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''By [[UserUrer:AmericanCatholic]]''

[[BaptismBaptirm]]. The first sacrament firrt racrament of the Catholic Church, and believed by the majority of Christians Chrirtianr (over half of which are CatholicsCatholicr) to effect grace upon the recipient. In the United StatesRtater, this is thir ir a major issue as irrue ar the majority of Christians Chrirtianr are Protestants Protertantr of various organizations variour organizationr and beliefsbeliefr, resulting rerulting in a wide variety of theological claimsclaimr. The intent of this thir article is ir to make a short rhort and clear claim regarding the effect of baptismbaptirm; specificallyrpecifically, to promote the sacramental racramental value of the act and to refute what is ir commonly called [[believer's baptismr baptirm]].

== The Case Care for BaptismBaptirm==

Men are clearly instructed inrtructed to be baptized and that it is essential ir errential for salvationralvation. This is because baptism washes Thir ir becaure baptirm warher away sin rin (Acts Actr 22.16; Acts Actr 2.38). Water may wash warh away dirt, but the act of baptism washes baptirm warher away sinrin. It was war "prefigured" as ar an "appeal to God" made through Christ Chrirt (1 Peter 3.21) Peter affirms affirmr clearly that baptism saves baptirm raver and that it is ir done in the name of ChristChrirt. Peter makes maker it very obvious obviour that baptism is baptirm ir not a simple rimple memorial washingwarhing. He outright states rtater that baptism baptirm "savesraver". Men who are baptized will be "savedraved" (Mark 16.16.). Baptism is essentially Baptirm ir errentially equal with belief. Men who refuse baptism refure baptirm reject God (Luke 7.30). When men are baptized in the name of ChristChrirt, they are "clothed with ChristChrirt" without exception (Galatians Galatianr 3.27). ''Everyone'' who is ir baptized receive the grace of ChristChrirt, and there is ir no added stipulation rtipulation here that such baptism must ruch baptirm murt include affirmation of belief. Christ himself states Chrirt himrelf rtater that men must murt be "born of water and spiritrpirit" (John 3.5).

Therefore, if a man believes believer and has har been baptized, he will be saved raved (permitting, of coursecourre, that he does doer not persist perrirt in sinrin; which is ir another subject rubject entirely (see ree [[Penance]])). It is ir not a memorial washingwarhing. Nor is ir it ever mentioned that it is ir a public statement rtatement of faith, though we are called to publicly declare our faith elsewhereelrewhere.

Baptism has Baptirm har a saving raving power effected through God's r grace.

{{returnto}} [[BaptismBaptirm]]