“Christianity has developed into a highly ritual-filled tradition and many of its significant practices are acts of public worship associated with the sacraments.” – Living Religion, 4th edition pg. 266.
Ever since its inception, Christianity has been epitomised by a range of religious practices that explore the sacred beliefs that have been upheld and spread around the world. These practices thus continue to bear a significant influence over the lives of adherents and how they seek to express their faith in Christianity. One such religious practice is that of baptism which functions as a significant milestone in the life of any Christian and entails aspects of Christianity that are explored throughout the daily life of the adherent. Therefore, in this response, the Christian religious practice of baptism will be explored in regards to its significance, the basic Christian beliefs it explores as well as the importance of baptism for the individual and the community. Through an analysis of one of the many sacraments in Christianity, one will be able to estimate the large influence Christian religious practices have on the lives of adherents.
Baptism is an extensively significant religious practice within the Christian faith which is why it continues to have an unrelenting influence on the life of an adherent. Mark 16:16 quotes: “He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Essentially, baptism symbolises a break with the old sinful way of life and demonstrates a full commitment and determination to begin a new way of life obeying God and fulfilling His perfect Will. One who is baptised can never go back to the old way, or else he stands in jeopardy of losing out on eternal life and consequently being consumed in the lake of fire. The significance of baptism within Christianity is evident from the features of