Jesus Loves the Little Children

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 27

We continue a year through what we believe as Christians using the Heidelberg Catechism. What do children receive in their baptism? Is it an empty sign or does it do just what it promises, like regenerate? We take a middle way between these views by understanding that as members of the covenant of grace the promises of baptism are sealed to them in their baptism.

Introduction:
o Children are baptized because they included Into the covenant community
o But what exactly do they receive in baptism
o Sign and seal: the promise of God is sealed to our children in their baptism

Sign and Thing Signified
o How does the sign relate to the thing signified?
o Collapsed/confused: realism
o Divided: minimalism
o Distinct but not separate: covenantally united

Covenant Community
o As members of the covenant of grace children have:
Ø Promise (Gen. 17:7)
Ø Sealed in baptism (Acts 2:37–39)
o Law and Gospel
Ø The indicative of the gospel grounds the imperatives (1 Cor. 7:14; Col. 2 /Eph. 6)
o As heirs, covenant children grow up organically into the faith

False Sense of Security?
o Though assured of the promise, baptism is only effectual through faith
o Remain in Christ, embrace the promises