Baptism is introduced in the Gospels when John the Baptist begins his ministry as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. John's baptism was a baptism of repentance for Jews; he preached a simple message to the Jews that they were to repent of their sins in preparation for Kingdom of God and the coming of the Messiah. In Matthew 3:13-17, Jesus comes down to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”
At the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus gave the command to his disciples to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” As soon as they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the disciples began to carry out that order. Known as the “Great Commission,” Mathew 28:19 is often quoted in an attempt to prove the trinity doctrine. As it is often looked at to be one of the few texts that fully demonstrate the Trinity, it provides the basis of what came to be known as Trinitarian baptismal formula
The greatest revealed mystery of the Christian faith is the Trinity; it is the central mystery of the Christian faith and of Christian life. God alone makes it known to us by revealing himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. As Roman Catholics, we “worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son's is another, the Holy Spirit's another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Spir...
... middle of paper ...
...:38)? Retrieved April 1, 2014, from socrates58.blogspot.com: http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2008/03/baptismal-formula-trinitarian-matt-2819.html
Canada, T. R. (1998, October 31). In Whose Name? The Baptismal Formula in Contemporary Culture. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from www.united-church.ca: http://www.united-church.ca/files/partners/relations/ecumenical/report_rc_01.pdf
Emery, G. (2007). The Trinitarian Theology of Saint Thomas Aquinas. New York, New York: Oxford University Press Inc.
Farrelly, M. J. (2005). The Trinity. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman &Littlefield Publishers Inc.
Mikoski, G. S. (2009). Baptism and the Christian Identity. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Co.
Schaff, P. (1997). History of the Christian Church. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
USCCB, B. C. (2004). Rite of Baptism for Children. New Jersey: Catholic Book Publishing Corp.
The medieval theologian Julian of Norwich was a mystic, writer, anchoress and spiritual director for her time. She is gaining in popularity for our time as she provides a spiritual template for contemplative prayer and practice in her compilation of writings found in Revelations of Divine Love. The insightful meditations provide the backdrop and basis for her Trinitarian theology’s embrace of God’s Motherhood found in the Trinity. Her representative approach of the all-encompassing unconditional love of a mother who nurtures, depicts Christ as our Mother ascending to the placement of Second hood within the Trinity while giving voice to the duality of God.
"Conversion." In New Catholic Encyclopedia, edited by Bernard L. Marthaler, 231-242. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2003.
The power of water, a meek and gracious force, as illustrated in the Bible is the source of life and fruitfulness. The prayer has different sections to articulate the overall purpose of baptism, beginning with gratitude and recognition of God’s omnipresence, the prayer then references from the Old Testament, as the church has seen in Noah’s ark a prefiguring of salvation by Baptism. As the water of baptism gives new life, the crossing of the Red Sea, the liberation of Israel from the slavery of Egypt, proclaims the liberation wrought by baptism. The final reference to the Old Testament is prefigured in the crossing of the Jordan River by which the people of God received the gift of the land promised to Abraham’s descendants, an image of eternal life. All the Old Covenants prefiguration’s find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ begins his public life after being baptised by St. John the Baptist in the river of Jordan. After his resurrection Christ gives this mission to his apostles: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." To fulfil all righteousness, Jesus’ submissive baptism by John the Baptist, is a gesture of
Here one can see the significance of baptism extending far beyond the momentary act that is the baptismal rite. Baptism is an act of birth; it gives an immediate and direct connection with Christ’s resurrection, and it lays the foundation for fellowship, which
Three equals one. Out of all of the statements made by the Christian faith, perhaps none is more confusing. The Doctrine of the Trinity has been questioned for decades and many Christians do not even understand it. Colin E. Gunton argues that this does not have to be so. Instead, he calls the Western Church to learn from Eastern Orthodoxy and allow Trinitarian thinking to permeate every aspect of the church. It is when the Western Church embarrasses “The Forgotten Trinity” (the name of the chapter) in thinking and in worship, that we not only learn the nature of God, but how we should live in light of it.
In the beginning, Schreiner and Wright debate refutes the different varieties of infant baptism executed by the reformed Paedobaptists position. The background of this book is center in the biblical inconsistency practiced by the reformed Paedobaptists position by baptizing infants who do not have a clear knowledge of what is good or bad, and at the same time do not know what genuine repentance is. The fact, is that when one can look at everything going on in one’s world today – false teaching, misunderstanding of Scripture, heresy, apostasy, and lack of interpretation – how does the Church reacts? Schreiner and Wright, answers this by upholding the authority of the Word of God through this great book. Mathews 28, turns to be the epicenter
In Christian communities, especially communities that practice adult baptism, the ritual is seen as more than just an act of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. The specific actions associated with baptism have evolved to represent Jesus’ death (the liminal stage) and resurrection (the reaggregation stage). By manipulating the symbolic actions in the ritual “so as to bring them into parallel with the pre-established non-symbolic system,” we are better able to understand the symbolism of the three stages of this rite of
.... "Baptism (in the Bible)." New Catholic Encyclopedia. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. Detroit: Gale, 2003. 56-60. Gale World History In Context. Web. 30 Dec. 2011.
Christianity is considered to be a living religion especially in terms of the reach for salvation. In the present through the practice of Baptism, Christians believe they die to the life of Original Sin and are born again to Christ, thus able to achieve Salvation. Thus, the tradition and sacred ritual of baptism implies that in order to be active adherents in the Catholic church, one must be baptised, just as Jesus was in the New Testament, “Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ.” (Acts 2:38) Another way in which baptism demonstrate that Christianity is a living religious tradition, is through the teachings associated with the purpose of human existence. Through the act of Baptism, which is a direct display of the belief in Salvation through Jesus, the purpose of human life is presented in terms of adherent’s purpose to lov...
“Through, baptism, human beings spet out of isolation and into the trinitarian communion, and thus also into the communion of t...
Professor Bruce Ware believes paedobaptist (the practice of baptizing infants or young children) are “living in disobedience to Christ.” Paedobaptist see practival value in both the baptism of new converts and the baptism of their children. Dr. Ware believes the argument for Immersion is simultaneously an argument against the baptism of infants. Dr. Wares doctrine allows neither the baptism of infants nor, presumably, their belongings to the church as the family of God. For the credobaptism, typically, baptisms is a sign of what the believer has done in response to Christ; for the paedobaptist, baptism is first a sign of what Christ has done and of all that is in him to be received in faith. Dr. Ware citation (from Thomas R. Schreiner) that “it is difficult to see how the reception of the Spirit could be predicted of infants since the Spirit is received by faith” (pg. 28) If so infant salvation surely is impossible, and it is difficult to know what to make of the spirits work on the humanity of our Lord. The bible also talks about household baptism which may have included infants. Acts 31-34 states “31They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.” These verses never directly say if children were included in the household baptism but Dr. Ware seeks to close these textual “gaps” to insist that only those converted were
“Baptism, a life of honesty, meditation on God, having faith, reciting the name of God, avoiding getting caught up in worldly distractions, and remembering God in every moment possible”.
As members of the Catholic Church, it is our responsibility to live out our baptismal promise through the Sacraments of service. It is through our baptismal promise and the sacraments of service in which we are called to serve others in the Christian community and evangelise. It is through the sacraments of service, Holy Matrimony, and Holy orders which enables individuals to direct their lives in a sacramental way for the salvation of others. Through the service to others and evangelisation , they participate in the saving mission of Christ. Through the sacrament of Baptism, we are embodied with Christ and become a constituent of the Catholic Church. The fundamental facet of baptism entails the infant’s godparents or in the circumstance of an adult baptism, the individual themselves to solemnly promise to renounce Satan, continue Jesus’ mission of service and grow sanctity with God. These renunciations are entitled “The Baptismal Promises” which we should fulfil in our daily lives as an essential duty of being a Catholic.
Douglas, J. D., Philip Wesley Comfort and Donald Mitchell. Who's Who in Christian History. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1992.
Through Baptism, an individual is cleansed and repent from the Original Sin. This renewal ensures they can receive salvation and enter Heaven, “... No one can enter the kingdom of God without being born if the Water and the Spirit” (John 3:5) . Through Baptism individuals are blessed with the gifts of the Holy Spirit so they are filled with holiness and given strength to live as a disciple. In Act 2:38, “... Repent and be baptised every one of you, so that your sins may be forgiven and you will receive the gifts of Holy Spirit. It initiates them into the Christian community which creates a sense of identity and belonging, while also bestowing them the responsibility to live out God’s mission, allowing spiritual development and theological