
Baptism is a Christian sacrament of initiation, usually involving the use of water. It is performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely. The word baptism comes from the Greek baptisma, which means immersion, dipping in water.
Baptism is considered a sacrament in most churches and an ordinance in others. It is a way of publicly professing one's faith and discipleship and is a requirement for church membership in certain Christian denominations. It is also seen as a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection and represents a person's death to sin and new life in Christ.
While some Christian denominations consider baptism necessary for salvation, others do not.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Rite of initiation | Admission to Christianity |
Rite of washing with water | Religious purification |
Rite of consecration | Death to sin |
Sign of repentance | New life in Christ |
Public declaration of faith | Identification with Christ |
Public confession of faith | Salvation |
Public testimony | Remission of sins |
Act of obedience | Discipleship |
Sacrament | Grace |
Spiritual rebirth | |
Initiation into the Christian community |
What You'll Learn
Baptism is a public declaration of faith and commitment to Jesus Christ
Baptism is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection. It is a dramatic illustration of the believer's identification with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection. It is a symbol of a believer's death to sin and new life in Christ.
Baptism is also a symbol of a believer's new life as a Christian. It is like a wedding ring—an outward symbol of the commitment made in the heart. It is a public testimony of the inward change in a believer's life.
Baptism is not a requirement for salvation. It is an act of obedience to the Lord after salvation. The Bible shows that the order of events is: 1) a person believes in the Lord Jesus and 2) he is baptized.
Baptism is a vital step of obedience in the believer's life. It is an outward acknowledgment or testimony of the salvation experience already accomplished. God alone is responsible for salvation.
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It is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection
Baptism in the Christian faith is a symbol of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Baptism is a symbolic ritual that involves the use of water. In the New Testament, the significance of baptism is seen more clearly. John the Baptist was sent by God to spread the news of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. John was directed by God to baptize those who accepted his message. John's baptism was called "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Those baptized by John acknowledged their sins and professed their faith that through the coming Messiah, they would be forgiven.
Jesus Christ submitted to baptism as an example for believers to follow. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul likened baptismal immersion to personal sharing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Baptism is significant as it represents the forgiveness and cleansing from sin that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. It is a public declaration of one's faith and symbolizes the sinner's entrance into the community of believers (the church).
Baptism is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection. Our entrance into the water during baptism identifies us with Christ's death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead. Going under the water represents the burial of our old life, and coming up out of the water represents the resurrection of a new life in Christ.
Baptism is a symbol of our new life as Christians. We bury the "old life" and rise to walk in a "new life." It is like a wedding ring, an outward symbol of the commitment made in one's heart, a commitment that must be followed through and lived out daily.
Baptism is a dramatic illustration of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. At the same time, it also illustrates our death to sin and new life in Christ. As the sinner confesses the Lord Jesus, he dies to sin and is raised to a brand-new life. Being submerged in the water represents death to sin, and emerging from the water represents the cleansed, holy life that follows salvation.
Baptism is an outward testimony of the inward change in a believer's life. It is an act of obedience to the Lord after salvation. It is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection, our death to sin, and our new life in Christ.
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It is a rite of washing with water as a sign of religious purification and consecration
Baptism in the Christian faith is a rite of washing with water, symbolising religious purification and consecration.
The word "baptism" comes from the Greek "baptisma", which means "washing, dipping, or immersing something into water". Baptism is a ritual cleansing with water, practised frequently in the Old Testament (Exodus 30:19-20) to signify purity or cleansing from sin and devotion to God.
In the New Testament, John the Baptist was sent by God to spread the news of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ. John was directed by God to baptise those who accepted his message, in "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Mark 1:4, NIV). Jesus himself was baptised by John, setting an example for believers to follow.
Baptism is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection. The act of being submerged in water represents death to sin, and emerging from the water symbolises the new, cleansed, holy life that follows salvation. In the Bible, Paul the Apostle likens baptismal immersion to personal sharing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-4).
Baptism is also a public declaration of one's faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. It is an important foundation for Christian life, and an act of obedience to Christ's commands. It is not a requirement for salvation but is considered a vital step of obedience in the believer's journey.
The mode of baptism varies; it can be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely.
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It is a form of exorcism from evil spirits
Baptism is a Christian sacrament of initiation, usually performed with water, that is almost always necessary for church membership. It is considered a form of exorcism from evil spirits, as well as a symbol of death to sin and new life in Christ.
Baptism is regarded as a requirement for salvation in certain schools of Christian thought, such as Catholic and Lutheran theology. It is also seen as a form of exorcism, where the baptised is protected from the power of Satan and temptation. In the Catholic Church, for example, the Catechism states that "Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament."
The act of baptism is also considered a public declaration of one's faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. It is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection, as well as a symbol of one's death to sin and new life as a Christian. In the Bible, Colossians 2:12-14 is often referenced to explain this:
> Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive – right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross.
Baptism is also a way of welcoming someone into the "body of Christ", connecting them to other believers. In 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, it is written: "For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body."
The act of baptism is also an act of obedience to Christ's commands. In the Bible, Jesus says: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."
Baptism is a significant step in one's journey of following Jesus. It is a symbol of one's death to sin and new life in Christ, as well as a public declaration of one's faith and commitment to Jesus Christ.
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It is a sacrament of admission to Christianity
Baptism is a sacrament of admission to Christianity. It is a rite of passage that involves the use of water and the Trinitarian invocation, "I baptize you: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The act of baptism can be performed by wholly or partly immersing the candidate in water, pouring water over the head, or sprinkling a few drops on the head.
Baptism is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection. It is a public declaration of one's commitment to following Jesus Christ and is considered a foundation for Christian life. It is also a symbol of one's new life as a Christian, where the "old life" is buried, and a new one begins.
Baptism is an act of obedience to the commands of Christ and is considered a vital step in the believer's life. It is a public testimony of the inward change in a believer's life and is an important step in the process of salvation.
The origins of baptism can be traced back to the ancient practice of ritual immersion in Judaism. It was also practised by John the Baptist, who baptised Jesus. In the New Testament, Jesus issues the "Great Commission" to his followers, commanding them to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
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Frequently asked questions
Baptism is a symbol of Christ's burial and resurrection. It is a public declaration of a follower's faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. It is also a symbol of a follower's death to sin and the beginning of a new life in Christ.
Baptism is important because it was commanded by Jesus. It is also an act of obedience to the Lord and illustrates a believer's identification with Christ's death, burial and resurrection.
Baptism means identification. It speaks of a personal, public identification with Jesus Christ. It is a symbol of the profound spiritual truths of death, resurrection, and cleansing.
The purpose of baptism is to represent the forgiveness and cleansing from sin that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. It is also a public acknowledgment of one's confession of faith and belief in the gospel message.