355. What does the baptizing with water signify?
It signifies that the old man in us should, by daily sorrow and repentance, be drowned and die, with all sins and evil desires; and again a new man daily appear more and more, who shall live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
356. What is meant by saying that the old man in us should die, and the new man appear more and more?
Sin should be rooted out from us through daily sorrow and repentance, and our love to God and man should grow up within us more and more, so that it may appear in all our conduct that we have the mind of Christ.
Rom. 6:4. We are buried with Christ by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
357. What are the duties of sponsors?
They should pray for the child whose baptism they have witnessed, they should remember the covenant of their own Baptism, and afterwards, as far as possible, see that the child is brought up in the fear of God.