What is the ceremony of baptism?

Answer

Scripture says that Jesus intructed His disciples to "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."(Matthew Ch 28)

What is Baptism: "Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, 'Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.' Jesus answered him, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nicodemus said to him, 'How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?' Jesus answered, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.' The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.' Nicodemus said to him, 'How can this be?' Jesus answered him, 'Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.'" (John Ch3)

The ceremony of Baptism therefore enables us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven through our spritual birth.

Entry to the Kingdom of Heaven in this way cannot be denied as we see when John the Baptist "saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that befits repentance." (Matthew Ch 3) and when Jesus said "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force "(Matthew Ch 11)

There are other ways to enter the Kingdom of Heaven e.g. 'Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.'." (Mark 10). "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew Ch 7) "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ….." (Matthew Ch 5)

Note 1: Jesus was baptised by John "for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness. ..... And when Jesus was baptised, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'" (Matthew Ch 3) thus confirming His entry into the Kingdom of Heaven and His sonship of the King of Kings.

Note 2: Like our natural birth which is carried out with a certain amount of local custom, necessary and otherwise, a good deal of the the ceremony around our spiritual birth depends on local custom. However the main thing is that we are baptised, the reason being that eternal life comes solely through the Kingdom of Heaven where God the Son is King and the only route to God the Father. For us then the road of eternal life can begin at baptism and end up, throught the power of God, hopefully in the Kingdom of God the Father where the righteous will shine like the sun.

Answer

Any Christian can baptise another Christian and it is done by completely submerging them in water as a symbol of washing away an old life and beginning a Christ-like life. The act itself is a showing of our obedience to Christ's instructions. Be aware, that some churches require you to be baptised at their church in order to be a member of it. In reality, it is between yourself and Christ and doesn't require the blessing of a man-made religion or church.

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Baptism serves four purposes: 1. It is for the remission of sins. 2. It admits the repentant person to membership into the Church and to the kingdom of God on earth. 3. It is the gate to the highest degree of glory in the kingdom of heaven, that is, it start a person out on the straight and narrow path which leads to eternal life. 4. It is a means whereby the door to personal sanctification is opened.
Baptism is also symbolic of a new birth.

Robert

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT -

It is an infilling of the Holy Spirit that empowers the believer to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit

BAPTISM IN WATER -

John said that he batised in water but there was one coming after him that would baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Water baptism is obsolete for the remission of sins. Water baptism was done prior to the death and resurrection of Christ to PREPARE THE WAY for the Lord.

After Christ died and rose we baptise in water as a profession of our faith and we Baptise with the Holy Spirit because He came at Pentecost as instructed by Christ Himself.

First answer by ID3477441287. Last edit by Edward leane. Contributor trust: 8 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 85 [recommend question]