The Sacrament of Baptism and The Sacrament of Baptism and John the BaptistJohn the Baptist

“ “"As for me, I baptize you with water for "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.and fire.””

Matthew: 3-11Matthew: 3-11

Who was John the Baptist?Who was John the Baptist?

John was the son of Elizabeth and John was the son of Elizabeth and ZachariaZacharia

In the Bible, Jesus’ mother Mary went In the Bible, Jesus’ mother Mary went to visit Elizabeth and when she saw to visit Elizabeth and when she saw Mary John “leapt in her womb”Mary John “leapt in her womb”

John was portrayed as a wanderer John was portrayed as a wanderer whose acts became so famous, people whose acts became so famous, people asked if he was the Messiahasked if he was the Messiah

Who was John the Baptist?Who was John the Baptist?

John baptized many in his life but John baptized many in his life but most significantlymost significantly, , he baptized he baptized Jesus in the river JordanJesus in the river Jordan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1tmTP5Jfb8 4:36mins

Who was John the Baptist?Who was John the Baptist?

John openly challenged the Roman John openly challenged the Roman ruler of the area at the time, Herodruler of the area at the time, Herod

As a result, As a result, Herod had him imprisoned Herod had him imprisoned and beheadedand beheaded

John was portrayed as a wanderer John was portrayed as a wanderer whose acts became so famous, people whose acts became so famous, people asked if he was the Messiahasked if he was the Messiah

The Sacrament of BaptismThe Sacrament of Baptism

“ “Praised be the God and Father of Praised be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, he who in his our Lord Jesus Christ, he who in his great mercy gave us new birth; a great mercy gave us new birth; a birth unto hope which draws its life birth unto hope which draws its life from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; a birth to an from the dead; a birth to an imperishable inheritance, incapable imperishable inheritance, incapable of fading or defilement, which is kept of fading or defilement, which is kept in heaven for you who are guarded in heaven for you who are guarded with God’s power through faith; a with God’s power through faith; a birth to a salvation which stands birth to a salvation which stands ready to be revealed in the last ready to be revealed in the last days.”days.”

1 Peter: 3-5.1 Peter: 3-5.

Baptismal font: used in the Catholic Church to administer the rite of baptism

What is Baptism?What is Baptism?Baptism is a Sacrament of Baptism is a Sacrament of Christian initiationChristian initiation – The word originates from the The word originates from the

Greek word “baptein” Greek word “baptein” meaning “to dip”meaning “to dip”

– The rite is performed with The rite is performed with water, representing water, representing cleansing and puritycleansing and purity

– Most religions regard Most religions regard baptism as a sacrament but baptism as a sacrament but some only see it as an some only see it as an ordinance or a riteordinance or a rite

History of BaptismHistory of BaptismBaptism Baptism originated from the Jewish originated from the Jewish ritual of Mikvahritual of Mikvah

In the Catholic faith, Baptism is the In the Catholic faith, Baptism is the sacrament by which we are freed sacrament by which we are freed from “original sin”, which we from “original sin”, which we believe we are all born with as a believe we are all born with as a result of Adam and Eve falling from result of Adam and Eve falling from gracegrace

It is for this reason, that It is for this reason, that we baptize we baptize our members when they are our members when they are infantsinfants, other faiths sometimes , other faiths sometimes believe that you are not capable of believe that you are not capable of sin until you are an adult so they sin until you are an adult so they waitwait

Original SinOriginal Sin

God created man in his image God created man in his image and established him in his and established him in his friendship. A spiritual creature, friendship. A spiritual creature, man can live this friendship only man can live this friendship only in free submission to God in free submission to God

Man, tempted by the devil, let his Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart trust in his Creator die in his heart and, abusing his freedom, and, abusing his freedom, disobeyed God's command. This disobeyed God's command. This was man’s first, or “original” sin.was man’s first, or “original” sin.

Original Sin & Original HolinessOriginal Sin & Original Holiness

When Adam and Eve sinned When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden by in the Garden of Eden by their disobedience, they lost their disobedience, they lost the sanctifying grace with the sanctifying grace with which they had been blessed which they had been blessed when they were created.when they were created.

We inherit their fallen state, We inherit their fallen state, and are born without that and are born without that sanctifying grace.sanctifying grace.

Why is Baptism Necessary?Why is Baptism Necessary?The Lord himself affirms that The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for Baptism is necessary for salvationsalvation..

– ““Amen, amen, I say to you, no one Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, 'You must be amazed that I told you, 'You must be born from above.‘”born from above.‘”

– John 3:5-7John 3:5-7

The Church does not know of any The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal life.assures entry into eternal life.

Baptism and the Baptism and the Holy TrinityHoly Trinity

Jesus also commanded Jesus also commanded his disciples to baptize all his disciples to baptize all nations in the name of the nations in the name of the TrinityTrinity

– Go, therefore, and make Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name baptizing them in the name of of the Father, and of the the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy SpiritSon, and of the holy Spirit, , teaching them to observe teaching them to observe all that I have commanded all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of you always, until the end of the age." the age."

– Matt. 28:19-20Matt. 28:19-20

What are the What are the EffectsEffects of Baptism? of Baptism?

The two principal The two principal effects of Baptism effects of Baptism are:are:

– purification from sins purification from sins

– and new birth in the and new birth in the Holy SpiritHoly Spirit. .

Rite of Passage in the ChurchRite of Passage in the Church

You are only baptized You are only baptized onceonce

Baptism makes us Baptism makes us members of the Church. members of the Church.

We belong now to Christ.We belong now to Christ.

We are called to serve We are called to serve others.others.

We enjoy rights within the We enjoy rights within the ChurchChurch

““Let the Children come to me . . . For the Kingdom Let the Children come to me . . . For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”of Heaven belongs to such as these.”

On a piece of paper answer the following question.

What does your baptism mean to you?