Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 26

This week the Catechism begins unpacking baptism, not as a religious ritual, but as a powerful sign and seal of what Christ has done for us. It’s not something we do to prove ourselves. It’s something God gives to assure us of grace.

In baptism, we are reminded that the gospel is not just true in general—it’s true for us personally.

Question 69

How does holy baptism remind and assure you
that Christ’s one sacrifice on the cross benefits you personally?
In this way:

Christ instituted this outward washing
and with it gave the promise that,
as surely as water washes away the dirt from the body,
so certainly His blood and His Spirit
wash away my soul’s impurity—
that is, all my sins.¹

¹ Matthew 28:19–20; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Titus 3:5–8

Question 70

What does it mean
to be washed with Christ’s blood and Spirit?
To be washed with Christ’s blood means
that God, by grace, has forgiven my sins
because of Christ’s blood
poured out for me in His sacrifice on the cross.

To be washed with Christ’s Spirit means
that the Holy Spirit has renewed me
and set me apart to be a member of Christ,
so that more and more
I become dead to sin
and increasingly live a holy and blameless life.²

² Zechariah 13:1; Ezekiel 36:25–27; John 3:5; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 9:14

Question 71

Where does Christ promise
that we are washed with His blood and Spirit
as surely as we are washed with the water of baptism?
In the institution of baptism, where He says:
“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.”

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,
but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

This promise is repeated
when Scripture calls baptism
the washing of rebirth
and the washing away of sins.³

³ Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:16; Titus 3:5; Acts 22:16

More Than Symbol, Not Magical

In the Free Church, we tend to emphasize that baptism is an ordinance, not a means of salvation. That’s true and important. But the Catechism invites us to slow down and remember what baptism does mean—because it is no small thing.

The Heidelberg calls it a sacrament, but as we saw last week, that does not imply any belief in sacramentalism or sacerdotalism. Baptism does not automatically save. It is not a mechanical or priestly transaction. But it is more than a mere symbol. It is a visible sermon, ordained by Christ, that declares what His blood and Spirit have accomplished for you.

Just as water truly cleans the body, so Christ’s grace truly cleanses your soul. That’s the promise baptism points to—not what you’ve done, but what Christ has done for you.

Washed in Blood and Spirit

The Catechism breaks this down beautifully. To be baptized is to be reminded that:

• You have been washed in Christ’s blood: your guilt is gone, because Jesus bore it all.
• You have been washed in Christ’s Spirit: your life is being changed, from the inside out.

Baptism doesn’t replace faith. It confirms it. It tells you, in no uncertain terms, that your sins are not only forgiven but that you have been made new.

Whether you were baptized as a believing adult or as a child and later came to faith, the message of baptism remains the same. It is God’s sign and seal that you belong to Christ.

A Promise You Can Hold

When doubts come—and they do—baptism stands as a reminder. It says, "Look at the water. Just as surely as that touched your body, Christ's grace has washed your soul."

The Catechism quotes Jesus’ words in Matthew 28 and Mark 16 not to teach that baptism itself saves, but to show that God ties the sign to the promise. If you believe in Christ, then baptism is not an empty ritual. It is a gospel echo. It says, “You’re His. You’re clean. You’re new.”

And in a world of shifting identities, that's a truth you can hold on to.

A Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for giving me a faith that rests not on my feelings, but on Your promises. Thank You for the gift of baptism, where I see and remember that Christ’s blood has washed away my sin, and His Spirit has made me new. Help me not to treat baptism as a past event, but as a present reminder of who I am in Christ—cleansed, forgiven, and made alive. When I doubt, point me back to that promise. And help me live in a way that reflects the grace You have poured out. Amen.

Daily Bible Readings

New Testament in a Year
June 29 – Acts 4:23–37
June 30 – Acts 5:1–16
July 1 – Acts 5:17–42
July 2 – Acts 6:1–15
July 3 – Acts 7:1–38
July 4 – Acts 7:39–60
July 5 – Acts 8:1–25

The Bible in a Year
June 29 – Job 8–10; Acts 4:23–37
June 30 – Job 11–13; Acts 5:1–16
July 1 – Job 14–16; Acts 5:17–42
July 2 – Job 17–19; Acts 6:1–15
July 3 – Job 20–21; Acts 7:1–38
July 4 – Job 22–24; Acts 7:39–60
July 5 – Job 25–27; Acts 8:1–25