Baptism

• Baptizo- Greek for 'to dip' or 'dunk'
• Water in other religious rituals:

  • Mikveh- ritual bath for Jewish women after their period
  • Amrit Sanchar- sweetened water is drank and sprinkled as part of the ceremony to join the Khalsa (Sikh community)
  • Wudu- undertaken before muslims pray
• Sacrament- An outward show of an invisible grace
• Jesus being baptised inspires Christians to do the same
• "Thou art my beloved son, with thee I am well pleased"

  • shows Jesus is God's son
• "spirit descending upon him like a dove"

  • The trinity is present
• Disciple- a personal follower of christ during his life, especially one of the 12 apostles
• It is not known if Jesus baptised people, but his disciples did

  • shows that christians can be baptised by others
• "unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God"

  • water is physical, the Spirit is metaphysical
  • Something needs to be done to the physical flesh and the spirit to allow a person to go into heaven
• "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me"

  • Jesus is clearly an authority figure
  • Christians should follow him
• ceremony- a formal, religious or public occasion
• Anyone who understands baptism and performs it in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit can baptise a child
• Reasons to be baptised

  • its what Jesus did
  • Become a member of the church
  • Family are catholic
  • Wash away the stain of original sin
  • Wash away sins you have committed
  • A sign of faith