2007-02-12 15:56:57 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Baptism is a symbol of new birth. We are baptized into the death and Resurrection of Christ. Some churches feel the experience that they call being "born again" is more important than Baptism. But Baptism is the most important sacrament of the Church and it is the instrument that makes you 'born again'. Your sins up to that point are washed away, including the sin that was passed on by Adam and Eve call 'original sin'.
2007-02-12 16:03:09 · answer #1 · answered by tonks_op 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Baptism is a sacrament that replaces circumcision, and points to forgiveness of sins, an ingrafting into Christ, and participation in His blessings. Match the death/cleansing symbols to it any way you like.
2007-02-12 16:11:30 · answer #2 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Baptism is a symbol of the cleansing of sin. Just like washing your hand if they are dirty, baptism is a symbolic washing of the soul so that it is clean of sin.
2007-02-12 16:00:28 · answer #3 · answered by bionicbabe2005 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A rebirth in the spiritual waters, actually. The ancient rivers are Goddesses to the ppls that lived around them, like Mother Ganges and the Nile. You are immersed, hold your breath, and then burst out into life anew, and are Her child. It was an pre-Xain practice from many older traditions, usually for Her priest/esses, rather than the flock. Xians continued the practice, with the Christos as it's first ceramony, as the first High Priest and coming forth from the Mother as Her Son. The Ancients would have reacted very favourably to the symbolism...
2007-02-12 16:05:14 · answer #4 · answered by treycapnerhurst 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a symbol of belonging to the family of Christ - of being a Christian. It can symbolize the "washing away" of original sin, but it is the grace given throught Baptism that does this, not the water. You can also think of being born again in Christ, such that you are dead to your former self but alive again in Christ.
2007-02-12 16:07:39 · answer #5 · answered by laity1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
catholics understand baptism as the cleansing of the original sin, the only sin you are born with. The original sin was the one commited by eve by eating the forbbiden apple.
2007-02-12 16:03:47 · answer #6 · answered by black_pepper712 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both actually. It's a symbolic statement of faith. It says to everyone else that you believe that Jesus died (going into the water) and the he rose from the dead (coming up). It also says that you are now endevoring to become like Christ. Putting your sins and former self to death (going under) and then arising as a new creation in Jesus Christ.
2007-02-12 16:20:25 · answer #7 · answered by exiledchanter 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Identified with the death as if it was your own.
Symbolic of being born again you must first die to be reborn, the world does go through the exact same process, so before the world was baptized in the flood, someone had to repent and God did this for the world; Genesis 6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
After you die you must repent of your nature to sin,your actual sin so that you can receive the mind of Christ; Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Here we are told plainly you are baptized unto his death; Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is also another baptism of Fire which is still must come to every person and the earth also; Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
2007-02-12 15:59:35 · answer #8 · answered by sirromo4u 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Baptism is from of Re-born.
Your New Spiritual Self if Born.
2007-02-12 16:11:53 · answer #9 · answered by novkhan 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's a symbol of rebirth. It's like starting with a clean slate because u are cleansed of your sins.
2007-02-12 16:00:34 · answer #10 · answered by luvbugz87 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋