The Meaning of the Baptism
Baptism is a significant part of the Christian's journey and originates in the Bible. Christians affirm that they can only be made right with God through the belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism is an outer manifestation of this belief. Because Jesus was baptized, believers pattern their walk based upon the same things that Jesus did. Some churches also acknowledge a baptism of the Holy Spirit that originated on Pentecost.
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History of Water Baptism
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Baptism first appears in scripture in the New Testament around 30 AD. According to the gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist, who was called the forerunner to Jesus, is preaching repentance in the desert of Judea. Once the sins of the people are confessed, John baptized them in the Jordan River. In Matthew chapter 3 verse 13, Jesus approaches John to be baptized. Once Jesus is immersed in the river, the spirit of God descends upon Him.
Significance of Water Baptism
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The significance of water baptism as it is performed today is for the acknowledgment of sins, repenting from those sins and seeking forgiveness. Baptism symbolizes that sin is washed away and the sinner is born to a new life. It is a turning from the person's old sinful ways to a new life apart from sin. Baptism allows the believer to be joined with Jesus in victory.
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Infant Water Baptism
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Many churches include an infant baptism in their theology. During the ceremony, the infant is held by the Godparents and drops of water are placed upon the infant's head. Godparents serve a vital role during the ceremony and during the life of the child in case the parents are not able to fulfill their Christian duty of raising the child in the faith. The infant baptism seals the children's faith until they can later acknowledge their faith for themselves through the Confirmation ceremony.
Water Immersion Baptism
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New Christian believers or even believers who have been baptized as infants many times desire to be baptized as adults through water immersion. This type of baptism involves full immersion of the person in the baptismal water and was the type performed on Jesus. Many visitors to Israel include the symbolic act of being baptized in the River Jordan as an identification with Jesus even though they have been baptized before.
Holy Spirit Baptism Origins
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Acts chapter 2 records the events that took place at the historical baptism of the Holy Spirit. Many of Jesus' followers were gathered together on the day of Pentecost when suddenly a mighty wind came from heaven. Tongues of fire came upon each person and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. All of them began to speak in other tongues or languages from the one that they knew. They all proceeded to go out into the streets and evangelize.
Meaning of Baptism of the Holy Spirit
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Even though there are biblical roots for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, not all churches acknowledge this type of baptism. For those churches who accept this teaching, the baptism of the Holy Spirit is believed to be when the believer begins speaking in other tongues. Often this gift of speaking in tongues is manifested when other Christians pray over the individual, but certainly can be experienced by the believer when no one else is around.
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