Baptism and communion

• Catholics call baptism and communion a sacrament
• a sacrament means that god's blessing is given to the person taking part- God actively takes part
• Protestants prefer to call baptism and communion ordinances
• an ordinance means they have been commanded by god and are more symbolic
• the two types of baptism are believers and infant
• the baptist church uses believers baptism
• the Catholic Church uses infant baptism
• wearing white represents the purity gained through forgiveness
• in the baptist church water represents the symbol of cleansing from sin and a sign of new life living according to the teachings of the church
• baptist baptism takes place in public as it is a public declaration, a sign that you take it seriously
• baptists are fully immersed representing someones death to their old life and them rising into a new life living for god
• the word baptism means to dip
• the symbols of baptism for infant are water oil of salvation and the sign of the cross
• the water in infant baptism spiritually removes the Childs original sin- the sin they are born with allowing them to begin life on the right path with god
• the two oils of salvation are oil of chrism and oil of salvation
• the oil of salvation symbolises the child being given the strength to fight against evil
• the candle used in infant baptism is paschal and symbolises Jesus overcoming death in the same way light overcomes darkness
• acts 16 says Lydia repented and was baptised 'with her household'
• acts 2 states 'repent and be baptised every one of you. The promise is for you and your children'
• infant baptism causes the parents to think about the Childs spiritual upbringing and lays foundations for that upbringing
• Jesus himself was baptised as an adult
• acts 8 after the Eunuch believes he was baptised- believe first then baptised
• Jesus commanded his disciples. 'go and make disciples baptising them'
• it should be belief then baptism not baptism then belief
• baptism is an outward expression of an inward change
• full immersion in baptist baptism
• full immersions shows , going under - death under water - burial coming up from water - resurrection
• churches celebrate communion to remember, obey, sacrament, ordinance, unites believers, thanksgiving
• during communion bread is broken as was the body of jesus
• bread is also essential for life - as Jesus is essential for the christian
• Jesus said 'I am the bread of life'
• the deep red colour of wine is symbolic of Jesus blood shed for all
• for jews wine was a sign of gods blessing
• protestants and catholics agree on bread and wine as symbols of Jesus death (body and blood)
• both churches believe that a new covenant (agreement) between god and humans was made by Jesus at his last supper he said "this is my blood of the new covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'
• communion remembers this new covenant is now open for everyone
• churches disagree as catholics believe in real presence and baptists believe in symbolic presence
• in the Catholic Church the bread and wine are changed in a special way so that Jesus becomes actually present in the bread and wine. it is transformed Into the body and blood of Jesus
• the act of converting the bread and wine into body and blood of christ is called transubstantiation a literal translation of when Jesus said 'this is my body'
• baptists view the bread and wine as just symbols - a way of reminding you of Jesus sacrifice rather than Jesus being present within it