Christianity [Religious Depth Study]

SIGNIFICANT PRACTICES IN THE LIFE OF ADHERENTS: BAPTISM

Is the sacrament rite that admits a candidate into the Christian Church Community.
Brings new life think of the symbolism of water purifying, cleansing, sustaining life
Basis of the whole Christian life. The door way to other sacraments.
Through baptism we are freed from all original and future sin and reborn as sons of god.
Baptism is necessary for salvation
Is the sacrament of faith which grows after baptism
We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit at our baptism.
Blessed in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark. That no sin can erase
ELEMENTS OF A BAPTISM
1. Welcome rite
2. Questioning of parents responsibilities
3. Signing by the priest with the sign of the cross
4. Celebration of the liturgy of the word
5. Exorcism, followed by anointing of the child/adult
6. Blessing of baptismal water
7. Parents renunciation of sin and profession of faith
8. Baptism in the name of the F, S, HS, anointing with oil
9. Clothing, Candles
10. Conclude with lords prayer and final blessing
SIGNIFICANT PRACTICE AND THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY:
- Baptism is a visible sign of cleansing from sin and personal renewal for the candidate and by
association for the entire congregation.
INDIVIDUALS
- Initiation (body of
Christ, Christian
life, church)
- Access other rites
- Free from sin
- Reborn as a child
of God
- Share in Christian
heritage (sharing
actions of those in
the past; e.g.
Jesus time)

COMMUNITY
- Present a baptism
(welcome the new
adherent to the
church)
- Witness and take
part in church
activities (Sunday
mass and Easter
for adults)
- Sponsors/
Godparents (guide
the child in their
Christian life)

SIGNIFICANCE
- Central to beliefs and
ministry of Christianity
(opens doorways to
other sacraments)
- Necessary for
salvation ( Faith: Act
8:13, Repentance: Act
2:38)
- Allows participants to
participate in
life/death/ resurrection
of Jesus (Romans 6:4)
- Form part of body of
Christ (1 Cor 12:13)
- Cleansed from sins (1
Cor 6:11)

SYMBOLS
- Water
(cleansing)
- Oil
(anointing)
- White
clothing
(purity/new
life)
- Candle
(light of
Christ)

BELIEFS
- Know the
variants
(orthodox,
Pentecostal,
catholic)
- How the actions
link to the beliefs.

ORTHODOX CHURCH
- Initiation (infancy).
- Triple immersion.
- Anointing of forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, breast, hands and feet.
- Bread and wine for Eucharist.
PROTESTANT CHRISTIAN
- Initiation (adults).
- Total immersion.
- Only a person who can repent can be born again.
- Infants who do not understand enough to hold faith in Jesus in their own right cannot be
baptized.