Baptism: The Gateway to the Christian Life.

Definition: Baptism is a the first sacrament of Initiation through which a person is freed from original sin, made a Christian, becomes a member of the church, and is made a child of God. 

It is an outward sign of inward grace instituted by Christ, where water is used with the words:

"I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

 It is the first sacrament of the Church and the door to the other sacraments.

Institution of Baptism. 

The institution of Baptism means the moment when Jesus Christ made Baptism a Sacrament, giving it divine power to cleanse sins and give new life in the Holy Spirit. 

Baptism was instituted by Our Lord Jesus Christ. Though baptism was practiced symbolically before Jesus.

Long before Christ, water was used in Jewish tradition for ritual pruification. It was a symbolic cleansing to prepare people spiritually or physically. 

Before Baptism became a sacrament, water was already used in the Old Testament for ritual purification. It symbolized cleansing and preparation for worship. 

Bible Reference:  

- “Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water.” (Leviticus 8:6)  

- “Let him bathe himself in water and then he may come into the camp.” (Leviticus 16:26)

Even John the Baptist baptized people with water as a sign of repentance, but his baptism was not yet a sacrament.

It does not give grace or remove original sin. 

Bible Reference:  

 “I baptize you with water for repentance…” (Matthew 3:11a)

It became a sacrament (a means of grace) only after Jesus gave it divine power and command. 

Baptism was instituted after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, shortly before His Ascension into heaven.

It was instituted on a mountain in Galilee, where Jesus appeared to His apostles and gave them the command to baptize.

Bible Reference (Main Verse):  

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Biblical foundation:

 - Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  

  → This is known as The Great Commission, where Jesus directly commands the apostles to baptize.

- Mark 16:16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved…”

- John 3:5 – “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”  

  → Jesus affirms the spiritual power of baptism to bring about new birth.