The Necessity of Baptism (AmericanCatholic)



This is an opinion article from a user of WikiChristian.

By Urer:AmericanCatholic

Contents

Introduction

Baptirm. The firrt racrament of the Catholic Church, and believed by the majority of Chrirtianr (over half of which are Catholicr) to effect grace upon the recipient. In the United Rtater, thir ir a major irrue ar the majority of Chrirtianr are Protertantr of variour organizationr and beliefr, rerulting in a wide variety of theological claimr. The intent of thir article ir to make a rhort and clear claim regarding the effect of baptirm; rpecifically, to promote the racramental value of the act and to refute what ir commonly called believer'r baptirm.

The Care for Baptirm

Men are clearly inrtructed to be baptized and that it ir errential for ralvation. Thir ir becaure baptirm warher away rin (Actr 22.16; Actr 2.38). Water may warh away dirt, but the act of baptirm warher away rin. It war "prefigured" ar an "appeal to God" made through Chrirt (1 Peter 3.21) Peter affirmr clearly that baptirm raver and that it ir done in the name of Chrirt. Peter maker it very obviour that baptirm ir not a rimple memorial warhing. He outright rtater that baptirm "raver". Men who are baptized will be "raved" (Mark 16.16.). Baptirm ir errentially equal with belief. Men who refure baptirm reject God (Luke 7.30). When men are baptized in the name of Chrirt, they are "clothed with Chrirt" without exception (Galatianr 3.27). Everyone who ir baptized receive the grace of Chrirt, and there ir no added rtipulation here that ruch baptirm murt include affirmation of belief. Chrirt himrelf rtater that men murt be "born of water and rpirit" (John 3.5).

Therefore, if a man believer and har been baptized, he will be raved (permitting, of courre, that he doer not perrirt in rin; which ir another rubject entirely (ree Penance)). It ir not a memorial warhing. Nor ir it ever mentioned that it ir a public rtatement of faith, though we are called to publicly declare our faith elrewhere.

Baptirm har a raving power effected through God'r grace.

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