descending from parents, either both, or but one of them, professing faith in Christ, and obedience to him, are in that respect within the covenant, and to be baptized. (Gen. 17:7,9, Gal. 3:9, Col. 2:11–12, Acts 2:38–39, Rom. 4:11–12, 1 Cor. 7:14, Matt. 28:19, Luke 18:15–16, Rom. 11:16)
Question 167
How is our baptism to be improved by us?
The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others; (Col. 2:11–12, Rom. 6:4,6,11) by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein; (Rom. 6:3–5) by being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, and our engagements; (1 Cor. 1:11–13, Rom. 6:2–3) by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament; (Rom. 4:11–12, 1 Pet. 3:21) by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace; (Rom. 6:3,4,5) and by endeavoring to live by faith, (Gal. 3:26–27) to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness, (Rom. 6:22) as those that have therein given up their names to Christ; (Acts 2:38) and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body. (1 Cor. 12:13,25)
| The Apostles’ Creed
The basic creed of Reformed churches, as most familiarly known, is called the Apostles’ Creed. It has received this title because of its great antiquity; it dates from very early times in the Church, a half century or so from the last writings of the New Testament |
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell. [See Calvin]
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.
Amen.