| Question | What is the duty of such who are rightly baptized? |
|---|---|
| Answer | It is the duty of such who are rightly baptized to give up themselves to some particular and orderly church of Jesus Christ, that they may walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 1 |
The Baptist Catechism Set to Music
Benjamin Beddome’s Exposition
Is there an invisible church of Christ?
Yes.
Unto the general assembly and church of the firstborn,
Hebrews 12:23
Doth this consist of all the elect?
Yes.
Which are written in heaven,
Hebrews 12:23
Is there a visible church of Christ upon earth?
Yes.
For we read that Saul made a havoc of the church,
Acts 8:3
Doth this consist of professing believers?
Yes.
They that gladly received the word were added to the church,
Acts 2:41
Is this church divided into separate assemblies which are also called churches?
Yes.
Then had the churches rest,
Acts 9:31
Were these churches national or provincial?
No.
For we read of the churches in Galatia,
Galatians 1:2
Doth a particular gospel church consist of as many as may comfortably meet together in one place?
Yes.
When they had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done,
Acts 14:27
Is it a voluntary society?
Yes.
They first gave their own selves unto the Lord, and unto us by the will of God,
2 Corinthians 8:5
And an authoritative one?
Yes.
When ye are gathered together with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such an one to Satan,
1 Corinthians 5:5
And should it be an orderly one?
Yes.
Joying and beholding your order,
Colossians 2:5
And doth Christ own such churches as his own?
Yes.
What thou seest write in a book, and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia,
Revelation 1:11
Is it the duty of baptized believers to separate themselves from the world?
Yes.
Come out from among them and be ye separate,
2 Corinthians 6:17
And to join themselves to some particular church of Christ?
Yes.
Paul essayed to join himself to the disciples,
Acts 9:26
And should they do this soon after their baptism?
Yes.
They were baptized, and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls,
Acts 2:41
Is Christian fellowship necessary for the glory of God?
Yes.
That we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God,
Romans 15:6
And for the celebration of gospel ordinances?
Yes.
The church of Corinth came together into one place—to eat the Lord’s supper,
1 Corinthians 11:20
And for mutual edification?
Yes.
Woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he hath not another to help him up,
Ecclesiastes 4:10
Should those therefore that enter into church fellowship endeavour to answer the ends of it?
Yes.
Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works,
Hebrews 10:24
The Westminster Larger Catechism
| Question | How is our Baptism to be improved by us? |
|---|---|
| Answer | 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; 1 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; 2 by being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, and our engagements; 3 by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament; 4 by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace; 5 and by endeavoring to live by faith, 6 to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness, 7 as those that have therein given up their names to Christ; 8 and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body. 9 |