4.16.2004

Grace to Alyssa -

My daughter will be baptized this Lord's Day. Every Lord's Day is marked by special celebration and joy in the finished work of Christ, but this day will be of particular importance and joy to us. We will celebrate God's covenant faithfulness as Alyssa is solemnly admitted into the visible Church. Baptism will be unto Alyssa a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of her ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of her giving up unto God, through Jesus Christ, to walk in newness of life. Joy will spring from the truth that the promised grace is not only offered to her, but it is really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Spirit to Alyssa, according to the counsel of God's own will, in His appointed time. Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah!

(Much of the language here was borrowed from the Westminster Confession of Faith. The whole text of the section on baptism can be found in a recent entry on this journal.)

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