Worship, Revised and Expanded Edition: Reformed according to Scripture

by Hughes Oliphant Old

For the Reformed understanding of baptism, the doctrine of the Holy Spirit is fundamental. In the fifth or sixth century, the sacrament of baptism began to be split into two sacraments. Baptism proper was understood as the washing away of sins, while the sacrament of confirmation was understood to confer the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Reformers were very much opposed to any understanding of baptism in which baptism with water was one thing and baptism of the Holy Spirit was something else. Using Augustinian terms, they saw baptism with water as the outward sign of baptism with the Holy Spirit, which was the inward grace. The physical washing with water did not save those who were baptized; rather the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the baptized gave them faith and thereby cleansed them from their sins. For the Reformers it became very important, then, that at the time of baptism the church should pray that the Holy Spirit accomplish inwardly the purification and sanctification that the outward sign of baptismal washing promised.

What did the outward sign promise for those who later would reject Christ ?