BaptismBaptism

The The Significance of Significance of

Baptism for Baptism for ChristiansChristians

Christian BaptismChristian Baptism

Baptism is a rite of Baptism is a rite of initiation in Christianity. initiation in Christianity.

It is the “point of entry” It is the “point of entry” into the Christian into the Christian Church.Church.

Most baptisms are Most baptisms are performed on infants by performed on infants by pouring, dipping or pouring, dipping or immersing them in immersing them in water.water.

Child vs Adult Baptism?Child vs Adult Baptism?

Some denominations of Some denominations of Christianity, such as Christianity, such as Baptists, use a “believer’s Baptists, use a “believer’s baptism” and engage in baptism” and engage in adult baptism.adult baptism.

Most Christian Churches Most Christian Churches believe that Jesus believe that Jesus instituted baptism and that instituted baptism and that it is necessary for it is necessary for salvation.salvation.

Rejecting SinRejecting Sin

During the During the baptismal rite those baptismal rite those being baptised being baptised reject sin and reject sin and profess a belief in profess a belief in the Trinity. the Trinity.

This is done by This is done by sponsors if the sponsors if the candidate is an candidate is an infant.infant.

Orthodox BaptismOrthodox Baptism

Orthodox Christians are Orthodox Christians are baptised by a priest baptised by a priest through 3 immersions in through 3 immersions in water (Trinity). water (Trinity).

Confirmation occurs Confirmation occurs immediately after and immediately after and the recipient is anointed the recipient is anointed with oil. with oil.

In Orthodoxy, children In Orthodoxy, children are important members are important members of the church from of the church from infancy.infancy.

Scriptural References to BaptismScriptural References to Baptism

Jesus converses with Jesus converses with Nicodemus (Jn 3:3, 5-6)Nicodemus (Jn 3:3, 5-6)

Jesus commands the disciples Jesus commands the disciples to baptise (Mt 28:19)to baptise (Mt 28:19)

It is necessary for salvation It is necessary for salvation (Acts 8:13)(Acts 8:13)

It allows believers to participate It allows believers to participate in Christianity ( (Rom 6:4)in Christianity ( (Rom 6:4)

It allows people to be cleansed It allows people to be cleansed of their sins (1 Cor 6:11)of their sins (1 Cor 6:11)

John the Baptist (Mt 3:1-3)John the Baptist (Mt 3:1-3) Jesus’ baptism confers the Holy Jesus’ baptism confers the Holy

Spirit (Acts 1:5, 11:15)Spirit (Acts 1:5, 11:15)

Jewish ImmersionsJewish Immersions

Christianity adopted Christianity adopted immersionimmersion in water from Jewish tradition.in water from Jewish tradition.

Yet, there are many Yet, there are many distinguishing features of distinguishing features of Jewish immersions from Jewish immersions from Christian baptism:Christian baptism:

a)a) Jewish immersions involved Jewish immersions involved the person performing the the person performing the cleansing ritual alone, not with cleansing ritual alone, not with someone pushing them someone pushing them underwater as with baptism.underwater as with baptism.

Ritual PurityRitual Purity

b) Jewish immersions were b) Jewish immersions were completed for the completed for the purpose of ritual purity at purpose of ritual purity at various times of a various times of a person’s life. person’s life.

Eg: after menstruation, Eg: after menstruation, after sex, after shopping after sex, after shopping at the market or coming at the market or coming into contact with the into contact with the dead.dead.

Baptism Becomes a Christian RiteBaptism Becomes a Christian Rite

Baptism became an initiatory Baptism became an initiatory rite for the Christian Church in rite for the Christian Church in the First Century CE. the First Century CE.

As developed by Paul it As developed by Paul it signified death and rebirth in signified death and rebirth in Jesus.Jesus.

Unlike immersions, baptism Unlike immersions, baptism usually occurred only once in usually occurred only once in a person’s life and it was a person’s life and it was conversionary and conversionary and unrepeatable.unrepeatable.

Baptism was not only an Baptism was not only an immersion in water but in the immersion in water but in the Holy Spirit.Holy Spirit.

Jewish Initiation Jewish Initiation

Whereas Jews Whereas Jews had 3 main had 3 main initiation rites:initiation rites:

a)a) Circumcision for Circumcision for males.males.

b)b) A cleansing A cleansing immersionimmersion

c)c) Sacrifice in the Sacrifice in the Temple.Temple.

The Christian Tradition BeginsThe Christian Tradition Begins

In the early Christian tradition In the early Christian tradition candidates were probably candidates were probably naked during baptism so that naked during baptism so that earthly things did not earthly things did not interfere with the experience. interfere with the experience.

Yet, there were some Yet, there were some restrictions on this for the restrictions on this for the early Jewish Christians, such early Jewish Christians, such as being naked in front of the as being naked in front of the opposite sex.opposite sex.

Over time John the Baptist (a Over time John the Baptist (a Jew) was “taken” by Christian Jew) was “taken” by Christian scholars as the initiator of scholars as the initiator of baptism. He is largely baptism. He is largely ignored in Jewish writings.ignored in Jewish writings.

The Significance of Baptism for The Significance of Baptism for ChristiansChristians

Baptism is an initiation Baptism is an initiation into faith. into faith.

It gives people access It gives people access to the sacramental life to the sacramental life of the church.of the church.

The believer sees that The believer sees that baptism frees them baptism frees them from sin (Original Sin & from sin (Original Sin & Personal Sin).Personal Sin).

Baptismal practice Baptismal practice connects an individual connects an individual to the rich scriptural to the rich scriptural tradition of the ancient tradition of the ancient Jews, the first Jews, the first Christians and Jesus.Christians and Jesus.

Baptismal SymbolsBaptismal Symbols

Water is the symbol of Water is the symbol of purity and purification.purity and purification.

Oil is a traditional medium Oil is a traditional medium signifying healing.signifying healing.

New garments signify New garments signify arrival into the churcharrival into the church

Candles show Christ is Candles show Christ is the light of the worldthe light of the world

Bread and wine are the Bread and wine are the entry point into receiving entry point into receiving the Eucharist.the Eucharist.

Question TimeQuestion Time

How are people How are people initiated into other initiated into other faiths?faiths?