Baptism all started due to the baptism of Jesus.

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

PART 1

Baptism all started due to the baptism of Jesus. Jesus was immersed in water, which leads to water being used in Infant and Believers’ baptism. Jesus received the Holy Spirit and began his mission, so other people give up their old life and gain a new life to, in a way, start their own mission. This gaining of new life would be symbolised as dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ.

In an infant’s baptism the person is baptised on the basis of the faith of the parents and godparents. In a believer’s baptism, the person already believes in God. The sacrament of baptism unites the majority of the Christian churches. It acts as a solid foundation in the seeking of unity between all Christians.

Some Christian churches such as the Catholic Church practise both while other churches only recognise adult baptism. This is because it is the original form and was used by Jesus.

Infant baptism is the most common in the Christian Church today. Infant baptism was first used in the third century. Parents want to put their children through Infant baptism so that they will be raised as Christians. Babies are usually baptised at this age because baptism is the sacrament of initiation and it seems natural.

The baby receives the sign of new life by depending on adults. When a person comes to be baptised they will have water poured over their head by the priests who say these special words, “I baptise you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” This is the main sacramental sign of baptism.

A second sign is that a cross is marked on the person. Christians believed that these signs could not be wiped away. This means that they now belong to God.

INFANT BAPTISM

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A second sign is that a cross is marked on the person. Christians believed that these signs could not be wiped away. This means that they now belong to God.

INFANT BAPTISM

Infant baptism is also known as a Christening. At this service, the baby, the parents, the celebrant, the godparents, along with the congregation will attend. The baby is welcomed to the church. The parents and godparents are asked if they are prepared to bring up the child in the Christian Faith. They all agree together with the congregation. The priest prays for the child and asks for God’s blessing, he then sprinkles water over the child. The priest may make the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead. Sometimes the parents and godparents hold candles to signify God’s light on the child’s life.

BELIEVER’S BAPTISM

This form of baptism is due to the person’s choice,

So they undertake all the promises of commitment to God for themselves. In this baptism people were baptised by an immersion. The baptism service will begin with a call to worship, followed by hymn, prayer and bible reading. The person may then explain why they have given their life to Christ. Then another bible reading and a prayer follow which gives thanks to God and which asks for God’s blessing on the candidate. The candidate is then asked questions about their beliefs and commitment. The candidate answers ‘yes’ and this is their declaration of faith. The candidate is completely immersed in water, which is usually in a pool called the baptistery. He/She says aloud ‘Jesus is Lord’ to show their belief in Jesus. The ‘laying on of hands’ on the candidate’s head follows after, while further words call the candidate to a life in God’s service. The service concludes with a celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

Water is used and hands are placed on the candidates’ head in both of these baptisms.

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PART 2

Baptism allows the grace of God to enter our lives. This ‘grace’ is a way of describing God’s kindness and love for us in offering us happiness, joy and life forever, even though we have not earned them. God’s grace also allows us to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus was at His baptism.

Baptism is a symbol of a transformation that has, is and will continue to take place. This transformation is turning away from sin and trying to live our life based on the example of Jesus. We give up our old life and start a new one. This transformation also removes original sin, which is something that blocks us from God and prevents us from living our lives the way we want to.

Some Christians believe that not everyone will feel transformed after going through the ceremony of baptism.

All Christians believe that baptism is sacred or holy. The washing away of sin and the beginning of a new life are symbolised by the washing of the water. The person who is baptised is taking on the life of a Christian and is trying to have permanent worship of God and also tries to become more like Christ, as there is more love, service and righteousness involved. Baptism is a once-only ceremony as its effects are permanent.

Through baptism, a person becomes a member of the Church. This is a quote from St. Paul’s first letter to Corinth where he expresses this thought.

“For Christ is like a single body with its many limbs and organs, which, many as they are, together make up one body. For indeed we were all brought into one body by baptism, in the one spirit, whether we are Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free men, and that one Holy Spirit was poured out for all of us to drink.”

(1 Corinthians 12:13)

Another title for the church would be ‘The Body of Christ’. St. Paul also indicates that baptism is for everyone or there is no difference between people who are a different nationality, have a different income or intelligence or anything different at all. God sees people as all being equal; all people can be members of the fellowship at the church.

Mark says that baptism is by water and in the Bible water is symbolic of two ideas, water is life (i.e. salvation) and water is suffering and death. Jesus asks James and John

“Can you…be baptised with the baptism

I am baptised with”

(10:38)

This clearly shows that Jesus considered baptism to be an immersion in the waters of suffering which was to be with passion and death. Christians believe that both these themes of life and death, and salvation and suffering are present in the sacrament of baptism. Through baptism, Christians believe that a person is freed from sin and enters into a new life with God. Suffering and death give way to life with God, which is salvation.

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PART 3

Baptizing Babies is Pointless

When a child is baptized he/she grows up as a Christian and into a Christian family. Throughout their life they learn about God and understand Gods love for them.

As we look at the New Testament we see that there is no evidence of children being refused baptism so obviously it should be allowed to continue.

Infant baptism has been around since the third century and there is evidence of children being baptized in the early church.

When a child is baptized he/she still has to take on the responsibility for the faith our parents gave us when we reach adulthood so whether we become a proper Christian or not still depends on our own decision.

However, it could be that a person should only be baptized when they can make a personal commitment to Christ as an adult. The Baptist Church only baptizes adults and does not perform infant baptism. Even though we do not see any evidence in the New Testament of children being refused baptism, we only hear of adults being baptized in it. Also, some people who are baptized as a child may not act like a proper Christian or lead a proper Christian life; they may even leave the Church when they are adults.

I think that infant baptism should be stopped because the person who receives the sacrament of baptism at a young age has not made the decision for themselves and is doing so on the basis of their parents faith. As this person grows older they may fade away from the church and could possibly leave it. This shows that they may not be brought up as true Christians.