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xozhorse
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Historical foundations
- Prophet John baptised Jesus
- Disciples baptised followers
- Jesus baptised folloers
- Jessus commanded followers to baptise people (Acts, Paul's epistles)
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Method
- Full immersion
- part immersion
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Baptiser
Varies between denominations
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Symbolism
- Identification - of the believer with Christ and the holy trinity
- Initiation - signifies initiation into the Christian faith and community
- Burial and resurection - symbolises the death of the old life and a resurrection in Christ. Seen by most denominations as necessary for salvation
- Bath - act of cleansing the conscience before God
- Obedient Act - turning from slefishness and placing the pride, past and possessions in Jesus Christ. Great commission commands followers to baptise people
- Public testimony - outward confession of an inward experience
- Spirit's gifting - giving of the Holy Spirit during gifting
- Imitation of the practice of Jesus and the early Church
- Expression of faith - in a physical right that has spiritual significance
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Timing
- Adult - baptised of own volition
- Infant - decision made by parents
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How does the practice express the beleifs of Christianity
- Ancient origins
- Jesus' baptism
- water the central symbol
- water and the spirit
- repentance
- body of Christ
- Early Church
- Symbols and ritual actions
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Ancient Origins
Baptism predates Christianity (Jewish groups and John the baptist)
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Jesus' baptism
accepted the baptism of John and instructed his disciples to baptise followers
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Water the central symbol
- Reflects the belief of God and creator and source of life
- Allusion to the waters of chaos in Genesis and the parting of the Red Sea
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Water and the spirit
water is representative of the womb and symbolic of rebirth in God
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Repentence
Belief that baptism is a renouncing of sin
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Body of Christ
A believer is baptised into the Church (the body of Christ) and is thus able to experience the resurrection more fully
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Early Church
Early Church believed that baptism was necessary for repentence and is still practiced today
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Symbols
Symbols include - the cross, water, oil (to annoint), white garment, baptismal candle
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Significance for the individual
- Individual walks the path of all Christians since the origin of the Church
- An opportunity for prayerful reflection and spiritual development
- Necessary for salvation
- The individual is welcomed into the body of Christ
- Rite of passage - transition of one stage of life to the next
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Significance for the Christian community
- Perpetuating the tradition of the historic church
- Baptism prompts constant reflection and renewal of the community's baptismal promises
- marks the entry of a new member into the church
- the process of preparing and supporting a person through baptism invigorates the community
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