Baptism The Universal Sacrament

Baptism is the one thing that unites all Christians, but there are a wide variety of views on Baptism. Some Christian Churches teach that Baptism forgives sins and make you a member of the Body of Christ, His Church. Other churches teach that baptism is just an outward sign of your inward change of heart and that you have decided to be a Christian. Some Churches teach that you should baptize your babies and others teach that you have to believe before you can be baptized so a baby has to wait until they are old enough to choose for themselves. Some churches teach that baptism has to be done with full submersion, commonly called dunking. Other Churches teach that baptism can be done by immersion, pouring water or sprinkling. Some Churches teach that baptism is only done in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Other churches teach baptism is done in the name of Jesus only or the Creator, the Redeemer and the Sanctifier.    

This is what the Bible teaches about Baptism. In 1st Peter chapter 3, we read “Just as Noah and his family were saved through water, Baptism now saves you. Not the removal of dirt but an appeal for a clean heart.” This shows that we are saved when we are Baptized, it is not just an outward symbol of an inward change of heart. It also shows that Baptism is not for removing dirt on the outside, so it does not have to be done through immersion. The water is a symbol of an inward cleansing.

At Pentecost, just 50 days after the resurrection of Jesus, in Acts chapter 2 verse 38 Peter tells the Jews, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Some protestant faith traditions use this quote to justify Baptizing in the name of Jesus only. Since Jesus specified in Matthew chapter 28 to Baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit we follow His formula. Peter refers to this Baptismal formula as the Baptism of Jesus. The next verse 39 says that this gift is for you and your children which is one of the reasons the early Christians baptized their infants. Verse 41 tells us that 3,000 were added that day to the Church, the Body of Christ. This shows that from the beginning, entrance into the Church is through Baptism, not asking Jesus to be your Personal Lord and Savior.

In Acts chapter 9 Ananias says to Paul, “Why do you wait, arise and be Baptized and wash away your sins.” This shows that Baptism really does forgive previous sin. In early Christian times, some people would put off their Baptism until they were near death so they could enter into Heaven without sin. The Church encouraged people to get Baptized early and live a holy life.

In Colossians 2:11–12 Paul links circumcision as the seal of the Old Testament with baptism as the seal of the New Testament. Jewish male babies did not have to accept the faith of their fathers to enter into covenant with God at 8 days old.  They were brought into the covenant based on the faith of their parents. The Jews also had ceremonial washing rituals to show purity before preforming certain acts on the behalf of God, so Baptism was not a new idea for them. In Ezekiel chapter 36 when the Jews were returning to Jerusalem, Ezekiel sprinkles them clean with water so that they will be worthy of living in God’s holy city again. He also tells them that he will put a new heart in them, just as our modern Baptism is an appeal for a clean heart.

There are many instances of preaching to adults in the New Testament, telling them they have to believe or have faith before baptism. This makes sense for adults. Children who receive baptism have no personal sin to repent of, but they do inherit the fallen nature of human beings from Adam and Eve who fell. Baptism is and initial source of Grace to help us live a holy life. In Acts chapter 10 Peter Baptizes Cornelius and his household. In Acts chapter 16 Paul Baptizes Lydia and her household. Both of these households would likely contain children because the Jews often lived in 2 or 3 generation households. It was natural for them to bring their babies into the Faith of the family. Baptism had an advantage over circumcision for the Jews because it allowed for girls and boys to enter into a covenant relationship with God.   

Around 70AD the earliest manual for Christianity, called the Didache, was written. The Didache specifies that Baptism is to be done in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It allows for Baptism in living (flowing) water, standing (warm or cold) water, or by pouring water on the head. The Didache does not require a person to be immersed in water. In 190AD Irenaeus, who learned the Faith from Polycarp who learned the Faith from the Apostle John, wrote that we Baptize infants. In 210AD Origen of Alexandria wrote that the baptism of infants is a tradition handed down to us by the Apostles. In 215AD Hippolytus of Rome wrote about baptizing infants as a standard practice of the Church. In 251AD at the Synod of Carthage they discussed baptizing infants and decided there was no need to wait until the 8th day. It was the heretical groups that wrote against infant baptism as the early Church was developing. It wasn’t until the 1600s that some Anabaptists started insisting on accepting the faith before Baptism. Baptism permanently marks you as a Christian and gives you an initial Grace to grow in holiness. It is up to the parents, God parents and the individual to continue to grow in holiness. The Faith of a Christian is a developing process not a onetime event.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about Baptism in paragraphs 1213 to 1284. Briefly it explains that Baptism forgives all previous sin and incorporates a person into the Body of Christ, His Church. The Catholic Church also teaches that we are born again through Baptism where we die to sin and put on Christ. The Church teaches that we are forever sealed by a spiritual mark showing that we belong to Christ. Baptism is done only once in a lifetime and makes us a sharer of the priesthood of Christ. Baptism can be done by anyone with intent to perform the Sacrament in an emergency. They have to use the Baptismal formula of Father, Son and Holy Spirit while dunking or pouring water 3 times.