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The Purpose of Baptism in the Christian Life

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Before exploring the purpose of baptism in the Christian life , it's important to gain an understanding of its meaning. The English word "baptism" comes from the Greek baptisma, which refers to "washing, dipping, or immersing something into water."

A general biblical definition of baptism is “a rite of washing with water as a sign of religious purification and consecration.” This rite of cleansing with water as a means of achieving ritual purity was practiced frequently in the Old Testament (Exodus 30:19–20).

Baptism signified purity or cleansing from sin and devotion to God. Many believers have practiced baptism as a tradition without fully understanding its significance and purpose.

What Is the Purpose of Being Baptized?

Christian denominations differ widely in their teachings about the purpose of baptism.

• Some faith groups believe baptism accomplishes the washing away of sin , thus making it a necessary step in salvation.
• Others believe that baptism, while not accomplishing salvation, is still a sign and seal of salvation. Thus, baptism ensures entrance into the church community.
• Many churches teach that baptism is a vital step of obedience in the believer’s life, yet only an outward acknowledgment or testimony of the salvation experience already accomplished. These groups believe baptism itself has no power to cleanse or save from sin since God alone is responsible for salvation. This perspective is called "Believer's Baptism."
• A few denominations consider baptism a form of exorcism from evil spirits.

New Testament Baptism

In the New Testament , the significance of baptism is seen more clearly. John the Baptist was sent by God to spread the news of the coming Messiah,  Jesus Christ . John was directed by God (John 1:33) to baptize those who accepted his message.

John's baptism was called “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Mark 1:4,  NIV) . John's baptism anticipated Christian baptism. Those baptized by John acknowledged their sins and professed their faith that through the coming Messiah they would be forgiven.

Jesus Christ submitted to baptism as an example for believers to follow.

Baptism is significant in that it represents the forgiveness and cleansing from sin that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Baptism publicly acknowledges one's confession of faith and belief in the gospel message. It also symbolizes the sinner's entrance into the community of believers ( the church ).

Purpose of Baptism

Identification.

Water baptism identifies the believer with the Godhead :  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit :

Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (NIV)

Water Baptism identifies the believer with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection:

Colossians 2:11-12 "When you came to Christ, you were 'circumcised,' but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure--the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead." ( NLT)

Act of Obedience

Water Baptism is an act of obedience for the believer. It should be preceded by repentance, which simply means “change.” That change is the turning from our sin and selfishness to serve the Lord. It means placing our pride, our past, and all of our possessions before the Lord. It means giving the control of our lives over to Him:

Acts 2:38, 41 "Peter replied, 'Each of you must turn from your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.' Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church--about three thousand in all." ( NLT)

Public Testimony

Water Baptism is a public testimony or the outward confession of the experience that has occurred inwardly in a believer’s life. In baptism, we stand before witnesses confessing our identification with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Symbolism

Water Baptism doesn't save a person. Instead, it symbolizes the salvation that has already happened. It is a picture representing the profound spiritual truths of death, resurrection, and cleansing. 

Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God , who loved me and gave himself for me." (NIV)

Romans 6:3–4 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. (NLT)

Resurrection

Romans 6:4-5 "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection." (NIV)

Romans 6:10-13 "He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God. So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires. Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning. Instead, give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God." (NLT)

The washing through the water of baptism symbolizes the believer's cleansing from the stain and filth of sin through God's grace .

1 Peter 3:21 "And this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also – not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ." (NIV)

1 Corinthians 6:11 "But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (, NIV)

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What Is Baptism? Its Meaning and Importance in Christianity

"Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" ( 1 Peter 3:21 )

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." ( Galatians 3:27 )

Table of Contents

• Meaning of Baptism

How Baptism Relates to Jesus

• Baptism in the New Testament
• The Purpose of Baptism
• Key Bible Verses

How Should Baptism Be Done?

• Importance for Christians to Be Baptized

When we enter the waters of baptism, we proclaim the gospel message. Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and lives again. By joining in baptism, we’re identifying ourselves with Him. Romans 6:4 says we have been buried with Him through baptism into death. We’re now dead to the power of sin. Being raised up out of the water expresses our new life in Christ and our union with Him.

The Meaning of Baptism

If the meaning of baptism could be summarized in one word, that would be identification. Baptism speaks primarily of personal, public identification with Jesus Christ.

In Romans 6:3-4 , the Apostle Paul puts the matter this way:

Don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Notice the strength of the expressions "baptized into Christ," "baptized into His death," and "buried with Him in baptism." Someone may suggest that the primary reference here is to Spirit baptism. That's true, but at the very least, water baptism is in the background of this passage.

How important is your baptism? It is your personal identification with the greatest act of human history—the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Baptism doesn't save you—salvation comes by faith alone ( Ephesians 2:8-9 ). Your guilt before God is removed the moment you trust in Christ. But baptism is your personal testimony to, and the inward assurance of, your passage from the old life to the new life...

1. It means we have turned from the old life of sin to a new life in Jesus Christ.

2. It means we are publicly identifying with Christ's death , burial, and resurrection .

3. It means we are openly joining the ranks of those who believe in Christ.

When you are baptized, you are visually preaching the gospel. As you stand in the water waiting to be baptized, first, you symbolize Jesus dying on the cross. Second, you symbolize Jesus buried in the tomb as you are lowered into the water. As you are raised from the water, you symbolize Jesus rising from the dead.

And since you personally are being baptized, you are also saying, "I died with Jesus Christ, I was buried with Him and now I am raised with Christ to a brand-new life."

In short, in your baptism, you are confessing the faith without using any words at all. And your confession in your baptism will be more effective with your friends than any sermon the pastor preaches on Sunday morning—more effective because it comes directly from you.

The Greek word translated as “baptize” is the verb baptizo . Most contemporary lexicons say the primary meaning is “to dip, plunge, immerse.” The secondary meaning is to “bring under the influence.” Dr. Merrill Tenney notes that “after making allowances for certain occasional exceptions, such as passages where washing is implied, the etymological meaning indicates that baptism was originally by immersion." (Basic Christian Doctrine, p. 257)

Baptism in the Bible:

Baptism requires water. ( Matthew 3:11 )

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

Baptism required plenty of water. ( John 3:23 )

"John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized"

Baptism requires going down into the water. ( Acts 8:38-39 )

"And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing."

Baptism requires coming up out of the water. ( Matthew 3:16 , Acts 8:39 ) Furthermore, the figures of speech used by the Apostle Paul accord well with immersion. Baptism is called a “burial” in Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12 . Baptism is “into his death” and involves being “raised to walk in newness of life.” It is difficult to see how sprinkling or pouring could convey these meanings.

Finally, the testimony of church history is that immersion was indeed the mode of baptism practiced in the early church.

What is the Purpose of Baptism?

Charles Stanley explains the importance of baptism, saying:

"Our Savior commands us to follow His example in all things, including baptism: Matthew 28:19 says,  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."  At the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus chose to be baptized. John the Baptist was calling the Jewish people to confess their sins and demonstrate repentance through immersion in the Jordan River. Sinless Jesus joined the crowd at the river and asked John to baptize Him. The Lord chose to affiliate Himself with sinful man. When we follow His example in the waters of baptism, we're publicly confessing our faith in the Savior and identifying ourselves with Him. Baptism allows us to demonstrate our connection with Jesus and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We're all members of one body under the authority of the same Lord. But it's important to remember that Ephesians 2:8-9 says faith in Jesus Christ is the only requirement for salvation, not baptism. But, to fulfill His command, we're to be baptized following our decision to accept Him into our lives."

Key Scriptures about Baptism

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ( Acts 2:38 )

And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ ( Acts 22:16 )

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ ( 1 Peter 3:21 )

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ( John 3:5 )

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ( Mark 16:16 )

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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 ( Matthew 28:19 )

Bible Dictionary

It is well known that ablution or bathing was common in most ancient nations as a preparation for prayers and sacrifice or as an expiatory of sin. In warm countries, this connection is probably even closer than in colder climates, hence the frequency of ablution in the religious rites throughout the East. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is the rite or ordinance by which persons are admitted into the Church of Christ. It is the public profession of faith and discipleship. Baptism signifies--

• A confession of faith in Christ;
• A cleansing or washing of the soul from sin;
• A death to sin and a new life in righteousness. The mode and subjects of baptism being much-controverted subjects, each one can best study them in the works devoted to those questions. The command to baptize was co-extensive with the command to preach the gospel. All nations were to be evangelized, and they were to be made disciples admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion by baptism. ( Matthew 28:19 ) It appears to have been a kind of transition from the Jewish baptism to the Christian. The distinction between John's baptism and Christian baptism appears in the case of Apollos ( Acts 18:26-27 ) and of the disciples at Ephesus mentioned ( Acts 19:1-6 ). We cannot but draw from this history the inference that in Christian baptism, there was a deeper spiritual significance.

Source: Smith, William, Dr. "Entry for 'Baptism" " Smith's Bible Dictionary ." 1901.

Interview with Mark Dever: Transcript of the video above, edited for readability:

Baptism should normally be done by immersion. I think when you look in the New Testament, that seems to be what's going on. When you look at the uses of baptizo, that seems to be how it's used. I do think that Baptists over-argue when we say it can only mean that. I think you have examples in first century literature of it being used to mean other things as well.

But I remember being with a Greek Orthodox abbot one time and a Presbyterian friend, and this Greek Orthodox abbot, head of a monastery, I was trying to explain that I was a Baptist Christian, and that meant we immersed believers. And he was confused why I used the word baptism and immersed. He spoke English a little bit, but he talked to this Greek Orthodox monk from Brooklyn who then explained it to him in more length, who also spoke Greek. And this Greek Orthodox abbot was offended that there were Christians out there who didn't immerse, and yet they called it baptism because he said, "Hey, it's our word. It's a Greek word. We know what it means. It means to immerse." Now, they immerse infants, but they immerse.

I think we can overemphasize that. I think the important question for us as Christians is generally, who is baptized, not so much how. I think the thing that protects the shape of the church is that it is believers who are part of the church. We are the ones who've been baptized and come to the Lord's table regularly. I think the mode is not essential, though I think it's normal and all I've ever done is immerse and that's all I ever planned to do, I think that's normally what you should do. But I think Baptists do slightly over-argue when they want to say that baptizo can only mean immerse, because actually in the first century, I can show you times when the word was used to mean other things. So I would just say let's immerse believers, and if you have a special set of circumstances, God will give your church wisdom what to do.

Why Is It Important for Christians to Be Baptized?

In Baptism, Jesus is speaking to the believer, to the assembled congregation, and to the watching world, identifying this person with himself in death, in burial, and in resurrection. And so in Baptism, what you have is a sign of an execution. It's a sign of a drowning. This is the reason why, when Jesus is baptized, John the Baptist can't believe it. Jesus comes to him and says, "I want to be baptized by you," and John says, "No, no, no, I need be baptized by you."

Why is John so alarmed by this? Well, it's because of what he's doing with baptism. He's saying, "You're a bunch of snakes, you need to come under the judgment of God." And in Baptism, what's happening? Well, water is scary. You go under water, you can't breathe. It's a picture of death and of the grave, and always has been, Biblically. The flood, God floods the world, that is a baptism, Peter tells us in 1st Peter, chapter 3. God sends Jonah into the deep, into the water, it is his judgment upon Jonah. God ultimately baptizes the world with fire, and engulfs and immerses the world in fire.

So when Jesus says, "I want to be baptized," John is alarmed by this because this is the sinless son of God . And it makes no more sense than someone saying, "I really would like to be on the federal sex offender registry." You would say, "Why would you want to be on that list? Why would you want to identify yourself with these snakes who are under the judgment of God?" But of course, Jesus is doing exactly that. Not because he has sin, but because he's identifying himself with sinful people.

So, when someone is going down into the waters of baptism, first of all, that person is confessing, "I deserve death. I deserve the judgment of God." Jesus, through his church, is saying to the person, "Yeah, you're right. This is exactly what you deserve, is death and the grave." But the person is also acknowledging, "I am trusting in the power of God to raise me from death, and Jesus is affirming that in the physical act of the person being brought under water, can't breathe, death, and then being ripped out of the water by a power that doesn't belong to him. There's a power that's coming from the outside, bringing that person up.

So, that person now has identified with Jesus in his death, Romans chapter 6, in his burial, in his resurrection, the person also is acknowledging, "I was dead in trespasses and sins under the judgment of God, buried, but I am now raised to newness of life because I'm in Christ." And the person is identified with that final reality of dying and being buried and then having one's name called and being brought up out of the grave. That's a physical, visible sign of that.

And so what happens in baptism is that Jesus is claiming this person as his own through the church, and the church is announcing, "This is the boundary marker, this is one of ours. This is our brother and our sister." Which is why in the New Testament, you don't have any such thing as an unbaptized Christian. Those who believe are baptized, and in the churches, the apostle Paul says that there's one lord, there's one faith, there's one baptism, one God and Father of all.

So baptism is extraordinarily important, this is the initial rite of the Christian's obedience, but it also is a sign that builds up the faith, not only of the person being baptized, but of the rest of the Church community, is they ... They're watching the gospel and they're hearing the gospel sloshing around in the water. Jesus has given that to us because he knows we need to see it, we need to experience it, we need to be reminded of it.

And every time we see baptism, we're reminded we're at war, and we're to take this gospel to the ends of the earth, discipling the nations and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Excerpt from " Taking the Plunge " from Keep Believing Ministries & Charles Stanley (used by permission).

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Blog / 7 Reasons Why Baptism Is Important

7 Reasons Why Baptism Is Important

In the book Understanding Four Views on Baptism (Zondervan, 2007), editor John H. Armstrong says, “From the earliest days of Christianity baptism has been a rite of initiation. By this watery sign, made in the triune name of God, people are openly admitted into the life and community of the church. All agree that baptism is the symbolic door into the church.”

What Is Baptism?

The English word “baptism” derives from the Greek word baptisma and denotes the action of washing or plunging in water. Ancient pagans had ceremonial cleanings, but its Christian origin is primarily traced to Old Testament Jewish ritual purifications.

Its imagery is rich in Hebrew Scripture, as in Psalm 51:1-7 “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin….Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” In his commentary , Warren Wiersbe says, “’Wash’ ( vv. 2, 7 ) refers to the cleansing of dirty clothing ( Isa. 1:18 ; 64:6 ). In the Jewish society of that day, to wash and change clothes marked a new beginning in life ( Gen. 35:2; 41:14; 45:22 ; Ex. 19:10, 14 ), and David made such a new start ( 2 Sam. 12:20 ).”

The Old Testament story of Naaman, the commander of the king of Aram’s army, is another precursor to the concept of baptism, where the prophet Elisha told Naaman to wash 7 times in the Jordan river as the method God chose to heal him of his leprosy and demonstrate God’s life-changing power and far reaching love, even to those outside the Israelite fold ( 2 Kings 5:1-14 ).

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, John the Baptizer used this Jewish imagery in his work where the people’s confession of sin, and their repentance and forgiveness, was ratified by baptism. The New International Encyclopedia of Bible Characters on Bible Gateway Plus says, “The use of water rituals was not uncommon in Judaism. Cleansing from the impurities of sin was certainly one of the ideas conveyed by this ceremony. However, in view of the associations of water with Noah’s Flood and the destruction of the Egyptians in the Red Sea, John’s baptism was probably intended also to remind the people that sin requires divine judgment ( 1 Peter 3:20-21 ).”

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What Are the Forms of Baptism?

Here are abbreviated descriptions of Christian forms of baptism from the Encyclopedia of the Bible on Bible Gateway:

• Baptist view: baptism of the professing regenerate by immersion. “The outward rite confirms and seals to recipients their inward faith.”
• Reformed view: infant baptism of children of the covenant. “Parents eligible to receive baptism for their offspring are only such as are faithful in their confession and in the discharge of their covenant obligations. Those who do not give evidence of the union with Christ which baptism signifies cannot claim the grace and promise extended in this institution.”
• Sacramentarian view: infant baptism by sprinkling as a regenerative act. “The Spirit as the Lord and Giver of life is believed to regenerate the child and to make him a living member of the body of Christ, the family of God. This is sacramental because it is seen in faith and not empirically, and it is believed to begin a process of growth in grace which carries the new creature into his eternal destiny.”

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Why Is Baptism Important?

“From the earliest days of Christianity baptism has been a rite of initiation ( Acts 2:41 ),” says Armstrong. “By this watery sign, made in the triune name of God, people are openly admitted into the life and community of the church.”

A person’s baptism is a proclamation that her sins are washed away by the blood of Christ and that she is now united with Christ by the Holy Spirit in the newness of Christ’s resurrection life.

Here are 7 reasons why baptism is important.

1. Jesus Modeled Baptism

• Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. ( Matthew 3:13 ) • At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ( Mark 1:9 ) • When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. ( Luke 3:21 )

2. Jesus Commanded Baptism

• Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

3. Baptism Is a Public Confession

• Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38

4. Baptism Signifies a New Name

• So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:26-29

5. Baptism Represents a New Life

• Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:1-11

• Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

6. Baptism Establishes a New Identity

• I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

• In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:11-12

7. Baptism Unifies the Faith

• There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

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Baptism in Christianity

How it works

Baptism is a standout amongst the most imperative strides in the life of a devotee. It is the emblematic portrayal of the devotee’s relationship with Christ in his demise and revival. In baptism, God gives the devotee an outer seal of the guarantee of salvation and the adherent, thus, makes an admission before God and before the Church. Since this intense dramatization is happened in the physical world with physical components the method of sanctification as the inundation of the devotee to water is essential.

Additionally, because sanctification is a practice of transformation, it should just be connected to devotees. Baptism is a charitable blessing from God which enables the devotee to individualize his or her experience of change.

Sanctification is unmistakably a basic initiatory custom of the Christian life. It is principally an outer portrayal of the inside reality of salvation. It symbolizes ones distinguishing proof with the passing and revival of Jesus Christ. Second, sanctification is the ritual by which one is started into the unmistakable church. Third, in sanctification, the devotee distinguishes himself with the all-inclusive Church. Submersion is in this manner an essential reason for solidarity in Christ. Fourth, immersion is an open admission of Christ. Fifth, absolution is a demonstration of teaching and submission. At long last, absolution is the method for getting benevolent endowments from God, a thought which will be completely extended later in this exposition.

Baptism is a fundamental initiatory custom of the Christian life. It is an outside portrayal of the interior reality of salvation. It symbolizes one’s ID with the passing and restoration of Jesus Christ. Second, submersion is the ceremony by which one is started into the noticeable church. Third, in submersion, the adherent recognizes himself with the general Church. Immersion is along these lines an essential reason for solidarity in Christ. Fourth, absolution is an open admission of Christ. Fifth, submersion is a demonstration of apprenticeship and acquiescence. At long last, sanctification is the methods for getting charitable blessings from God, a thought which will be completely extended later in this exposition.

Even though they are signs that utilization such things as water to speak to purging and host to speak to the group of Christ, they are considerably more profound representative customs that convey us closer to accomplishing the Divine-human experience we look for as Christians. Submersion is extraordinary compared to other holy observances that give how the two suggestions and images cooperate to convey us closer to God. Baptism is the principal holy observance Christians get as an individual from the congregation. It is viewed as a ritual of commencement through the purging of unique sin. Each is accepted to be conceived with unique sin as a result of the demonstration of wrong doing focused on God by Adam in the get-go.

In the custom, blessed water is poured over either our head or body while the cleric makes the indication of the cross and recounts petitions. As a functioning individual from the congregation, it is an astonishing thing to observe and celebrate in because it genuinely exhibits the huge love and pardoning God has for every one of his youngsters. The need of such a demonstration is impeding to our salvation and development as found in Mark 16:16, “He that believeth and is submerged will be spared, yet he that believeth not will be accursed” (Book of scriptures 1563). Just as Jesus himself was purified through water likewise, Christians wash and rinse with the power and effortlessness of God symbolized as water. Christ himself once purified through the water was found according to his Father, God, as his very own child. “Baptism fills in as the entryway through which man goes into the House of Eternal Wisdom the Church for, without it, a man can’t be joined totally with the Savior, turn into an individual from His Church, get alternate Sacraments, and be the beneficiary to Eternal Life (Coster). As the primary consecrated sign, water implies “new birth, new life, and a new creation by joining the start into Jesus’ life, passing and revival.” (Mueller 139) This can be translated from various perspectives anyway the congregation attempts to just this intricate hypothesis by showing us why and what the water symbolizes. Similarly, as Christ was killed, our submersion in water symbolizes us excessively biting the dust with him. Thus, our expulsion from the water symbolizes our resurrection and association with Christ giving us our first celestial human experience.

The profundity of such a demonstration unmistakably depicts how indispensable of a section purging of sins by a method for water is critical and utilized in our confidence since the get-go and a case of inception into Christ’s life. Water has, since the very beginning, been utilized to symbolize purging and fresh starts and this way a noteworthy motivation behind why this sign is viewed in that capacity in the emblematic ceremony (Broderick). Related to water being an indication of commencement into the congregation so are the representative demonstrations of the minister amid the holy observance. The emblematic demonstration of laying hands by the cleric, guardians, and godparents amid the blessing of the start with chrism underlines the ceremony’s shared character” (Mueller 139). As the majority of the gatherings included are individuals from the congregation, submersion is the principal demonstration of the inception of us into our very own Christ filled network known as the congregation. Including different dynamic individual from the congregation unites the congregation of past, present, and future alike. The minister goes about as Christ, who through his very own activities, blessed individuals of varying backgrounds through immersion.

The guardians and godparents symbolize the establishment of Christianity framed through the witnesses demonstration of spreading Jesus’ statement. The image of the network can be seen and felt just through such a private occasion, for example, this which conveys us closer to our definitive predetermination as pupils of God. With information of why and how we are sanctified through water, the following journey in understanding this heavenly ceremony would legitimize its need in our confidence. The Catholic Encyclopedia goes inside and out on such a point. “Scholars recognize a twofold need which they call a need of means and a need of statute.”

The primary shows a thing to be essential that, if lacking salvation can’t be accomplished. The second is had when a thing is in reality so important that it may not be precluded intentionally without transgression (Coster). The twofold hypothesis can be separated and utilized in giving how immersion is both hint and image of Christ. The discourse of need of means shows how through Jesus’ behavior and expressions of how we can accomplish salvation through such goes about as sanctification demonstrate this idea. This way, being that this holy observance manages unique sin, it being a need of statute is likewise substantial.

Seen all through the good book, submersion regularly alludes to all things considered a crucial and sharp piece of the arrangement of one’s otherworldliness. Therefore sanctification is viewed as an image of commencement into the congregation as well as inception into the life of Christ as educator, sibling and glorious ruler. Much like the sing of the cross symbolizes ones individual confidence as a Catholic in the Trinity, submersion symbolizes our craving to start our Christian lives through an act and an indication of purifying. Every other major and critical holy observance that pursues draws straightforwardly from our introduction in sanctification.

Affirmation can be utilized as an ideal case of this very articulation. “The interconnection among sanctification and the apostolate has been involved after some time. ” (Tkacik 26) Confirming ones confidence seals in one’s convictions and collective having a place proclaimed amid immersion goes about as an indication of how much sanctification intends to the Roman Catholic Church. The ceremony of submersion plainly shows humanities want to be nearer to God and his kingdom. Sanctification using numerous instrumental signs keeps on being an image of our journey for our very own heavenly human experience with Christ.

Unique Sin is only a piece of the route a large number of Christians around the globe wind up sanctified through water every year. It is an image of commencement and filtration into a sacred network did by adherents. As one of the most seasoned and most emblematic of ceremonies performed by the congregation, it is just through close to home love and deference of God and his creation that this holy observance can live on and keep on being the foundation of our confidence as cutting-edge Christians.

Works Cited

• https://youtube.be/KoPEMVTAI9M
• Coster, Will. Baptism and spiritual kinship in early modern England. Routledge, 2017.
• Broderick, Robert. Catholic Encyclopedia. Korea: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996. Print.
• Mueller, J. J. Holy Bible, King James Version. Theological Foundations. Winona, MN: Anselm Academic; pg. 120-200, 2008. Print. .
• Tkacik, Michael J., and Thomas McGonigle C. Pneumatic Correctives: What is the Spirit Saying to the Church of the 21st Century. Lanham, MD: University of America, 2007. Print.

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Essay on baptism

I was baptized in a swimming pool in my childhood pastor’s backyard. I was seven. Asked to make a confession of faith, I mumbled something incoherent through chattering teeth. I was focused on the embarrassing fact that my feet did not reach the bottom; my pastor and my dad had to hold me up.

The congregation was young then and worshiped in a font-less gymnasium. These days it does baptisms either in its baptistry or in a lake across town. The pastor who baptized me is long gone. So is his backyard pool—I checked.

I checked because I’ve long been vaguely bothered by the fact that my baptism happened in such an arbitrary, rootless place, in neither a church nor a natural body of water. Over time, my sense of self has grown increasingly dependent on a sense of physical place—and my spirituality has grown deeper baptismal roots. I find myself longing to return to the place of my baptism. But that place doesn’t exactly exist; the land remains, but not the water.... Read more in the new issue of the  Century

Steve Thorngate

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Home — Essay Samples — Religion — Baptism — Baptism: The Christian’s Rite of Passage

Baptism: The Christian's Rite of Passage

• Categories: Baptism Catholic Church

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Published: Apr 8, 2022

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• Jha, J.C. 1976 THE HINDU SACRAMENTS (RITES DE PASSAGE) IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. Caribbean Quarterly
• Robbins, Richard, Maggie Cummings, and Karen McGarry. 2016. Anthropology 1AB3: Religion, Race and Conflict – Custom Text. Toronto: Nelson
• Arun Raj and Prasanna N Rao. 2013 The Childhood Samskaras (Rites of passage) and Its Scientific Appreciation. Ayurpharm Int
• Iwasaki, S. 1963 Nama in Namakarana: Structures of Personal Names Ruled in the Grihyasutras. Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies

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Inventing Baptism: The Religious Histories of the Origin of "Christian Baptism"

This essay exposes the ideological biases characterizing recent research into the origin of "Christian baptism" as scholars variously root its origin in their preferred religion (Greco-Roman, Jewish, or sui generis Christianity). This is made possible in part through the constructed categories of various types of “baptisms” and a preference for "Christian baptism," which controls comparison. To remedy the distortion of sources, I propose that a robust implementation of comparative method is necessary, including clarification on what, why, and how we compare. This will shed clearer light on the origin of the religious ritual of baptism in, of, and around the Bible.

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Zusammenfassung [English below] Dieser Artikel stellt die Annahme in Frage, dass die Einmaligkeit der christlichen Taufe der Taufe des Johannes entstammt. Im Zusammenhang mit jüdischen Immersionen ist die Taufe des Johannes wahrscheinlich wiederholbar. Eine zweistufige Entwicklung der christlichen Taufe, zunächst zu einem einmaligen Initiationsritus und danach zu einem nicht wiederholbaren Ereignis, ergibt aufgrund der Quellenlage am meisten Sinn. Abstract This article challenges the assumption that the once only aspect of Christian baptism derives from John's baptism. In the context of Jewish immersions, John's baptism should prima facie be understood as repeatable. The available historical evidence suggests a two-stage development of Christian baptism, first into a one-time initiation rite, and then into an event that is unrepeatable for theological reasons.

Nicola Denzey Lewis

Petros Vassiliadis

This scholarly examination of the biblical foundation of Baptism is a contribution to the Orthodox and Catholic Churches’ titanic effort toward their sacramental union. Despite their mutual agreement to proceed to a common understanding of the tradition of the first millennium, this understanding is primarily meant to cover the Patristic interpretation of the undivided Church. However, in view of the fact that: (a) the biblical foundation of Christian theology remains a sine qua non for all theologies in both the Orthodox and the Catholic tradition, and (b) the Church’s foundational doctrine remains the Nicaea-Constantinople Creed, it is of utmost importance to examine whether Eucharistic theology, commonly agreed to be the foundational theological principle of the official theological dialogue, can be reconciled with Baptismal theology. My conclusion is that the Christian Baptism is so important for the unity of the Church that this initiatory rite almost forms the sole act of Christian identity, which even precedes the main sacrament par excellence of the Church, the Eucharist. Certainly, the ethical dimension of the Baptismal theology, which is not so evident (or prominent) in the Eucharistic theology, can definitely serve as a corrective of a “new paradigm” of a Baptismal/Eucharistic theology

Péter Jenei

Social-scientific analyses of religion have shown the underlying wide-scale structures of religious phenomena and the indebtedness of religion to culture and vice-versa. During the past few decades the results of this particular scholarship made a massive impact on the biblical field as well setting social-scientific method inevitable for biblical studies. By means of the social-scientific approach it is possible to examine Biblical and Judeo-Christian religious phenomena (e.g. Circumcision and Baptism) from a socio-cultural perspective, which enables to look at them in correlation with their cultural backgrounds. (Unpublished paper, delivered at PThU – DRHE 4th Symposium: Baptism – Traditional Concepts and Emerging Questions, Kampen, 14-18. May, 2009.)

Steve Turley

1 Cor 1:10-17 is a text that has perplexed scholars from two vantage points. On the one hand, there is the question of what is the relationship between baptism and the social divisions evident in the Corinthian ekklesia; on the other hand, there is the question of how to reconcile Paul’s apparent devaluation of baptism in 1:17 with Paul’s other baptismal references in 1 Corinthians and his wider corpus. This study seeks to explain both questions in terms of the relationship between ritual and social order. The ritual of baptism functions in 1 Cor 1:10-17 as a mean by which Paul can contrast two incompatible social orders in terms of two antithetical baptisms. Baptism ‘in the name of Christ’ obligates the Corinthians to live out a shared social order defined by the ethos of the cross. However, conflicts centering on status and patronage evidence a perpetuation of Graeco-Roman values among the Corinthians, which Paul sees as in effect compromising their baptisms as performed ‘in the name of Paul’, that is, performed for the patronage and benefaction of mere men. Given the relationship between ritual and social order, it is in light of these two contrasting baptisms – baptism ‘in the name of Christ’ (1:13c) and baptism ‘in the name of Paul’ (1:15) – that the baptism-gospel contrast in 1:17a is to be read. Paul is not contrasting baptism and the gospel per se; rather, he is contrasting baptism with and baptism without the gospel, the former representing the identifying characteristic of Christian ritual and social life.

James McDonald

Baptism, the primary rite of Christian initiation, was once the only form of Christian initiation. This dissertation assesses baptismal theory and practice, and how key elements of early baptism have been re-purposed in the creation of other initiatory rites and ceremonies.

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111 Baptism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Are you looking for inspiration for your baptism essay? Whether you're writing a personal reflection, a research paper, or an informative essay, choosing the right topic can make all the difference. To help you get started, here are 111 baptism essay topic ideas and examples that cover a wide range of perspectives and themes.

• The significance of baptism in Christianity.
• Analyzing the symbolism of water in baptism.
• The historical development of baptism in the early Christian church.
• The differences between infant baptism and believer's baptism.
• Exploring the various rituals and practices of baptism in different Christian denominations.
• The role of baptism in the salvation process.
• Baptism as a public declaration of faith.
• The importance of baptism in the life of a Christian believer.
• How baptism has evolved over time.
• The sacramental nature of baptism.
• The relationship between baptism and confirmation.
• The theological implications of the baptism of Jesus.
• The role of baptism in the forgiveness of sins.
• Exploring baptism as a form of spiritual cleansing.
• The impact of baptism on an individual's spiritual journey.
• The baptismal vows and their significance.
• The role of godparents in the baptismal ceremony.
• The influence of baptism on one's identity as a Christian.
• The connection between baptism and the Holy Spirit.
• The symbolism of baptismal garments.
• The role of baptism in the Christian initiation process.
• The controversy surrounding infant baptism.
• Analyzing the biblical references to baptism.
• The relationship between baptism and the Eucharist.
• The symbolism of immersion in baptism.
• The role of baptism in the early Christian community.
• Understanding the baptismal formula used in different traditions.
• The impact of baptism on one's sense of belonging to a faith community.
• The role of baptism in the conversion process.
• Exploring baptism as a form of spiritual rebirth.
• Analyzing the baptismal fonts and their symbolism.
• The significance of baptism in the Catholic Church.
• The role of baptism in the Protestant Reformation.
• The impact of baptism on one's moral and ethical values.
• The relationship between baptism and the Kingdom of God.
• The role of baptism in the mission of the church.
• The theological debates surrounding baptism.
• The process of baptism in different cultural contexts.
• The impact of baptism on one's understanding of community.
• The role of baptism in the Christian understanding of salvation.
• Analyzing the baptismal liturgy in different traditions.
• The symbolism of the baptismal candle.
• The relationship between baptism and the call to discipleship.
• Understanding baptism as a sacrament of initiation.
• The role of baptism in the forgiveness of original sin.
• The impact of baptism on one's relationship with God.
• The connection between baptism and the mission of Jesus.
• The role of baptism in the formation of Christian identity.
• The symbolism of water purification in baptism.
• The impact of baptism on one's understanding of grace.
• Analyzing baptism as a rite of passage.
• The historical roots of baptism in ancient Jewish rituals.
• The relationship between baptism and the Christian community.
• The role of baptism in the process of sanctification.
• The symbolism of baptismal oils.
• The impact of baptism on one's commitment to social justice.
• The connection between baptism and the resurrection of Jesus.
• The role of baptism in the healing of relationships.
• The significance of baptism in the formation of Christian virtues.
• Analyzing the baptismal vows in different Christian traditions.
• The impact of baptism on one's understanding of the kingdom of God.
• The relationship between baptism and the Christian understanding of love.
• Exploring baptism as a form of spiritual empowerment.
• The symbolism of the baptismal shell.
• The role of baptism in the process of reconciliation.
• The impact of baptism on one's understanding of the Trinity.
• The connection between baptism and the Christian understanding of hope.
• The role of baptism in the formation of Christian disciples.
• Analyzing the baptismal prayers in different Christian traditions.
• The significance of baptism in the Christian understanding of salvation history.
• The impact of baptism on one's understanding of the Christian mission.
• The relationship between baptism and the Christian understanding of freedom.
• Exploring baptism as a form of spiritual transformation.
• The symbolism of the baptismal stole.
• The role of baptism in the process of conversion.
• The impact of baptism on one's understanding of the Christian community.
• The connection between baptism and the Christian understanding of peace.
• The role of baptism in the formation of Christian character.
• Analyzing the baptismal hymns in different Christian traditions.
• The significance of baptism in the Christian understanding of creation.
• The impact of baptism on one's understanding of the Christian vocation.
• The relationship between baptism and the Christian understanding of justice.
• Exploring baptism as a form of spiritual enlightenment.
• The symbolism of the baptismal font.
• The role of baptism in the process of forgiveness.
• The impact of baptism on one's understanding of the Holy Spirit.
• The connection between baptism and the Christian understanding of joy.
• The role of baptism in the formation of Christian values.
• Analyzing the baptismal liturgy in different Christian traditions.
• The significance of baptism in the Christian understanding of redemption.
• The impact of baptism on one's understanding of the Christian hope.

These 111 baptism essay topic ideas and examples should provide you with a solid starting point for your writing. Remember to choose a topic that resonates with you and allows you to explore your own thoughts and experiences. Good luck with your essay!

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The Sacraments in Christianity: Baptism, Eucharist, and their Significance

Words: 545 | Pages: 3

Understanding the Concept of Sacraments in Christianity

In Christianity, there are seven sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (also known as Holy Communion), Penance (or Reconciliation), Anointing of the Sick, Matrimony and Holy Orders. Each one holds significant importance in practicing Christian life. Among them all though, Baptism and Eucharist bear particular significance. Baptism signifies initiation into Christian faith while Eucharist is seen as a continual reminder of Christ's sacrifice for humanity's sins - both playing crucial roles in shaping Christian identity. While different denominations may interpret or administer these sacraments differently based on their theological beliefs, their underlying essence remains rooted in connecting believers with God’s grace.

The Historical Origins of Baptism and Eucharist

The Eucharist or Holy Communion traces its origins directly to the Last Supper where Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples before his crucifixion. He referred to these elements as His body and blood, instructing them to continue this practice in remembrance of Him. Over centuries, this evolved into one of the most sacred rites within Christian worship services across denominations – a powerful symbol reflecting sacrifice and redemption through Christ’s love for humanity. The historical narratives surrounding both sacraments provide context for their enduring relevance and profound significance within Christian theology.

Theological Meaning and Significance of Baptism

Baptism signifies not only personal commitment but also communal recognition of one’s entrance into the body of Christ. The believer becomes part of a larger spiritual community that shares common beliefs and values. This sacrament holds immense significance because it marks the beginning of one's journey in faith - providing them with an identity rooted in God's love and grace while prompting them to live according to His teachings.

The Rituals and Symbols Associated with Baptism

Other symbols include white garments, which signify purity and a fresh start; oil, often used for anointing to represent strengthening by the Holy Spirit; and light from candles as an expression of faith shining out into the world. The ritual typically culminates with a blessing from the priest or minister, affirming God’s love and protection over his newly adopted child. These symbolic actions reaffirm Christian beliefs about redemption through Jesus Christ while fostering communal solidarity amongst believers.

Deep Dive into the Eucharist: Its Meaning and Significance

At its core, the Eucharist re-enacts the self-giving love shown by Jesus at His crucifixion. It invites participants to enter into that same spirit of sacrificial love towards others while seeking spiritual nourishment for their own faith journey. This symbolic meal holds immense significance within Christian worship - embodying Christ's promise to be spiritually present among His followers always. Thus, through the Eucharist, Christians are continually reminded of God's grace and mercy expressed through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

Comparative Analysis of Baptism and Eucharist in Different Christian Denominations

Similarly for Eucharist or Communion, views differ between transubstantiation (belief that bread and wine literally become Christ's body and blood) as upheld by Roman Catholic Church to consubstantiation (bread and wine coexist with Body & Blood of Christ) as believed by Lutherans to memorialism (it's purely symbolic), commonly accepted by many Protestant traditions. Frequency of celebrating this sacrament ranges from daily in some Orthodox churches to weekly or monthly in others. Despite these differences however each denomination holds deep reverence for both sacraments recognizing them as divine means to experience God’s grace.

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But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness.

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"On the other hand, we denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who are so beguiled and demoralized by the charms of pleasure of the moment, so blinded by desire, that they cannot foresee the pain and trouble that are bound to ensue."

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The Spinoff

The Sunday Essay about 3 hours ago

Living across the road from loafers lodge.

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In some ways, I couldn’t have been closer to the tragedy. In others, I was a whole universe away.

This essay was first published on 3 March, 2024. The Sunday Essay  is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.

H ad you been trying to market a suburb in Wellington, the Loafers Lodge was not the sort of landmark you’d want to draw attention to. Four storeys tall and infinitely bleak, the building stands on a busy corner between John Street and Adelaide Road. It’s a newly hip area, across from a homeware shop where I once spent $59 on a candle and a coffee shop that sells vegan doughnuts on Fridays. The Snickers one is my favourite. When I was a kid, the building was white with a blue trim, as though someone had captured the sky and turned it inside out. In most of my memories, the building is the colour it is now: a despairing brown, like a malt drink made with powdered milk that expired in 2019, alongside hopes of a capital gains tax.

From my apartment, I have a view of the left side of the building, which has been largely walled over. For years it has hosted a giant billboard. As with so much of Wellington’s prime real estate, this billboard had been capitalised on by Lowe & Co. For a while the company displayed a sign that said, “We can see your next house from here.” Then they replaced that with, “We’re not going, are you?” That one was for a City Mission fundraiser, in which you could buy tickets to an event you didn’t attend, with all the proceeds providing essentials for people who were struggling. It was a good premise, a clever campaign too, but what I really got a kick out of were the layers of irony. Lowe & Co was fundraising for people in need, on a building filled with people in need, in a city that was becoming – with their help – increasingly unaffordable. “And it’s for an event they literally don’t have to show up to,” I moaned to workmates, “I mean, that’s the extent of their community engagement: staying in their own homes.”

From the road, I could see through the Lodge’s grimy narrow windows and into its rooms, and I could also see its signs. There were three, in a mix of fonts, sizes and colours, offering, in turn, ‘ACCOMMODATION,’ ‘Superior Rooms,’ and an illustration of loafers, outlined in a thick black paint and covered in white polka dots. I always felt that there was a slight ambiguity about what the pun meant. Was it a lodge named after, or perhaps for, shoes? Or the people who lived there? 

While its website marketed the Lodge as an affordable and convenient option for short-term stays in Wellington, it didn’t really cater to travellers. Most of the residents were – for one reason or another, and often for many reasons – vulnerable. By and large, they were not the sort of subjects that make for sympathetic news stories. Folks with significant mental health and substance abuse issues, people with criminal records, criminal deportees too, packaged up in legal jargon and sent back here from Australia to become someone else’s problem. I didn’t know a single one of them, and I didn’t try to get to know them. Instead, morning and evening, I smiled vaguely as I passed them by, on my way to better things. 

A lthough it wasn’t clear from the outside just how bad the building’s condition was, I could hazard a guess that it wasn’t great. One reason is that I work in housing policy, and so have some background on New Zealand’s housing deficit, the length of our emergency housing waitlists, the quality of our rental stock. The other and more pertinent reason is that I have eyes. Irrespective of the angle from which you viewed the lodge, the place looked grungy. 

While the building had been refurbished since its previous life as a house of the Lord, it wasn’t the kind of sexy church conversion that makes it into the glossy pages of a House & Garden magazine. There were no stained-glass windows to preserve or brick walls to reveal. There were no vaulted ceilings to add grandeur and monumentality, or to protect the inside of the building should the roof catch on fire. 

As a bureaucrat, though, my job is to analyse and advise, not to advocate. In this case, my analysis and advice was clear: boarding houses fill a gap in the market for people who, without systemic change, would otherwise be homeless.

It was this job in housing policy that I called in sick to when I awoke one Tuesday morning with a headache, sore throat and blocked nose. I’d slept, as I often do, with the windows open, and so I should have realised what was happening. Somehow, it wasn’t until I logged onto the Herald that I found out that the Lodge had gone up in flames. 

Living so near the hospital, I think I must have become desensitised to the sound of tragedy. I either no longer register the blare of sirens, or if I do, I register it like any other background noise. The drip from a tap, the tick of a clock, the sound of someone dying: all the same to me, especially at night, which was when the fire began.

Initial reports indicated that people had likely died, but it took a while to confirm how many, and even longer to confirm who they had once been. To remove the bodies, five in total, police cordoned off a large stretch of Adelaide Road and redirected traffic. While the operation was underway, my workmates and I complained about the commute time. We were already contending with Wellington’s bustastrophe, and now this? 

“I drove into work today,” my boss said one morning, throwing her bags onto a desk.

“Are you planning on Venmoing the Council for all that you’ve spent on parking and Ubers?” I joked, swivelling in my chair to face her.

It was Wellington City Council that had been advised, and failed, to conduct annual checks on buildings like Loafers Lodge. Over the past decade, the place had only had two on-site inspections, and the most recent one in 2018 found fire risks. These were the sorts of details released by the Herald, Stuff and RNZ over the coming weeks. We found out that, while the building had fire alarms, they regularly went off, so were ignored by many residents. No sprinklers had been installed, because they weren’t a regulatory requirement for buildings of that height. The front door had been kicked in by ex-tenants, and while it was usable, it was broken, with a sign directing people to the side entrance.

Once the smoke clouds began to dissipate, it became obvious the top floor of the Lodge had received the worst damage from the blaze. Black soot poured from the windows and clung to the side of the building, so thick it looked like ink. A bunch of window panes had been broken; by the heat, by the hands of desperate people trying to get out. At the advice of the fire department, I kept my own windows closed for the duration of the clean-up, because in addition to bed bugs, the building was also filled with asbestos, particles of which must now be in the lungs of the survivors.  

While it was still an abstraction, I referred to the case – through allusion rather than outright – in meetings, as an example of why we needed better and more affordable housing options. I had done the victims no justice when they were alive, and in this way, I felt as though I could do them some justice in death. Now I realise how flawed, and moreover, how insulting my logic was. I turned each of the five men, and all of their neighbours, into a political rallying cry, as is so easy to do with people on the margins. Even if we had reached some kind of an end, those people were not a means to achieving it. 

As the bodies were identified, stories about each person flooded my personalised news feed, all of the men reduced to bite-sized chunks, big enough to grab the headlines but small enough to fit on the screen of my phone. I recognised two, but did not know either of them. Nor did I know the others, my neighbours from whom the fire took not just every personal effect they owned, but also their community. Just a kilometre away from one another, we inhabited very, very different worlds.

I t was after the fire, when I began to care about the building, that I learned it was once a Pentecostal church. Pentecostals believe that when someone dies, they will spend an eternity in heaven or hell, depending on whether or not they have been saved. Baptism is an important part of being saved, symbolising the death of the old, sinful life and birth of the new life in which Jesus is accepted as Lord and Saviour. 

Across the branches of Christianity, baptism is practised in different ways, including through aspersion (sprinkling water over the head) and affusion (pouring water over the head). Pentecostals typically practise immersion baptism because, according to the World Mission Society Church of God website, “When burying a dead body, it is not enough to just sprinkle a shovelful of dirt over it once or twice.” This view is consistent with the doctrine more broadly, which holds that faith cannot be found through ritual or thinking, but must be powerfully experienced through the human body, a temple of the Holy Spirit.

It took only five minutes for firefighters to arrive at the Lodge in trucks carrying hundreds of gallons of water. By that point, though, the place was well on its way to being uninhabitable – or perhaps, more uninhabitable than it had always been. Throughout the night and into the next day, almost 90 firefighters from 33 trucks battled the blaze. The truck carrying a 32-metre ladder was out of order, under maintenance. According to some reports, it had been out of order for more than 400 days. While firefighters awaited a back-up truck, they used the standard 17-metre ladders to battle the “nightmare scenario,” as one fire chief put it. 

Nearby cafés, including the one that sells the Snickers doughnuts I like, encouraged patrons to support the fire and police services. Those services did, by all accounts, an excellent job. They were not just contending, though, with the work of a 48-year-old arsonist. They were contending with years of policy and regulation that had in effect doused the place in gasoline. 

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While the Lodge no longer exists, the building itself is still standing, and I continue to walk by it, morning and evening, on my way to work. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the bus-stop across the road was filled with flowers, cards, and pictures of the victims. For a time, a few former Lodge residents kept vigil. They may have been the same residents who alerted their neighbours to the blaze, calling for them and knocking on their doors, before running or crawling or jumping to safety.  

There is a security fence around the first floor of the building now. At some point, I assume the whole place will be demolished. There are no set plans for the site, as far as I know, although I imagine its size and location will so appeal to developers that it will sell itself. While Lowe & Co have taken the billboard down, it remained up there for so long, still easily visible from my apartment. 

“A round of silent applause,” it read.

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What Hulk Hogan said about getting baptized

‘once i was baptized, i felt all new. it really was a major pivot,’ hogan said in a new interview.

By Kelsey Dallas

Five months after getting baptized, wrestler Hulk Hogan is speaking out about how recommitting to Jesus Christ has changed his life.

“Once I was baptized, I felt all new. It really was a major pivot,” he told “ The 700 Club ” in an interview released this month.

Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, explained that he “accepted Christ as (his) Lord and savior” at age 14 but failed to take his faith seriously during the heyday of his wrestling career.

Now, he has a chance to try again.

“It’s given me the opportunity to prove that I’m faithful, that I’ll never make those mistakes again,” he told “The 700 Club.”

Hulk Hogan’s church

Hogan was baptized in December at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Largo, Florida, as the Deseret News previously reported.

He shared videos and photos of the experience on social media at the time.

“Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love,” he wrote.

Total surrender and dedication to Jesus is the greatest day of my life. No worries, no hate, no judgment… only love! pic.twitter.com/gB43hTcLU6 — Hulk Hogan (@HulkHogan) December 20, 2023

In his own interview with “The 700 Club,” the Rev. Aaron Filippone, pastor of Indian Rocks Baptist Church, described what it was like to watch a celebrity go public with his faith.

“It was so fun to be part of Terry’s baptism and to see the ripple effect that that has made all over the world. He had people in Japan calling him just a couple minutes later. This is the way Christians go public in their faith and he felt it important to do what Christians do,” the Rev. Filippone said.

Indian Rocks Baptist Church is part of the Southern Baptist Convention, as the Deseret News previously reported.

Hulk Hogan now

Hogan lives in Florida with his wife, Sky Daily.

He helps run a store built around his wrestling persona in Clearwater Beach.

In his interview with “The 700 Club,” Hogan noted that people today are still more interested in seeing him act like the wild person he was in the WWE ring than a regular guy.

Recommitting to his faith helped him find peace with who he is inside, he said.

“It broke down that fourth or fifth wall to tell people the truth about my Lord and savior. ... It set me free,” he said.

During the interview, for which he wore a shirt printed with the Bible verse John 3:16 and a large cross necklace, Hogan also told the interviewer about the tattoo on his arm, which reads “I am that I am.”

“The first time God talked to Moses at the burning bush, he told him, ‘I am that and I am this.’ ... I had to have this (tattoo) because it was so important to me,” he said.

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Bear grylls assists in baptism of russell brand in river thames: 'privilege', 'friendships when we go through tough times are worth so much'.

TV host and author Bear Grylls assisted in the recent baptism of comedian and actor Russell Brand in the River Thames last week.

Brand, 48, posted an image on Instagram of himself embracing 49-year-old Grylls and another friend after his baptism, writing, "Me, Bear Grylls, The River Thames and of course, The Holy Spirit."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Russell Brand (@russellbrand) Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe

Brand made headlines last month for announcing his decision to be baptized after publicly wrestling with the tenets of Christianity and reading Christian authors such as C.S. Lewis and Rick Warren for months.

Brand was baptized on April 28 in the River Thames near his home in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Brand subsequently described his baptism as an "incredible and profound experience" that has left him feeling "changed" and "surrendered in Christ."

"Week one as a Christian has been amazing," Brand said in another video. "The ceremony itself was incredible. I want to thank Bear Grylls and my mate Joe, the two men that stood either side of me and flanked me for the baptism itself."

One of the United Kingdom's most prominent Christian celebrities, Grylls starred in Discovery Channel's "Man vs. Wild" and hosted "Running Wild with Bear Grylls" on National Geographic. He has described himself as an " unconventional Christian " and has promoted the Alpha course, which claims to have introduced approximately 29 million people to the faith.

Grylls confirmed to The Daily Mail that he helped baptize Brand, an act he described as a "privilege" after his friend's "tough time" following multiple sexual assault allegations.

"Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal," he told the outlet. "But it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above. Friendships when we go through tough times are worth so much."

Brand and Grylls became friends through their work in television, according to The Daily Mail .

Brand's baptism came less than a year after a joint investigation  by  The Times ,  The Sunday Times  and  Channel 4's Dispatches reported on allegations from four women who accused Brand of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse.

Brand  has denied the "very serious criminal allegations" and acknowledged that while he was "very, very promiscuous" in the past, his sexual encounters were "always consensual."

Brand said during an interview with Tucker Carlson last year that he realized his need for God after coming to realize the futility of fame and fortune.

"Like many desperate people, I need spirituality," the former Buddhist said. "I need God, or I cannot cope in this world. I need to believe in the best in people."

Acknowledging he "didn't have enough self-discipline to resist the allure of stardom," he said he "fell face-first into the glitter, and I'm only just pulling myself out now."

During the video announcing his baptism, Brand joked that he might also be getting baptized in toxoplasmosis and E. coli in the heavily polluted Thames.

"I may be leaving behind the sins, but I might be picking up some pretty serious viruses," he said.

Brand risked contracting "bloody diarrhea" and long-term gut issues for being baptized in the river, according to a doctor who spoke to The Daily Express .

Jon Brown is a reporter for The Christian Post. Send news tips to  [email protected]

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Russell Brand says recent baptism left him feeling 'changed,' 'surrendered in Christ'

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Group of brands.

Bear Grylls helped baptize Russell Brand in the pristine waters of the River Thames

• Russell Brand confirmed that Bear Grylls was involved in his baptism in the River Thames. 
• Grylls told the Daily Mail that it was a "privilege" to be with Brand during his baptism. 
• In 2023, Brand was accused of sexual abuse by multiple women. He denied the allegations.

Bear Grylls confirmed he was part of Russell Brand 's baptism, saying that it was a "privilege" to be by the comedian's side.

Brand revealed Grylls' presence during his baptism in a video uploaded to his X account on Monday.

"The ceremony itself was incredible. I wanna thank Bear Grylls and my mate Joe, the two men that stood either side of me and flanked me for the baptism itself," Brand said in the video.

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"I did the baptism in the River Thames and in my home, so it was a very very intimate experience," he continued. The river was recently found to have elevated levels of E. Coli .

The Daily Mail confirmed Grylls' involvement as well.

"Faith and spiritual moments in our lives are really personal but it is a privilege to stand beside anyone when they express a humble need for forgiveness and strength from above," Grylls told The Daily Mail. "Friendships when we go through tough times are worth so much."

Grylls, who got to know Brand when the comedian appeared on a 2023 episode of his show "Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge," is no stranger to river baptisms himself. The survivalist posted on X in October 2023 that he was baptized in Bethany Beyond the Jordan — the same location where Jesus was believed to be baptized.

Brand announced that he was getting baptized in April after previously adhering to the Buddhist faith, and uploaded several videos prior to his baptism discussing how he was approaching his Christian faith.

Multiple women have accused Brand of sexual abuse and rape in the past. In September 2023, four women accused him of sexual assault in a joint investigation by several British media outlets . Brand denied those allegations. In November 2023, another woman who worked with Brand on the 2011 film "Arthur" accused him of sexual assault.

As Prospect Magazine reported , Brand's recent content on social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Rumble, has promoted conspiracy theories and misinformation.

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