In todays world, baptism is virtually all readily identified by owning Christianity, where it symbolizes a cleansing (remission) of sins, & a union of the believer by using Christ around His dying, burial & resurrection and so that he becomes one of Christ's Faithful. A Christian ritual of baptism traces back to the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, who a Bible says baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Baptism among Christians is performed by aspersion (sprinkling water above a head), infusion (pouring a water supply above a head) or even to the full immersion (lowering the entire person into a pool of water supply). the guide to become baptized is processed by a confessing believer (believer baptism, or credobaptism), regardless aged, as a confessiin of his faith; or even even on behalf of the baby by his or her parents (paedobaptism) if a parents keep around themselves been baptized, & profess faith. A bit of churches practice credobaptism and some practice paedobaptism and some churches practice two. A bit of practice immersion, a bit of practice pouring, & occasionally practice sprinkling. There are differences inside views just about a nature and practice of Christian baptism.

Martin Luther, for example, located peachy importance in baptism. Luther states in ''The Large Catechism'' of 1529,

Within counterpoint, Baptist groups deny that baptism has any such power, however like exclusively testifies outwardly to the operation of God's power, which is invisible, internal, & totally separate from either a rite itself.

For even Christians world health organization baptize by pouring or sprinkling, a washing by having a stream from either above pictures the cleanup of 1's sins by a blood of Christ, by a Paraclete, world health organization unites the baptised individual to Christ inside his dying & his resurrection from either the dead. These are administered from either above to point thereto gift of the life-vitalizing Spirit, & to portray baptism as an work non of human however of God. Inside direct contrast, a individual baptized by immersion is enclosed under the h2o & brought out, to signify cleaning across demise & burial by owning Christ, & resultant raising over agaaround in newness of life per Holy ghost. Baptism occurs as public rite, within testimony to others of a grace bestowed upon the human, & as a seal of God's promises within Christ to people world health organization suppose.

Background in Jewish ritual

Although a term baptism is non wont to describe a Jewish rituals, a filtration rites (or even tahara) inside Jewish laws and tradition are in which baptism could call for its origins. In the Tanakh, and more Jewish texts, bathing for ritual sterilization was established for specified circumstances – in order toBecome restored to the trouble of ritual purity. E.g., fallowing menses, and when the total of blood-free streaming times charted accouchement (deuce niddah circumstances), women would wash inside a the mikvah – a ritual bath. When another example, Jews who become ceremonially defiled by email using something infective, would utilize a mikvah when a share of their healing. Immersion is compulsory for converts to Judaism as part of their conversion. Across practices like these, immersion in the mikveh represent filtering & restoration, & qualification for fully religious participation in the life of the community. (View Numbers Chapter 19)

Within modern days, a adherence & observance of a laws, rituals, & customs on the mikvah differ greatly among a Jewish denominations. A virtually all nonindulgent therein adherence in todays world come a Orthodox and Haredi Jews.

Explanation

A Christian explanation of baptism when a definitive rite, by which a baptised human is indicated to become fully experienced enough for participation in a life of the Church, begins sustaining the career of John the Baptist, who was a cousin-german of Jesus. Victims world health organization guess that John was the prophet identify baptism with his message on penance around preparation for the coming of the Messiah.

John declared that repentance was necessary, prior to forgiveness. There must be a return to God. This implies that the stain of sin is not ineradicable, but can be removed by putting off polluting acts and returning to the way of the Lord, all of which was symbolized in his baptism.

Christians believe that John also taught that his baptism was not finally sufficient, and that repentance would not attain to its goal of separation from sin, apart from a greater baptism which it was not in his power to give. According to the Gospel of Luke, John taught, "I personally baptize smart shoppers using a river; however of these comes world health organization is stronger than I, of whom We are non worthy to untie a strap of his sandals; he might baptize that you by having a Paraclete & fire; his sifting fork is around his h& to do out his threshing floor and to gather a wheat into his storage, however a chaff he may burn by having inextinguishable fire." (Luke 3,16-17) Christians believe that John's baptism shows that the effort to make oneself acceptable to God by repentance would be superseded, made complete by the coming of the Lamb of God that takes away sins.

According to the Gospel of John, after John baptized Jesus, he testified concerning him,

From this point on, water baptism became identified with the followers of Jesus, who preached "Repent, for the kingdom of God is close," and explicitly identified the coming of the kingdom with his own appearing.

At the end of his recorded ministry, Jesus charged the Apostles to baptize "in the name of Father, Boy & Paraclete" in the Great Commission ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=Matthew+28:19 Matthew 28:19]), which has become the common formula for baptizing. The Apostles are recorded baptizing only in the name of Jesus in the Book of Acts ([http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/index.php?search=acts+2:38;acts+8:16;acts+10:48;acts+19:5 Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5]) - a fact which figures prominently among groups who reject the trinitarian formula.

Ecumenical statement

One ecumenical statement prepared by representatives across a spectrum of Christians, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestants traditions of Christianity, attempts to express a common understanding of baptism, as it is derived from the New Testament.

The most commonly cited reference for the command justifying the continuing practice of baptism by Christians, is the "Swell Commission," found in the book of St. Luke chapter 24, verses 47-49. It is typically viewed as the rite by which a person is joined to Jesus and his body, the Church, in connection with which the baptized person who has received the Holy Spirit is considered to be a Christian.

Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist baptism

The liturgy of baptism in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, and Methodist traditions makes clear reference to baptism as not only a symbolic burial and resurrection, but an actual supernatural transformation, one that draws parallels to the experience of Noah and the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea divided by Moses. Thus baptism is literally and symbolically not only cleansing, but also dying and rising again with Christ. Catholics believe that baptism is necessary for the cleansing of the taint of original sin, and for that reason infant baptism is a common practice. The Orthodox also practice infant baptism on the basis of various texts such as Matthew 19:14 which are interpreted to condone full Church membership for children, and so baptism is immediately followed by Chrismation and Communion at the next Divine Liturgy regardless of age. Anglicans believe that Baptism is also the entry into the Church and therefore allows them access to all rights and responsibilites as full members, including the privilege to receive Holy Communion. Most Anglicans agree that it also cleanses the taint of original sin, though those Anglicans who agree with a more Eastern understanding of original sin think it exactly the same was as the Eastern Orthodox.

Catholics generally baptize by infusion (pouring); Orthodox by immersion. However immersion is gaining in popularity within the Catholic Church. In newer churches, the baptismal font may be designed to expressly allow for baptism by immersion. Older church building may feature this as well by either building a new baptismal font or expanding an existing one. Anglicans practice a myriad of ways to be baptized, from immersion to sprinking.

According to Holy Tradition, if baptism through immersion cannot be done, it should be done through pouring (and if that isn't possible, through sprinking)). In addition, cold water is preferred over warm. The water most be in a state of motion (living water implies motion), so immersion in stagnent water is thought less than pouring or even sprinking.

Both the Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches practice a triple baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity.

Jehovah's Witnesses

Baptism is also done by Jehovah's Witnesses, who believe that baptism is required to wash their sins away and to show that they serve Jehovah. They become baptised only when they are older enough to make the decision that they want to be baptized and are ready to dedicate their life to Jehovah.

Baptism and salvation

In Catholic teaching, baptism plays an essential role in salvation. The Church teaches that "baptism is necessary for salvation" (Catechism, 1257) and entry into heaven; and therefore, a person who knowledgeably, willfully and unrepentedy rejects baptism has no hope of salvation. Three forms of baptism are acknowledged by the Church. Baptism by water refers to the traditional baptism where the individual is immersed or infused with water in the name of the Trinity.

The Church also recognizes two other forms of baptism: "baptism of blood" and "baptism of want." Baptism of blood refers to unbaptized individuals who are martyred for the Faith, while baptism of desire refers to catechumens who die before they can be baptized. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes these two forms:

The Church has always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with Christ. This Baptism of blood, like the desire for Baptism, brings about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament. (1258)

For catechumens who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament. (1259)

As for unbaptized infants, the Church is unsure of their fate; "the Church might just entrust the children to the mercy of God" (Catechism, 1261).

Conditions of the validity of a baptism

Since the Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglicans believe that baptism is a sacrament having actual spiritual and salvific effects, certain criteria must be complied with for it to be valid (i.e. to actually have those effects.) These criteria are actually broader than the ordinary practice. Violation of some rules regarding baptism renders the baptism illicit (in violation of the church's laws) but still valid. For example, if a Priest introduces some variation in the authorised rite for the ceremony, the baptism will be valid (provided certain key criteria are met).

One of the criteria for validity is that the correct form of words be used. Roman Catholics use the form "I personally baptise we.."; some Eastern-Rite Catholics and the Orthodox use the form "Let this servant of Christ exist as baptised..." or "This individual is baptised by the paws...". However, both churches recognise the other's form as valid. The Catholic church teaches that the use of the verb "baptise" is essential.

It is also considered essential that the Trinitarian formula is used; thus they do not accept as valid baptisms of non-Trinitarian churches such as Oneness Pentecostals. There was an ancient controversy over baptism using the formula that Oneness Pentecostals use, with some ancient authorities holding it to be valid. However, this was motivated by the apparent use of that formula at some places in scripture, not by anti-Trinitarian intentions (which would certainly be considered an invalidation of the baptism, regardless of the superficial validity of the formula). The most significant part, some theologians have argued, is not so much the Trinitarian wording, as the Trinitarian intention, and the recognition that the baptism involves all three Persons.

Another condition is that water be used. Some Christian groups historically have rejected the use of water for baptism, for example the Albigensians. These baptisms would not be valid, nor would a baptism in which some other liquid was used. However, the Church has determined that emergency baptism performed with a liquid other than water (only where water is not available) is vaild. In one such case, antifreeze from a car radiator was used under extraordinary necessity, and declared valid.

Another requirement is that the celebrant intends to perform baptism. This requirement entails that the theology of baptism that the baptiser holds be sufficiently similar to that of the Catholic Church, although an exact identity is not required. However, where another denomination has a somewhat different, somewhat similar, theology of baptism, it can be difficult to be sure whether the requirement of intention is met. This is why conditional baptisms are often performed in these cases.

Some conditions expressly do not effect validity: whether immersion, infusion or aspersion is used; whether there is a single immersion or a triple immersion. Some theologians have also argued that sprinkling on a part of the body other than the head in an emergency would also be valid.

According to the church, the act of baptism imparts an indelible "seal" upon the soul of the baptized. Thus, once baptised, an individual cannot be baptised again. There was an ancient practice in some areas of rebaptising those who had returned to the church from heresy, but that practice has been rejected.

Baptism by other denominations

The Catholic, Orthdox, Anglican, and Methodist churches accept baptism performed by other denominations as valid, subject to certain conditions. It is only possible to be baptized once, thus people with valid baptisms from other denominations may not be baptized again upon conversion or transfer. Instead, for these individuals, either the sacrament of confirmation or a reaffirmation of faith is performed. However, in some cases it can be difficult to decide if the original baptism was in fact valid; if there is any doubt, a conditional baptism is employed, in which the officiant says something of the form of "should professional people be non however baptised, We baptise you...". The need for conditional baptisms is motivated not only by factual uncertainties regarding the original baptism, but also by the uncertainty of some of the baptismal theology regarding the precise conditions for the validity of baptism (the Church holds one cannot be certain that opinions offered by pious theologians, but on which the Church has not made an authoritative pronouncement, are in fact correct, and even authoritative pronouncements can have multiple interpretations which the Church has neither definitively endorsed or rejected).

Who may administer a baptism

In normal circumstances, a licit baptism must be performed by a priest (for the Orthodox) or by a priest or deacon (for Roman Catholics and Anglicans) or by a duly ordained or appointed pastor (for Methodists). However, in cases of a genuine emergency, anyone may perform the baptism - if, for example, an unbaptised person, in danger of imminent death, desires baptism, but a priest is not available to perform one, and there is a real danger the person may die before a priest can baptise them. However, if a baptism by a layperson is performed, it will often be followed if possible by a conditional baptism by a priest, in case there was any deficiency in the performance of the sacrament by the layperson.

The Catholic Church teaches that even when a baptism is illicit, it may be valid if done by the proper form, with intent to baptize, by any person, even a non-Christian.

Baptist and other protestant baptism

Baptist groups derive their name either from the restrictions that they traditionally place on the mode and subjects of the ordinance of baptism or from a shortening of the term Anabaptist which means to rebaptize. Anabaptists were labeled such because they rebaptized people who had received infant baptism or sprinkling by another denomination. Immersion of confessing believers is regarded as the only legitimate, biblical baptism. People of other faiths often assume that baptism is not administered to children, but this is an error. Baptists instead require that a person make a credible confession of saving faith in Christ prior to being baptized, regardless of the confessor's age. Such a person is understood to be born again (John 3:1-8). Baptists believe that salvation is an actual event both at the cross of Christ in history, and in the confessing believer's life, whether or not an actual conversion experience can be discerned.

Those who hold views influenced by the Baptists, may perform the ceremony indoors in a baptismal, a swimming pool, or bathtub, or outdoors in a creek or river: as long as there is water, nothing prevents the performance of Baptism. Protestant groups influenced by these convictions usually emphasize that it memorializes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus (Romans 6), which according to the grace of God has become the basis of repentance and new life for those who have professed belief in Him, symbolizing spiritual death with regard to sin and a new life of faith in God. They typically teach that baptism does not accomplish anything in itself, but is an outward sign or testimony, a personal act, indicating the invisible reality that the person's sins have already been washed away by the cross of Christ, and applied to their life according to their profession of faith. It is also understood to be a covenantal act, signifying entrance into the New Covenant of Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:8-12, Romans 6). For Baptists, baptism is a requirement for church membership, rather than a necessary requirement for salvation.

The above description applies not just to those denominations using Baptist in their title, but also to a wide variety of other Protestant denominations deriving from the Anabaptist tradition, including Mennonites and Pentecostals.

Latter Day Saint baptism

In the Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism), baptism is recognized as one of the four basic principles of the gospel, in addition to faith in Jesus, repentance, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. As with many other Restorationist faiths, baptism must be by immersion for the remission of sins (meaning that through baptism, past sins are forgiven), and occurs after one has shown faith and repentance.

Latter Day Saint baptisms also must occur only after an "age of answerability," or the age at which a child begins to know right from wrong which Mormonism normally defines as the age of eight years. Mormonism strongly rejects infant baptism. In addition, Mormonism requires that baptism may only be performed with one who has been called and ordained by God with priesthood authority.

During the actual baptism ceremony, the priest performing the baptism says a prayer before immersing the baptisee entirely under the water. The form of this prayer has varied. In an early portion of the Book of Mormon, the prayer was as follows: Later in the Book of Mormon, the prayer was given as follows: Some time before 1835, the words "getting authority given pine tree state" were changed to "getting been commissioned." (D&C 20:73).

Latter Day Saints do not generally believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit occurs immediately after baptism; rather, the gift is given by the laying on of hands in a separate confirmation ritual after baptism.

The process of repentance and sanctification continues by partaking of the Sacrament every Sunday which Latter Day Saints consider to be a renewal of one's baptismal covenant with God. They also believe that baptism is symbolic both of Jesus's death, burial and resurrection and of the baptisee's death and burial of the natural or sinful man and rebirth as a disciple of Jesus.

Baptism in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the largest denomination of Mormonism, baptism and confirmation are only the first of several ordinances believed to be required for exaltation. Membership into the LDS Church is granted only by baptism whether a person has been raised in the Church or not. The church also practices baptism for the dead along with all other Church ordinances members of the LDS Church perform "vicariously" or "by proxy" in their temples for everyone who has not received these ordinances while living.

Baptisms inside and outside the temples are usually done in a font although they can be perfomed in any large body of water. In the temples the fonts are usually laid out on the sculptures of twelve oxen representing the twelve tribes of Israel. Great care is taken in the execution of the baptism; if the baptism is not executed properly it must be redone. The person administering the baptism must recite the prayer exactly, and immerse every part, limb, hair and clothing of the baptisee. If there are any mistakes, or if any part of the baptisee is not fully immersed, the baptism must be redone. Two Priesthood authorities stand by as witnesses in part to make sure that the baptism is conducted properly.

Baptism in Churches of Christ

Claiming to date back to the establishment of the Church in the first century on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), Churches of Christ believe they are following the exact practice as established in the first century Church and as commanded in the New Testament. They teach the following about baptism: According to Church of Christ interpretation, Acts 2:38 teaches that repentance and baptism precede the remission of sins. This belief is further explained by 1 Peter 3:21 in which Peter says that "Baptism doth as well okay, save united states", seemingly indicating that it is essential to salvation. Romans 6:3 also states that baptism puts one "into Christ". Valid baptism may be administered by any member of the Church as long as it is administered according to the scriptures and church teaching. Some members would assert that even a non-Christian may perform baptism, leading to the possibility that two isolated non-Christians could baptize each other, or even that a single non-Christian might baptize himself. Most would concur that the important actor in baptism is God, not the person doing the baptizing.

Baptism is therefore a salvific ordinance in the Churches of Christ, though no mention is made of "baptismal regeneration" as is known in the Roman Catholic Church.

Other baptisms
Non-christian religions
Although baptism as a rite, is Christian, many cultures practice or have practiced rites similar to baptism, including the ancient Egyptian, the Hebraic/Jewish, the Babylonian, the Mayan and the Japanese cultures. In some, such evidence may be archaeological and descriptive in nature, rather than a modern practice.

Mandaeans, who abhor Jesus and Moses as false prophets, revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism.

The Sikh (a hindu-muslim-christian syncretism) baptism ceremony, dating to 1699, was established when the religion's tenth leader (Guru Gobind Singh) baptised 5 followers of his faith and then was baptised himself by his followers, similar to Jesus' baptism by John the Baptist. The Sikh baptism ceremony is called Amrit Sanskar or Amrit Sanchar. The Sikh is said to have taken Amrit once they have been baptised. In Sikhism, the baptised Sikh is also called an Amritdhari literally meaning Amrit Taker or one who has Taken on Amrit.

Non-religious baptism
Although even the use of water is often absent, the term baptism is also used for various initiations as rate of passage to a walk of secular life.

In the Flemish variety of Dutch, for example, one word for academic hazing is schachtendoop ('pledge baptism'), while it generally involved more soiling ("baptizing" with objects such as rotten food) and other abuse than cleansing.

See also baptised by fire