Baptism how does it work

Matthew , Acts Furthermore, the figures of speech used by the Apostle Paul accord well with immersion. Finally, the testimony of church history is that immersion was indeed the mode of baptism practiced in the early church.

Our Savior commands us to follow His example in all things, including baptism : Matthew says, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist was calling the Jewish people to confess their sins and demonstrate repentance through immersion in the Jordan River. Sinless Jesus joined the crowd at the river and asked John to baptize Him. The Lord chose to affiliate Himself with sinful man. When we follow His example in the waters of baptism, we're publicly confessing our faith in the Savior and identifying ourselves with Him.

Baptism allows us to demonstrate our connection with Jesus and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We're all members of one body under the authority of the same Lord.

But it's important to remember that Ephesians says faith in Jesus Christ is the only requirement for salvation, not baptism. But, to fulfill His command, we're to be baptized following our decision to accept Him into our lives. In Baptism, Jesus is speaking to the believer, to the assembled congregation, and to the watching world, identifying this person with himself in death, in burial, and in resurrection. And so in Baptism, what you have is a sign of an execution.

It's a sign of a drowning. This is the reason why, when Jesus is baptized, John the Baptist can't believe it. Jesus comes to him and says, "I want to be baptized by you," and John says, "No, no, no, I need be baptized by you.

Why is John so alarmed by this? Well, it's because of what he's doing with baptism. He's saying, "You're a bunch of snakes, you need to come under the judgment of God. Well, water is scary. The Catholic church, which is one of the largest churches in the world, recognizes baptism only when it is done with the Trinitarian formula.

This formula was laid out in the biblical text Matthew in which Jesus said, "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.

However, there are some religions who deny the trinity "the father, son and holy spirit" which baptize in the name of Jesus. They use the formula set out in the biblical book of Acts where Peter said "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" King James Version. Some of these religions are Unitarians, Branhamists and some factions of Jehovah Witnesses.

When infants are baptized the infant is often dressed in a christening gown or outfit all in white as a symbol of purity and taken to the churches officiate to be blessed with one of the incantations mentioned above and then the infant is either immersed in the baptismal font or sprinkled with water from it.

This proceeding is typically done with the mother and father of the infant as well as the godparents or Christian witnesses present. Godparents are the sponsors of the infant's baptism. A child or an adult who wished to be baptized does not need sponsors but may need a recommendation of church members before a baptism can take place.

Please log in with your username or email to continue. No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.

Fill the baptistry with warm water ahead of time. Ignore this part if you are not using a baptistry. Make sure the person wears appropriate clothing. Some churches have robes specifically designated for baptisms.

Tell the person to keep calm and avoid struggling. Since the feeling of falling backwards may cause the person to tense up or fight against you, warn them of this possibility ahead of time. Tell them to relax as much as possible and remember that you will be supporting them. Walk into the water. Get into the water first, and have the person who is being baptized follow you. Most of the time, you will stand facing the audience and the person being baptized will face sideways.

Position yourself so your chest is next to their shoulder. In some situations, the person being baptized may face the audience. You should still stand at their side, so you can properly support them. Part 2. Ask them to repeat after you as you say the confession.

Break the confession into small phrases, which the person being baptized will repeat after you say them. Speak slowly and enunciate each word. The person may be nervous if they are in front of a crowd, so it is important that they clearly hear what you want them to say.

Speak each word fully so they can understand it. Use a slow, calm voice to fit the seriousness of the situation. Using such potent symbols as water, oil, and fire, Baptism is a powerful sacrament that washes away original sin and its effects.

It gives us a new identity, connects us to a new community of believers, initiates us into a new way of living, and provides a clear mission in life. Baptism has meaning on many levels. Since then, Baptism has been the ordinary means of becoming a member of the Church. Think of the long line of people before you—parents, grandparents, and spiritual ancestors—who were welcomed into the Church at Baptism. Baptism is a sacrament of initiation, cleansing, strengthening, and welcoming.

Baptism welcomes us into the community of Christian believers. It offers us a new life in which we become the adopted children of God, followers of Christ, and temples in which the Holy Spirit dwells.