'''Baptism''' refers to (from the Greek word baptizó) is an important rite that exists across all [[sacrament]] of initiation in the [[Catholic]] and [[Eastern OrthodoxChristian]] traditions, considered to be necessary for salvation in accordance with Jesus' teaching in John 3:5 '''Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'''. Because of thisIn many, infants are baptized a few weeks after being born. In the Catholic ritualbut not all Christian churches, water baptism is poured over the head of act that admits the child while the priest repeats the baptismal formula of Matthew 28:19, "I baptize you (name) participant to membership in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Adult converts to Catholicism are immersed in water for baptism during Easter vigilchurch.
==Baptismal regeneration==Within the [[Catholic Church]], [[Orthodox Church]], and some [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, it is a [[sacrament]] generally necessary for [[salvation]] in accordance with [[Jesus]]' teaching in [[Gospel of John|John]] 3:5-- <Blockquote>"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".</blockquote> Because of this, infants are baptized a few weeks after being born. In the Catholic ritual, water is poured over the head of the child while the [[priest]] repeats the baptismal formula of [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 28:19-- <blockquote>"I baptize you (name) in the Name of the [[God the Father|Father]], and of the Son, and of the [[Holy Spirit]]. Amen."</blockquote> The Orthodox generally give to infants immediately after baptism their first [[Eucharist|communion]], and [[confirmation]]. Those baptized as infants in the Catholic Church normally receive first communion when they have reached the age of reason, and about the age of 12, after being fully instructed and prepared, they may choose as believing Christians making an informed decision for Christ to be confirmed, as "soldiers for Christ". Adult converts to Catholicism are immersed in water for baptism during the [[Easter]] vigil. The significance and mode of baptism remain controversial subjects among evangelical Protestant traditionChristians. Some churches believe that baptism needs to take place as an infant (called ''pedobaptism'' or in an alternate spelling ''paedobaptism''), while others believe only when a person makes an informed decision for Christ should he be baptized. The latter position is called ''believers' baptism,'' and those who follow it cite the following [[Bible]] passage in support:{{Bible quote|And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.|book=Acts|chap=8|verses=36-37|version=KJV}}In some churches, the water in John 3:5 is assumed to be the waters of birth and being born again refers to spiritual renewal. Thus baptism becomes an [[ordinance ]] performed after conversion. ==Baptist view==[[Baptists]] recognize baptism only by immersion and after conversion. The theologian [[L. L. Clover]] explains this position in his book ''[[The Church: Her Origin, Purpose, Doctrine, and History]]'' Baptists consider baptism one of two church ordinances, along with [[communion]], usually known as the Lord's Supper. Baptists consider baptism as the individual believer's commitment to the acceptance of personal faith in Christ. They treat communion as a memorial service commemorating the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. ==Lutheran and Anglican view==In the [[Lutheran]] and [[Anglican]] churches, infant baptism by pouring is the norm. Among Christians of the Reformed tradition, including [[Presbyterian]]s and others who hold to the Westminster Confession of Faith, baptism is rarely administered to infants both believing adults and the children of a believer, for a public confession and as a sign and seal of God's Covenant of [[Grace]].<ref name="WCF">The Westminster Confession of Faith for study classes by G.I.Williamson, 1964, pp207ff</ref> It is properly administered by dipping, sprinkling or pouring, but is not essential for salvation.<ref name="WCF"/> Prominent past theologians have taught this doctrine such as [[John Calvin]],<ref>Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin, 1536, trans. 1989, pp.512ff</ref> as well as contemporary teachers such as [[R.C. Sproul]] <ref>Now, That's a Good Question!, R.C.Sproul, 1996, p124-5, 339-342,</ref> ==Other views==Among those typically identified with the [[Anabaptist]] tradition, the [[Restoration Movement]] (paedobaptismseen by its adherents as a "restoration" to first century [[Christianity]]), and the [[Pentecostal]] churches, it is widely held that baptism is necessary in establishing a relationship with God.They practice baptism by full immersion in water, usually accompanied by an audible confession of faith. Such Christians believe it evident that in first century Christianity, as recorded in the book of [[Book of Acts|Acts]], baptism was ubiquitous. It is said that, "Of the eleven major conversion accounts in Acts, baptism is explicitly included in ten and never excluded (either explicitly or implicitly)." ==Biblical definition==Biblical accounts of baptism, with some degree of detail, often include phrases describing the person(s) as going into or coming out of water. This, along with the biblical comparison of baptism to burial, is part of their contention that the early Church practiced full immersion. The word itself is generally recognized by linguists as meaning to immerse or sink.<ref>http://biblehub.com/greek/907.htm</ref> However, many dispute this translation, and say it simply means to wash. For this reason, some Christians baptize by pouring or sprinkling, while others use immersion. By those who support the "washing" definition, it is believed that the wording in Matthew's Gospel that Jesus "went straighway out of the water," (per the King James Version) means only that he ascended the banks of the Jordan River following his baptism. ==See also==* [[Sacrament]]s in the [[Roman Catholic Church]]** Baptism** [[Eucharist]] - First Holy Communion** [[Confession]]** [[Confirmation]]** [[Holy Orders]] for [[Priest]]s and [[Monk]]s** [[Marriage]]** [[Anointing of the Sick]]* [[Mikveh]]* [[Church]] == References =={{reflist|2}} [[Category:Catholic Church Sacraments]][[Category:Catholic Church]][[Category:Christian Rites]][[Category:Religion]][[Category:Oaths]]