The Meaning and Significance of Baptism for Christians Today

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The Meaning and Significance of Baptism for Christians Today

There are different types of baptism and different churches carry out

the procedure in different ways. The Orthodox and Catholic Church

baptise as infants, whereas the Methodist, Baptist and Pentecostal

Church baptise as adults. Most Christian traditions encourage baptism.

It is seen and thought of as a way of entering God’s family and

joining the Christian faith. It is also seen as important because when

water is poured over a babies head or an adult is immersed, it is

showing that their sins are being washed away and people are baptised

into the death of Jesus – meaning that a Christian shares in death and

resurrection of Jesus by dying to sin and rising to new life as a

Christian.

Baptism is an outer sign of inner change. The outer sign is the

celebration afterwards and the Anointment with the Oil of Catechumens

and the inner change is the first sacrament in which you are deciding

and choosing to believe in God and follow in Jesus’ footsteps.

When a Baby is baptised it is called an ‘Infant Baptism’, it is done

to rid the child of ‘Original Sin’ and so that the child can grow up

in the Christian Faith and be forgiven for any sins they commit

throughout their life. The decision for a child’s baptism is up to the

parents, but as an adult it is one’s choice. A ‘Believers Baptism’ is

the name given to the baptism of an adult. The reason for baptism and

for choosing Christianity is a symbol that the person wants to change

spiritually.

Being baptised as an adult shows your commitment and dedication to

God, it shows that you are ready to begin your spiritual vocation and

you are ready to start a life long journey into Christianity. When

Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan it was the start of his

vocation, from the day he was baptised he started to spread the word

of God.

There are several reasons for baptism, many of which come from the

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