Baptism
Pouring, dunking, sprinkling. What is baptism all about? The idea of ceremonial
washing or cleansing appears repeatedly in the Mosaic laws of purification.
Later Judaism incorporated this meaning of cleansing and purification
into its idea of the new covenant relationship and used baptism as a rite
of initiation. John the Baptist transformed baptism from a rite to a positive
moral act. For him it was a sign of repentance and purification from sins.
Today, there
are many understandings of the meaning of baptism. But it is something
that the church has practiced from the beginning. Jesus Christ commanded
his disciples to baptize new believers to signify their commitment to
him. In the book of Acts, people were baptized as soon as they heard and
believed the message about Jesus.
Baptism is a response
to faith in Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:19
Mark 16:16
Acts 2:38; 8:12
1 Peter 3:21
John the Baptist baptizes Jesus.
Matthew 3:13-17
Mark 1:9-11
Luke 3:21-22
John1:31-34
The church baptizes its members
Matthew 28:18-20
Acts 2:14; 16:31-33
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