Baptism...
Baptism:
A Sacrament by which a person is cleansed of all sin, by water, and by
the Word of GOD. In Baptism sin goes out and GOD comes in.
"Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway
to life in the Spirit..., and the door which gives access to the other
sacraments." CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) 1213.
In Baptism, we become the sons and daughters of GOD.
Typology
of Baptism, prefigurements from the Old Testament...
The Lord said to Moses, "Take
the Levites from among the Israelites and purify them. This is what you
shall do to them to purify them. Sprinkle them with the water
of remission; then have them shave their whole
bodies and wash their clothes, and so purify themselves." Num 8:5-6
"Any unclean man who fails to have himself purified shall be cut off
from the community, because he defiles the sanctuary of the Lord. As long
as the lustral water
has not been splashed over him, he remains unclean. This
shall be a perpetual ordinance for you."
Num 19:20-21
"Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; wash
me, and I shall be made whiter than snow."
Psalms 51:9
"Wash your heart
from wickedness, O Jerusalem, that you may be saved." Jer 4:14
"For I will take you from among the Gentiles, and will gather you
together out of all the countries, and I will bring you into your own land.
And I will pour upon you clean water, and
you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness, and I will cleanse you
from all your idols. And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit
within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh. And
I will put My Spirit in the midst of you, and I will cause you to walk
in My Commandments, and to keep My judgments and to do them."
Ezek 36:24-27
"...And I will save them out of all the places in which they have
sinned, and I will cleanse them,
and they shall be My people, and I will be their GOD." Ezek 37:23
"In that day there shall be a fountain open to the house of David,
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; for the
washing of the sinner, and of the unclean
woman." Zech 13:1
The
first mention of Baptism in the New Testament is in the story of John the
Baptist...
"...and they were Baptized by him in the Jordan." Matt 3:6
However,
the Baptism by St. John was not yet a Christian Baptism, which began after
the Resurrection of Christ. It was a Baptism of repentance.
"I indeed baptize you with water, for repentance. But He who is coming
after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to bear. He
will baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire."
Matt 3:11
"If anyone thirst, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in
Me, as the Scripture says, From within Him there shall flow rivers of living
water." He said this, however, of the Spirit whom they who believed
in Him were to receive; FOR THE SPIRIT HAD NOT YET BEEN GIVEN, SINCE JESUS
HAD NOT YET BEEN GLORIFIED. John 7:37-39
And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became
believers?" But they said to him, "We have not even heard that
there is a Holy Spirit." And he said, "How then were you baptized?"
They said, "With John's baptism." Then Paul said, "John
baptized the people with a baptism of repentance, telling them to believe
in Him who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus;" Acts 19:2-5
What
Church Fathers had to say about the Baptism by St. John...
"Even the Lord Himself said that unless He first ascended to the Father,
the Spirit would not otherwise descend (John 16:7). Thus, what the Lord
was not yet conferring, certainly the servant was not able to supply. Accordingly,
we find afterwards in the Acts of the Apostles that those who had the Baptism
of John had not received the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-5)." Tertullian,
Baptism, 10:4
"Know then, my beloved, that the Baptism of John was of no value for
the forgiveness of sins, but for repentance." Aphraates, Treatises,
12:10
"I ask then, if the Baptism of John remitted sins, what more could
the Baptism of Christ do for those whom the Apostle Paul wanted to be baptized
with the Baptism of Christ after they had received the Baptism of John?
(Acts 19:4-5)" St. Augustine, Baptism, 5:10:12
"...but those of whom John baptized, were they not baptized again?"
St. Augustine, Homilies on John, 5:18
It
is to be noted that the same holds true for the Baptisms given by the Apostles
also before the resurrection. It was not until Acts 2:3-4, when the Apostles
received the Holy Spirit, that they were able to perform the Baptism of
Christ.
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you shall be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria
and even to the very ends of the earth." Acts 1:8.
"And there appeared to them parted tongues as of fire, which settled
upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began
to speak in foreign tongues, even as the Holy Spirit prompted them to speak."
Acts 2:3-4.
Soon
after the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles began Baptizing the
people...
"But Peter said to them, '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'." Acts 2:38
"Now they who received his word were baptized, and there were added
that day about three thousand." Acts 2:41.
"And now why do you delay? Get up and be Baptized and wash away your
sins, calling on His name." Acts 22:16
Where
is the authorization for Baptism?
"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."
Matt 28:19
Q.
Who can Baptize?
A.
Anyone who has the right intention to do what the Church does and
has the use of reason.
Q.
Who can be Baptized?
A.
Anyone who has not been Baptized and who has the right intention. Anyone
can be Baptized conditionally if there is doubt.
Q.
What is the proper way to Baptize?
A.
"The essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate
in water or pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation
of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
The Catechism of the Catholic Church...CCC-1278
Questions
I have received regarding Baptism. My answers
are in dark red.
Baptism
by immersion, I believe, is the only valid Baptism. After all, the very
word Baptism, is taken from the Greek word 'baptizo' which means 'to dip'.
Why doesn't the Catholic Church Baptize by immersion?
Yes you are right that the Greek word 'baptizo'
(also 'baptisma', and 'baptismos' for baptism) means to dip. However, it
also means to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to MAKE CLEAN
WITH WATER, to wash ones self, or to bathe. If you wish to use the word
'dip' as the only meaning of baptism, then to 'dip' ones hand or foot in
the water would be correct also. Is the purpose of Baptism to clean our
bodies by immersion, or to 'make clean' our souls and make them pleasing
to GOD, by the removal of original sin?
The Catholic Church does Baptize by immersion when requested, see CCC-1278.
Not all Catholic Churches have the facilities to Baptize by immersion,
so you might have to go to a Church which does.
Now, why do you ask this? Is it because Jesus Christ was Baptized by immersion?
If so, then I will have to say, He was crucified too before He arose into
heaven. Does that mean we have to be crucified also before we can enter
heaven? Show me in the Bible where every time a Baptism was performed,
it was said it was done by immersion? Show me where Jesus Christ was immersed?
Scripture says He came up from the water, Matt 2:16, Mark 1:10. It does
not say He was immersed. Throughout Scripture it says Baptize with water.
Never does it say Baptize immersed in water. Jesus Christ said in John
3:5, "...unless a man be born again of water..." Again He did
not say, "born again Immersed in water".
T he
"Didache" was the teachings of the Apostles. Here is how they
performed early Baptisms...
CHAPTER 7:
7:1 But concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: having
first recited all these precepts, baptize in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water;
7:2 but if thou hast not running water, baptize
in some other water, and if thou canst not baptize in cold, in warm water;
7:3 but if thou hast neither, pour water three times
on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
7:4 But before the baptism, let him who baptizeth
and him who is baptized fast previously, and any others who may be able.
And thou shalt command him who is baptized to fast one or two days before.
Notice that the Apostles made no mention of "Baptism by Immersion"
in this document. The entire "Didache" may be found elsewhere
on this website.
The
Catholic Church Baptizes infants. Show me the Biblical authority to do
this?
Where does it say in Holy Scripture, "Do
not Baptize infants"? Show me the Biblical authority NOT to Baptize
infants?
Jesus Christ said in Matt 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..."
He did not say adults only did he? Did he ever put an age limit to receive
Baptism?
Acts 22:16, "and now WHY DO YOU DELAY? Get up and be Baptized and
wash away your sins, calling on his name."
So why do you delay in Baptizing your children?
Acts 2:38, But Peter said to them, "Repent and be Baptized EVERY ONE
OF YOU..."
I would say that verse would include everyone, including infants and children
of all ages. Peter did not say to leave your infants at home.
Acts 16:15, "And when she and her household had been Baptized..."
Did her household have infants maybe? Did Luke say "everyone in her
household except infants"?
1Cor 1:16, "I Baptized also the household of Stephanas..."
Did Paul say "everyone except infants"?
Luke 3:21, "Now it came to pass when ALL THE PEOPLE HAD BEEN BAPTIZED..."
Aren't infants part of "all the people"?
Jesus Christ said in Matt 19:14, "Let the little children be, and
do not hinder them from coming to me."
He also said in John 3:5, "...unless a man be born again of water
and the Spirit HE CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
How are they to come to Him unless they are Baptized?
Those who say not to Baptize infants clearly have a Biblical conflict here,
and they risk the salvation of the souls of their children.
The baptism of the New Testament makes a man a Christian, and baptism saves,
Acts 2:38,
Rom 6:4, 1Pet 3:21. The 'type' of baptism in the Old Testament was circumcision,
which made a man a Jew. Circumcision had to be done early in life, on the
eighth day of birth.
"He that is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male
throughout your generations..." Gen 17:12
Eight days old and every male, certainly does include infants, does it
not?
"When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him as
GOD had commanded him."
Gen 21:4
"And when eight days were fulfilled for his circumcision, his name
was called Jesus..."
Luke 2:21
Where in the Old Testament does it say NOT to circumcise infants?
Once again, where does it say in Scripture NOT to Baptize infants?
Compiled by
Bob Stanley, October 25, 1999
Updated, January 11, 2000
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