about baptism??

Question

can you tell me all you know about baptism i need to make a powerpoint presentation on baptism (liike a guide / brochure)
eg. symbols and meanings, what it means, prayers that are said, preperation etc.
thanks

Answer 1

Baptism is a VISIBLE Declaration that you've Made an INVISIBLE (Dedication) 2 God !

Answer 2

When I was Baptiszed in the Assembly of God Church, which is done by free will and choice not out of obligation or right. We were required to attend a meeting 1 hour prior to the Baptism. We spoke to the Pastor as a whole as he described the importance of the symbolic event that we were about to undertake. Reminding us that we do not have to be baptized to be saved, we are saved and than out of obedience and love of the Lord Jesus Christ we choose to be baptized. Baptism is a profession of our faith, it's when the Christian comes out of the proverbial closet in front of God and the Church and says I am a Christian and I have freely choosen to dedicate my life to Christ, now fellow Christians hold me accountable for that choice. We were duely warned that if we are doing this because we are kind of committed to Christ or because our spouses and friends are doing it than don't bother. Don't waste your time. I can tell you when I went into the Baptismal in front of the church and all of the Church Body was there and Pastor dunked me under the water it was the coolest thing. Was I saved? I already was, Am I more accountable for my actions to my Church and Pastor? You bet! Were there symbols or prayers or incense, no! What did I wear? Shorts and a peasant top. What did the Pastor wear? Dockers, a tie and a dress shirt. After our baptisms he professed that it doesn't matter what your wearing, if you want to be baptized in water, come on down. Naturally everyone that was there was either already baptized or not ready for that spiritually step. None was chastized or prodded. Well that is my baptism experience. I was given a certificate of Baptism which simply states That "I" followed the Lord Jesus Christ in Water Baptism and the date signed by the Pastor. I am a member of our church which is not a requirement to be baptized in our Church.

Also it's important to remember that Jesus was Baptized by John the Baptist in his 30's, not as an infant. The book of John tells the story of Jesus's baptism when John says but Lord you are the one who should be baptizing me. We are baptized in water because Jesus did it.

Answer 3

There are adult or child baptisms.

Church of England and Methodists practice "christenings" where the baby is marked with a sign of the cross and has water put on its head. Babies used to be dressed in white christening robes as a sign of purity. Parents and godparents promise to bring that child up in the Christian faith until they are old enough to "confirm" their faith for themselves. Sometimes the baby is given a candle as a symbol of the "light of Christ". People give gifts to the baby and there is usually a party afterwards. It is nowadays seen as a way of welcoming the baby into the community, but in years gone by unchristened babies were not allowed in church and therefore not allowed to marry! If a baby died unchristened it was considered a terrible affliction as the child would go straight to hell. therefore babies were often christened immediately (especially if they were not expected to live "just in case").

Baptist and Pentecostal churches believe that only adults should be baptised when they are old enough to realise the importance of the ceremony, and this is based on the bibical references in the New Testament where people "believed and were baptised". This is normally done by full submersion in a pool during a special baptismal ceremony. It signifies dying to the old life and being "reborn" and cleansed into the new life with God. Hence the phrase "born again christians". It is considered a joyful time. People make up their own prayers for that person who also often give a testimony of what has brought them to that point in their life. People prepare usually by going to bible instruction classes and sometimes they are given a bible as a gift by the church.

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

Here are some very good articles:

http://www.thebible.net/modules.php?name=Read&itemid=26&cat=10
http://www.thebible.net/modules.php?name=Read&itemid=35&cat=10
http://www.thebible.net/modules.php?name=Read&itemid=42&cat=10
http://www.thebible.net/modules.php?name=Read&itemid=43&cat=10
http://www.thebible.net/modules.php?name=Read&itemid=79&cat=10
http://www.thebible.net/modules.php?name=Read&itemid=205&cat=10
http://www.thebible.net/modules.php?name=Read&itemid=154&cat=10
http://www.thebible.net/modules.php?name=Read&itemid=161&cat=10

One thing to be noticed, every example of the conversion of an alien sinner in the book of Acts specifically mentions baptism. Grace, mercy, love, repentance, the blood of Christ, and confession are all necessary for salvation, but even though these can be understood, they are not specifically mentioned every time. Baptism is!

Also, the baptism was always immediate! None of these converts ate, drank, slept, or continued a journey until they had been baptized.

In Acts 2, about 3000 were baptized on the same day. Surely it would have been more convenient to schedule these over a number of days, but that is not what was done.

The eunuch in Acts 8 stopped in the middle of a journey. He didn't wait till he got home, or till he got where his family could watch. He was baptized immediately.

The Jailer in Acts 16 was baptized in the middle of the night (Acts 16 verses 25 and 33). Surely it would have been more convienant to wait until morning.

Saul (Paul) had nothing to eat for three days (Acts 9:9), yet he was baptized before he took food! (Acts 9:18-19) Surely he must have been hungry!

I believe this urgency to do as God had commanded shows the importance of baptism and the improtance of putting God first, before everything else!

Jesus commanded baptism. (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:18-20, read Luke 24:47 along with Acts 2: verses 5 & 38) Jesus is "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him!" (Hebrews 5:9)

Answer 5

Twilight,
I do not have the time right now to discuss it but I have all of the New Testament references to Baptism if that will assist you in any way. They are:
BAPTISM –
Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
1 Peter 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:3-4 do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Acts 22:16 “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Galatians 3:26-27 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
John 3:23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.
Acts 8:38 He commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Baptism is described as immersion when we look at the Ethiopian Eunuch. It is a washing/cleansing of our sins according to other verses. It is NOT said to be optional anywhere in the Bible yet a number of people want to make it so. Have a great week.
Thanks,
Eds



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Answer 6

That would take a book, so you probably would need to go and get one. Each denomination is different. There are nine different types of baptism mentioned in the bible, so you need to be carefful to put each verse that deals with baptism in its right catagory. If you don't you will have wrong teaching on it somewhere.

Answer 7

There are three in scripture; baptism by water, by the Holy Spirit, and by fire.

Israel walking through the Red Sea was a type of baptism.

Paul states there is one faith, and one baptism.

This is by the Spirit.

One must understand and believe the gospel in order to be baptized by the HS.

You would be better served by getting a Bible dictionary and looking it up.

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Answer 8

Baptism is symbolic of dying to yourself and becoming a new person in Christ. When you go into the water, that is the dying-to-yourself bit, and when you come back up again, that is the becoming-a-new-person-in-Christ-and-being-cleansed-from-all-sin bit. You are dressed in a white robe for the baptism and the prayer is mostly about cleansing and making new.

Answer 9

I don't know what denomination you are, but here are the references one would visit as a Lutheran:

LCMS brochure about Baptism: http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/wa_baptism.pdf

FAQs about Holy Baptism: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=2590

To search for what the biblical, historical Lutheran Confessions say about Baptism: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=522

I pray that as you study about Baptism you will learn the truth about it & be comforted by the marvelous work God has done for you through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Answer 10

Baptism in general or for a specific religion/denomination?

Please go to the ff links for the Catholic teaching on baptism.
http://www.scborromeo.org/index2.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02258b.htm