The First Sacrament

Sacrament of

Baptism

Coverage of Discussion:1. The Sacrament of Baptism2. The purpose of Baptism

3. Infant Baptism vs. "Believer's Baptism“

4. The Minister of the Sacrament of Baptism5. The Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism

6. What does the word “Baptism” mean?7. What does Baptism symbolize?

8. What is the “Seal of Baptism”?

9. What is the importance of the seal?

The Sacrament of Baptism has the first rank among the Seven Holy Sacraments, as it is the door by which the believer enters the church and has the right to partake in the rest of the Sacraments

Baptism has been called a sacrament and an ordinance of Jesus Christ.

baptism is also called christening

The term "baptism" has also been used to refer to any ceremony, trial, or experience by which a person is initiated, purified, or given a name

Sacrament of Baptism

The Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Sacrament of Baptism by being baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan.

The usual form of baptism among the earliest Christians was for the candidate to be immersed, either totally (submerged completely under the water) or partially (standing or kneeling in water while water was poured on him or her).

Other common forms of baptism now in use include pouring water three times on the forehead; a method called affusion.

Sacrament of Baptism

Martyrdom was identified early in Church history as "baptism by blood", enabling martyrs who had not been baptized by water to be saved.

Later, the Catholic Church identified a ”baptism of desire”, by which those preparing for baptism who die before actually receiving the sacrament are considered saved.

Most Christians baptize infants; many others hold that only believer's baptism is true baptism. Some insist on submersion or at least partial immersion of the person who is baptized, others consider that any form of washing by water, as long as the water flows on the head, is sufficient.

Sacrament of Baptism

Water Baptism identifies the believer with the Godhead – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

Water Baptism is an act of obedience for the believer. It should be preceded by repentance, which simply means “change.” It is turning from our sin and selfishness to serve the Lord. It means placing our pride, our past and all of our possessions before the Lord. It is giving the control of our lives over to Him.

The Purpose of Baptism:

Water Baptism is a public testimony - the outward confession of an inward experience. In baptism, we stand before witnesses confessing our identification with the Lord.

Water Baptism is a picture representing profound spiritual truth:

DeathResurrection Cleansing

The Purpose of Baptism:

Infant Baptism vs. "Believer's Baptism"

 Catholic, Orthodox,Presbyterian, Methodist, and Lutheran churches

inducting the newborn into the community of faith

 the community's commitment to raise him or her to be a faithful Christian

 In the Middle Ages, it was widely believed that it washes away original sin, thereby ensuring salvation if the child died. 

Infant baptism is rejected by Baptists (which is how they got their name) and most evangelical Christians

Taking baptism in the Bible as a model, and reasoning from the Protestant emphasis on justification by faith alone.

baptism can only be meaningful and effective if undertaken by someone old enough to understand and assent to the sacrament

 usually done by full immersion in water

Infant Baptism vs. "Believer's Baptism"

Since the form of baptism requires just the water and the words, the sacrament does not require a priest; any baptized person can baptize another.

A BishopA MinisterA deacon

The Minister of the Sacrament of Baptism:

In fact, when the life of a person is in danger, even a non-baptized person—including someone who does not himself believe in Christ—can baptize, provided that the person performing the baptism follows the form of baptism and intends, by the baptism, to do what the Church does—in other words, to bring the person being baptized into the fullness of the Church.

The Minister of the Sacrament of Baptism:

The removal of the guilt of both Original Sin (the sin imparted to all mankind by the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and personal sin (the sins that we have committed ourselves).

The remission of all punishment that we owe because of sin, both temporal (in this world and in Purgatory) and eternal (the punishment that we would suffer in hell).

The infusion of grace in the form of sanctifying grace (the life of God within us); the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; and the three theological virtues.

The Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism:

Becoming a part of Christ.

Becoming a part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth.

Enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the growth in grace.

The Effects of the Sacrament of Baptism:

To plunge

To immerse

To go under

What does the word “Baptism” mean?

Going under water symbolizes our burial into the death of Christ

It also symbolize our rising up into the new life with Christ

Our union with Christ in this life and the next

What does Baptism symbolize?

Eternal mark on a person’s soul This mark makes a person belong to

Christ It CAN’T be erased forever It enables a person to do God’s will on

this Earth

What is the “Seal of Baptism”?

It is a sign of our faithWe are called to keep this sign of

faith alive and strong

What is the importance of the seal?

THANK

YOU!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptism

http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/f/whatisbaptism.htm

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/practices/baptism.htm

http://www.slideshare.net/pcuadra/the-sacrament-of-baptism

http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/p/Sac_Baptism.htm

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