When I was newly born, my parents took me to a Catholic Church, had a Priest pray over me as I was sprinkled with water blessed by the Church. I was subsequently considered to be baptized. This sacrament is a doorway into the Catholic faith, marking the beginning of a journey of Christian initiation. The ceremony is a holy sacrament and cleansing of the body by holy  water serves to allow that individual’s soul to enter heaven. Baptism is seen as a necessary step for salvation and a gateway to other sacraments. This practice is rooted in the belief that infants are born with original sin and require cleansing through baptism.

The Bible indicates that baptism, in general, symbolizes spiritual rebirth through union with Christ. A believer professes his death to sin and resurrection to spiritual life. As for most Christ followers, they come to a point in their faith in which they decide to publicly declare the belief that may have been chosen for them at birth. As for a water baptism, it is typically performed in front of a church body and it is a public symbolic declaration of their faith and obedience to God. 

The NIV bible commentary indicates that immersion was the most common form of baptism at that time in which Christians were completely immersed in water to symbolize the death and burial of the old life and a resurrection to life in Christ as the individual is coming out of the water. Water itself is symbolic in baptism. It is a tool that we use to purify our bodies. We wash our skin with water in the shower to purify it from bacteria, dirt, sweat, etc. The act of dunking our head under water shows the congregation of the church that we understand the importance of what Jesus Christ did for us, accepting the Holy Spirit, and following the lifestyle that God calls us to live. We understand that before we had God, we were impure and after God, we have become pure with him.

To baptize means to “immerse” in water. The one who is baptized is immersed into the death of Christ and rises with him as a “new creature” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  An individual enters the baptismal waters with sin, lowered into the water and then raised up into salvation. 

There is nothing special about baptismal waters. Yes, the waters may be blessed and as such provide a sacred stage for launching a holy life devoted to walking a Godly path. However, being in the water will not wash away sin. Even being prayed over does not, in itself, affect a successful baptism. The person being baptised must wholly believe his affirmation is being heard and celebrated by a loving God. And if there is any doubt that baptism will save your soul, then perhaps your actions are purely ceremonial. Baptism is an expression of faith, and therefore only for believers, which is why we shouldn’t  baptize infants, who are not able to believe.

 Most modern day religions do not practice infant baptism. For the denominations that do, it is understood that the practice is performed as a sacramental ceremony to lay the foundation for the child’s entry into the church. The parents or guardians are publicly declaring that this infant will be raised religiously and be taught within a certain religious dogma. 

I think it would be a mistake to say that water baptism, the actual going into water, is the means of our being united to Christ; it’s faith in Jesus — faith, the Holy Spirit-given ability to love and trust and treasure Christ. Baptism symbolises an identification with Christ in his death and resurrection.

There is nothing wrong about performing religiously ceremonial acts. Most religions are based heavily on ceremony and rituals.  Baptism is all about changing one’s life. When one is properly baptized for the right reasons, he or she literally has his or her past sins buried in the baptismal waters and rises out of the waters as a person dedicated to overcoming sin and being “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2)

Regardless of the denomination, baptism is designed to be a holy interaction of human and God. And God’s words from Matthew 28:19-20;  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

No mention of age, water or witnesses. In the final analysis, baptismal rebirth is a covenant between you and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I’m S.A.Bear and I approve this message