Knox on Baptism

Explaining why baptism need not be repeated, John Knox ( Answers to Some Questions concerning Baptism, 1566 ) writes that “Baptism is the sign of our first entrance into the household of God our Father; by which is signified that we are received in league with him, that we are clad with Christ’s justice, our sins and filthiness being washed away in his blood. Now evident it is, that the justice of Christ Jesus is permanent and cannot be defiled; that the league of God is of that firmness and assurance, that rather shall the covenant made with the sun and moon, with the day and night, perish and be changed, than that the promise of his mercy made to his elect shall be frustrated and vain. Now, if Christ’s justice is inviolable, and the league of God is constant and sure, it is not necessary that the sign (which represents unto me, and in some manner seals in my conscience that I am received in the league with God, and so clad with Christ’s justice) be oftener than once received. For the iteration of it should declare, that before I was a stranger from God who never had publicly been received in his household.”

To the objection that our sins break the “league made betwixt God and us” and so require a reiteration of baptism, Knox points to the continuing work of the Spirit:

“the reiteration of baptism is not the means which God has appointed to assure our consciences that the league betwixt God and us is permanent and sure. But his Holy Spirit, writing in our hearts true and unfeigned repentance, leads us to the throne of our Father’s mercy.” And he points to the role of the Supper as a continuing assurance of membership in Christ: “to seal the same, his everlasting mercy, more deeply in our hearts, and to declare the same before the world, he sends us to the table of his dear Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, who at his Last Supper in his corporeal life (had with his disciples), he did institute for his kirk, and command the same to be used, in remembrance of him to his coming again. To the which, when we present ourselves, as in heart we do believe (I speak of God’s chosen children), so in mouth do we confess, and before the world solemnly we protest, that we are the household of God our Father, received in the league of his mercy, according to the purpose of his own good pleasure; and that we, members of the body of Christ Jesus, were clad with his justice and innocence; and therefore now does he admit us to his table, and expressly in his word sets before us the bread of life which descended from the heaven, to assure our consciences that (our former defection from him notwithstanding) with joy does he receive us as the father did his unthankful and prodigal son, returning to him from his wretched condition and miserable poverty.”