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BAPTISM

The sacrament of

There is ONE LORD ONE FAITH ONE BAPTISM

(Eph 4:5)

Many Christians are convinced that baptism performed by pouring water over the person being baptized is invalid. They say: (liklik wara em I no inap). Immediately the question arises, is such a statement biblical.

Where does the Bible say that pouring water over the person being baptized is incorrect?Where does it say that pouring water over the person being baptized makes baptism invalid? Sorry, there is no such a biblical reference. On the contrary in the Book of Ezekiel God says: ‘I will sprinkle a clean water upon you and you shall be clean ‘ (Ezek 36:25).

So, to baptize a person by pouring water upon him/her is biblical, is perfectly correct.

After Pentecost, 3000 people were baptized in Jerusalem in one day. There is no river in the city of Jerusalem. The only correct explanation is: that they were baptized by pouring water over them.Saint Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians says: there is only one Lord, one faith, and one baptism (Ep 4:5). Since baptism by pouring water upon the person is perfectly all right, so there is no need for a second baptism later on.

Some Christians would still insist that the only true baptism is performed by immersion. As a proof they quote the text from St Mark that Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan by immersion.

The first Christian - the first Catholics knew how Christ was baptized. The message is passed on in the Catholic Church that Jesus stood in the water Jordan up to His knees and John the Baptizer poured water over Christ’s head. That message is being kept in the Catholic Church for almost 2000 years. It is called the Apostolic Tradition. In the third century in the Catacomb of St. Callicstus there was a picture painted on the wall (it remains till today) the picture of Christ being baptized. It is very clearly shown that Jesus stands in water up to His knees and John is pouring water over Christ’s head.

Christians following the Bible alone simply don’t know how Christ was baptized. To say that Christ was baptized by immersion is to put human opinions in to the holy text of the Bible. In another words it is a violation done to the Holy Scripture. The members of the small denominations are convinced that Christ teaches about second baptism, about being ‘born again’ (Jn 3:3-6). To insist on having second baptism is a complete misunderstanding of that particular text: Christ told Nicodemus to be born of water and the Spirit, in another words to be baptized. He didn’t say to Nicodemus to be baptized again. To insist that Jesus told Nicodemus to be baptized again is simply a private and false opinion.

You may play a video clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAJHKtqaKMw&t=12s

INFANT BAPTISM

Some people are convinced that babies should not be baptized. According to them, baptism is only for those who believe (Mk 16:16).

But in the second part of verse 16, Mark says:‘ but the one who does not believe will be condemned’. Babies are not suitable to be judged. It is obvious that the words ‘but the one who does not believe will be condemned’ (Mk 16:16) are not written about little children but about grown up people only, the ones who are able to stand before court.

In one of his Psalms, king David wrote: ‘ Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me ( Ps 51:5). Only water of baptism can remove the stain of the original sin. The baptism makes a person born again (Jn 3:3-5).

The Book of Revelation says: nothing unclean will enter the City of God (Rev 21:27). Baptism make babies clean and enables them to enter eternal happiness in heaven.

The Jews circumcise men in order to make them members of God’s chosen people. They do there same with every male child of the their family. The mail child has to be circumcised on the 8th day from his birth (Lk 2:21).

Saint Paul in his Letter to the Colossi says: that baptism took place of the circumcision (Co 2:11-12). The Church follows the words of Saint Paul and baptizes babies.

The Apostles baptized children. It is clearly presented by the Apostolic Fathers, the ones who follow the Apostles themselves.

Saint Irenaeus (died in the year 202 A.D.) wrote about infant baptism: He [Jesus] came to save all through himself- all, I say, who through him are reborn in God: infants and children and youth and old men ([Irenaeus A.D.189] Against heresies 2;22;4).

Saint Hippolitus (died in the year 235 A.D.) speaks the same words: Baptize first children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise let their parents or other relatives speak for them (The Apostolic Tradition 21:16 [A.D. 215]).

Origen (died in the year 254 A.D.) speaks: The Church received from the Apostles the tradition of giving baptism even to infants. The Apostles to whom were committed the secrets of divine sacraments, knew there is in everyone innate strains of [original] sin, which must be washed away through water and the Spirit (Commentaries on Romans 5:9;A.D 248).

There is only one true God and there is only one baptism as the Bible says: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism… (Ep 4:5).

When a child is baptized, it becomes a true member of God’s family. The original sin is washed away. There is no need for another baptism later on. There is no other baptism.

You may play a video clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMOw56HAsPA&t=19s