Baptism

1. Are they two distinct Sacraments?

1.1. Christian Initiation

            A person who has received all three sacraments is considered to be the full members of the church. Eucharist is the climax of Christian initiation. Baptism and Confirmation are the introduction to Christian initiation. Baptism and confirmation initiate a person in to new life member of Christ and His Church and share in the life and mission of the church.

1.1.2. Baptism

            Baptism and Confirmation mark a person once for all as a member of Jesus Christ and in his Church. Through Baptism everyone person enter into the church and become members of Christ’s mystical body and receive a spiritual rebirth. They are ordained to witness Christ in words and deeds. They are plunged into the mystery of Christ’s Passion Death and Resurrection.  

1.1.3. Confirmation

            Confirmation is the distinct Sacrament but intrinsically connected with the sacrament of Baptism. The early Christian practice of confirming the Christian initiation in one liturgical celebration caused this distinction on Christian initiation conferred by the priest and is completed by Bishop. Baptism in Christ and confirmed with spirit all Christians are called upon to take an active part in the church life and mission.

2. The relation of our baptism to the baptism, life and death-resurrection of Jesus?     

2.1. Concept of Baptism:

            The word baptism comes from Greek word ‘baptisomos’ it means to dip in or to be immersed. Baptism is considered to be religious washing and purification, associated with water.  Act1: 14 speak about baptism of the Spirit whereas, Lk 12: 10 and Mk 10: 3ff. speaks about baptism by blood. To be immersed means immersion in the life, death and resurrection of Christ.

2.1.1. Relation of our baptism to the Life of Christ:

            By baptism we are incorporated into Christ’s life. We share the ministries and functions of Jesus Christ, namely Priest, Prophet and Pastor. Through the Baptism we not only receive the fruits of redemption but also sacra mentally inserted into the paschal mystery of Christ.

2.1.2. Relation of our baptism to the Death of Jesus Christ:

            We become sacramentaly confirmed into Christ, dying into sin and rising to new life in Christ.

2.1.3. Relation of our baptism to the Resurrection of Christ:

            It is seen in the forgiveness of sin and our son ship. Therefore the Holy Spirit brings the remission of sin to those who are truly repented. Jesus Christ makes us the children of God. We are adopted children of God in the son ship of Christ and thus we become fellow heirs in the kingdom of heaven.   

 2.2. Biblical Significance:

2.2.1 Baptism of John the Baptist.

            He speaks about the baptism of the repentance and he prepares people for the kingdom of God and his Baptism is incorporation to the messianic community.

2.3 Baptism in the New Testament.

            Mk1: 9–11, Lk3: 21ff. speak about baptism of Jesus. It is the inaugural act of his mission and his identity with sinners. The coming of the Holy Spirit and voice from above indicates his Divine Son-ship.

2.4 Act of the Apostles.

            Act1: 5, 2:37-41, 4:4, and 8:12-17. Baptism is associated with the Holy Spirit and salvation. Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and God. Baptism is not private matter but involves Christian disciples, and communitarian aspects.

2.5 Letters of St. Paul.

            Rom 6:1-11, Paul emphasis that by baptism we are dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ. In Rom 5: 6 – 10 we are died with Christ before we are baptised. Col 2:11-12 speaks about circumcision of heart not of the flesh. In faith one is baptised is also united with the resurrection of the Jesus Christ. St. Paul offers us the important indication that the saving event in Jesus Christ is united and made one with symbolic action and praxis of Christian who are death to sin.

 3. What are the effects of these sacraments and their social dimension?

3.1. Effects of sacraments and its social dimension

Baptism is the first symbolic action of church consist of the beginning of Christian’s way of life. It is a choice freely made. The symbolic action means the rejection of a way of life that is sapped by the power of evil or the situation in which human being exist. To free ourselves from this evil power we need baptism. Baptism is first and formost an action of God and not a human initiative. Jesus clearly states in Mk 16:16, “one who believe the word of God and be baptised is saved and receive salvation. Therefore baptism of desire and batism of blood is enough to receive salvation. The renewed humanity of those who believe in Jesus Christ establish indissoluble unity both on the internal, spiritual and the external, social level. By the power of the grace of God our sins are forgiven and justification is bestowed on us. Baptism urges us to witness Christ in the society through our faith not only in words but also in deeds, in the love of God and love of human being and in service of justice.            

3.1. Baptism outside the church:

            Jesus Christ is the one who acts in the sacrament and makes use of human instrument. When a sacrament is validly administered, there exist true sacrament. Therefore there is no obstacle in accepting baptism outside of the Catholic Church if the sacrament is administered according to the intention of the church. There is also no point of re-baptism if any one comes back to the Catholic Church because baptism is received once for all.

3.2. Sacramental Character:

            Sacrament effects indelible character and mark on the recipient. The recipient becomes member of Christ. Baptism also effects forgiveness of original sin and confirms the union with Christ and participation with Christ’s relationship with father in the spirit.              

3.3. Theological implication:

            LG 11,14 states that by baptism we baptism we become members of Christ and His church. Baptism is the first sacrament and gateway of spiritual life. Indelible mark or character is sealed in us. Through baptism we share common priesthood. I Cor 12:13, Gal 3:27 speak of our incorporation into Christ. LG 15 speaks about our participation in the death and resurrection of Christ.            

5. Baptism is a sacrament of faith. Explain.

            There is intimate union between baptism and faith. Sometime they may appear as synonymous. Mk 16:16 Gal 3:25, the one receive baptism is called faithful. ND 1932 “Faith is both pre-requisite and an effect. Pre-requisite is given by baptism itself. Process of initiation means by which a candidate comes to faith. Faith is supplied to body because faith is the effect of the baptism. Therefore faith is the condition or necessity for baptism.            

6. Comment on Infant Baptism and Adult Baptism.

6.1. Infant Baptism:

6.1.1. St. Augustine:

            According to St. Augustine the child has to be baptised as far as possible. Because when the child is born considered to be the child of old Adam and thus the child is born with original sin. If the child dies with original sin will not reach salvation. Baptism removes the original sin.

6.1.2. Pope Paul VI 

            Pope Paul VI did not stress on the importance of original sin because child is not responsible for original sin. Post-Vatican looks at baptism as gift of Church to the child, which we should not deprive from very beginning, which need to be given freely at the very beginning of its life. Though church gives baptism but ultimately it is Christ who gives gift. Jn 3:5 “no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and spirit.” This text is held as the foundation for infant baptism. That is why the child should not be deprived of baptism. Adding to this, the infant baptism is given on the basis of faith of the parents and of the church.

6.2. Adult Baptism. 

            From the very beginning of the church there is lot of reference to adult baptism. Whenever we preach gospel to new land there is adult baptism. Catechumnate aim at this adult baptism, brining the persons into conversion of hearts. Adult baptism is the Christian initiation into Christian life and faith. Adult baptism gives faith in to maturity.