Baptism Flashcards
What is Baptism?
The initiation rite by which a person formally becomes a member of the church, as they are acknowledged as a child of God and receive God’s saving grace. The sins of the person are forgiven and they enter a new life with Jesus Christ.
Why is Jesus’ Baptism important?
Jesus’ Baptism is important because of how it set an example for his followers to be baptised in order to begin a new life in the Christian community.
What is an infant baptism?
A ritual through which babies and young children become members of the Church, where their promises are taken on their behalf by adults. The infant is freed from sin and introduced into a new life of saving love from God.
What happens at an infant baptism?
- The priest welcomes child at door of the Church and the service takes place around the font, (a basin containing holy water.)
- The child is presented in a white garment to show purity and peace.
- Parents and God Parents answer questions promising to guide and keep the child in God’s faith.
- The Priests says “I baptise you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” as a sign that the original sin has been washed away.
- water is poured from font onto forehead. sign of cross is made on forehead with oil
- A baptism candle is lit and presented to the child as a sign of Jesus, who is the “light of the world”.
What happens at a Believer’s Baptism?
person wears white - symbolises purity and peace, person gives testimony of their faith towards Jesus as their personal saviour
they are fully immersed into a pool of water - symbolises cleansing from sin and the rising up to new life with Christ as the priest says “In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit, I baptise you.”
Why are people against infant baptism?
- the idea of cleansing sin doesn’t make sense for a baby
- Jesus himself was baptised as an adult
- no consent from child to join church/forced to join
- the decision to live life dedicated to Jesus saves a person, not baptism
why are people For infant baptism?
- it enables them the child to receive the other sacraments
- if a newborn is unlikely to survive, it comforts the parents to know that the child has become part of the Christian family before dying
- baby more likely to practice and stay within christian faith
Importance of Baptism
- welcomes person into christian community, making it possible to receive other sacraments later
- cleanses person from original sin
- person becomes united with Christ as a child of God
- imitates jesus’ baptism by John
