baptism

• PARA 1: Baptism and salvation (1)

  • Catholic: believe that "whoever believes and is baptised will be saved" (Mark 16:16)
  • Baptism = necessary for salvation as one of 7 sacraments
  • Demonstrates baptism as act of repentance, allows for forgiveness of sins
  • Water used in baptism to symbolise cleansing of sins as adherents reach salvation
  • Baptism is first step in Christian journey--> allows individuals to then practise other rituals (e.g. communion)
• PARA 1: Baptism and salvation (2)

  • Protestant churches, including Presbyterian + Anglican: believe baptism= "sign of new birth" (Australian Prayer Book)
  • Baptism = symbol of church membership, affirms forgiveness through faith, but doesn’t guarantee faith or salvation
  • Still significant as "pledge of clear conscience towards God" (1 Peter 3:21)
  • Baptismal promises--> affirms adherents turning to new life in understanding of salvation already received
• PARA 2: Jesus’s Death + Resurrection / Trinity (1)

  • Salvation only made possible through Jesus’ death and resurrection as idea of new life and rebirth - taking sins away – “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… we too may live new life” (Romans 6:3-4)
  • E.g. Full immersion practised in Pentecostal and Baptist churches: Symbolises Jesus’ death and resurrection as leave old life, rebirthed + brought back to new life – full immersion
• PARA 2: Jesus’s Death + Resurrection / Trinity (2)

  • Baptist: one of few denominations that only baptises adults as can make conscious decision - requires sponsor who helps newly baptised — sign of acceptance of Jesus and obedience to his commandments
  • Orthodox and Catholic Church clothe baptised in white garment – symbolic of new life in christ + rebirth 
• PARA 2:  Jesus’s Death + Resurrection / Trinity

  • Christians called to baptise people in name of all members of Trinity – “baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” Matthew 28:19
  • Orthodox Denomination: With communion, makes up three most important rituals  
  • Child fully immersed in water 3 times in the name of the Holy Trinity – highlights Trinitarian nature of baptism
  • Chrismation then occurs = anointing of all body parts in oil with words proclaiming seal of gift of Holy Spirit
• PARA 3: Significance for individual (1)

  • Baptismal promise affirms individual's commitment to follow Jesus + live life guided by Holy Spirit
  • Baptism= initiation into Christian community
  • Affirms belonging in wider church community, allows to participate in church culture – thus individual can find solace and support by finding place in larger group of adherents who share similar values and beliefs 
  • Catholic Church believes “God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism” (CCC)
• PARA 3: Significance for individual (2)

  • Salvation Army contrasts many christian denominations, believing baptism has little significance to individuals, sharing “it is possible to experience the inward grace of which the sacraments are outward signs, without the need for the rituals themselves.”
  • Baptism strengthens individuals’ faith as they publicly declare their beliefs and baptismal promises – Seen in Orthodox church as they receive the holy spirit through chrismation
• PARA 4: Significance for Community (1)

  • Baptism not only substantial in uniting adherents within church community, but also unites church communities across denominations 
  • Bible reveals: "for we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13)
  • As individuals initiated into church--> become united under common identity in Jesus = strengths christian community
  • Involves whole community in raising an individual in the faith, in turn strengthens their belief as well – God parents / sponsors
• PARA 4: Significance for Community (2)

  • Baptism= universal communion of faithful who have shared, suffered and stood together for 2000 years as "for all who were baptised…there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free… for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:27)
  • Unites christian denominations under common belief in Jesus' death and resurrection, allows for ecumenicism