Explain the Meaning and Significance of Baptism for Christians Today

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                G.C.S.E RE Coursework – Question 1

Explain 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.

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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 ...

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