Baptism
BAPTISM
A PAPER
IN PARTIAL COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEO 350: FUNDAMENTAL THEOLOGICAL ISSUES
BY MATTHEW ADAMS
FEBRUARY 19, 2014
Since Jesus Christ was resurrected from the grave, his followers have practiced baptism as an initiation to the faith and a sign or mark of the King that they serve. While baptism and its practice has been used almost universally in the Christian faith, there is still much debate over who should be baptized and for what purpose someone should be baptized. There are those who believe that baptism is a sacrament that actually grants the baptized salvation through Christ, while others see the act as a symbol of the union of Christ and his Believers. Some sects baptize infants; other sects baptize only believers. Some sprinkle the subject; others immerse as Christ was baptized. Some hold baptism as a dedication ceremony; others require it upon entrance to the church; and still others view it as the initiation into Christian life. There is no doubt that nearly all Believers are baptized at some point in their life, but the purpose and timing of the act are still hotly debated to this day.
This paper will explore the main issues related to baptism, specifically the question of its method, subjects, and purpose. It would seem to the author that issues that cause debate on this topic are less important than the topic itself. There is no reason why these slight differences should cause hostility and disunion in the Church of Christ. However, this essay is written from the perspective that baptism is for the Believer only, as an outward symbol of the faith that has been placed in Christ for salvation.
Churches and sects have long been divided on the proper method of baptism. Some groups immerse, or dunk under a pool of water; others pour or sprinkle water on the recipient. The historical evidence available, including Christian
A PAPER
IN PARTIAL COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THEO 350: FUNDAMENTAL THEOLOGICAL ISSUES
BY MATTHEW ADAMS
FEBRUARY 19, 2014
Since Jesus Christ was resurrected from the grave, his followers have practiced baptism as an initiation to the faith and a sign or mark of the King that they serve. While baptism and its practice has been used almost universally in the Christian faith, there is still much debate over who should be baptized and for what purpose someone should be baptized. There are those who believe that baptism is a sacrament that actually grants the baptized salvation through Christ, while others see the act as a symbol of the union of Christ and his Believers. Some sects baptize infants; other sects baptize only believers. Some sprinkle the subject; others immerse as Christ was baptized. Some hold baptism as a dedication ceremony; others require it upon entrance to the church; and still others view it as the initiation into Christian life. There is no doubt that nearly all Believers are baptized at some point in their life, but the purpose and timing of the act are still hotly debated to this day.
This paper will explore the main issues related to baptism, specifically the question of its method, subjects, and purpose. It would seem to the author that issues that cause debate on this topic are less important than the topic itself. There is no reason why these slight differences should cause hostility and disunion in the Church of Christ. However, this essay is written from the perspective that baptism is for the Believer only, as an outward symbol of the faith that has been placed in Christ for salvation.
Churches and sects have long been divided on the proper method of baptism. Some groups immerse, or dunk under a pool of water; others pour or sprinkle water on the recipient. The historical evidence available, including Christian