Is baptism symbolic?

[yesukristus]

Just how symbolic is baptism (Catholicly speaking)?
For certain Protestant denominations (IMHO) baptism is NOT symbolic, and that’s why they stress baptism by immersion. What about we Catholics?

 

[1ke]

The Catholic teaching on baptism is that it is a Sacrament. A Sacrament is a sign instituted by Christ to confer efficacious grace.

 

[Anno_Domini]

Baptism is one of the holiest of Sacraments that Christ gave to His Church (Catholic Church). Why else do you think that almost all Christians use it? Howeverr, Anabaptists believe that infant - Baptism is symbolic because the baby can’t understand why the man in funny robes is trying to dunk him in tub of water. However, the true Catholic belief in Baptism is that it cleanses infants from original sin, which we all need to start our lives with a fresh start and not suffer for sins we only indirectly caused (Adam and Eve). Thus, the Catholic approach to Baptism is that it is not symbolic at all, but an efficacious sign of God’s grace given to the Church by Jesus (aka a Sacrament).

 

[jlhargus]

Baptism is one of the holiest of Sacraments that Christ gave to His Church (Catholic Church). Why else do you think that almost all Christians use it? Howeverr, Anabaptists believe that infant - Baptism is symbolic because the baby can’t understand why the man in funny robes is trying to dunk him in tub of water. However, the true Catholic belief in Baptism is that it cleanses infants from original sin, which we all need to start our lives with a fresh start and not suffer for sins we only indirectly caused (Adam and Eve). Thus, the Catholic approach to Baptism is that it is not symbolic at all, but an efficacious sign of God’s grace given to the Church by Jesus (aka a Sacrament).

I have yet to find anyone who can give a scripture saying baptism is a symbol.or declaration of faith in Christ only. Peter tells us baptism now saves. 1 PET 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was a preparing wherein few that is eight souls were saved by water 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us not the putting away of the filth of the flesh but the answer of a good conscience toward God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ [Baptism transforms us from natural state to supernatural state, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit , from natural man to spiritual man, from old Adam into new Adam. Noah’s ark is a type of the Church and the water is a type of water baptism which now saves by raising up the people of God out of a sinful world. Baptism washes away sin.] Ananias said to Paul, ACTS 22:15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise and BE BAPTIZED and WASH AWAY THEY SINS calling on the name of the Lord [A symbolic act cannot wash away sin, otherwise the OT sacrifices would have washed away OT sins, [Hb10:1 THE LAW IS ONLY A SHADOW OF THE GOOD THINGS that are COMING—NOT THE REALITIES THEMSELVES. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. …2…3… 4 because IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS TO TAKE AWAY SINS.] No one went to heaven before the resurrection and ascension of our Lord. Only being washed in the blood of Christ when we are united with Christ on the cross in Christian water baptism can sin be washed away, Rv 1:5 …Jesus Christ …first born of the dead…loved us WASHED US FROM OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BLOOD Titus 3:5 … by the WASHING of REGENERATION and RENEWING OF the HOLY SPIRIT 6 which he POURED out on us 1Cor 12:13 …by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body …

How do we die with Christ? How are we crucified with Christ? How are we united to Christ? How are we washed from sin? How do we become a new creation by regeneration? How are we circumcised of the Heart? BAPTISM. Rms 6:3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH? 4 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. 5 If we have been UNITED WITH HIM like this in his death, we will certainly also be UNITED WITH HIM in his resurrection. 6 For we know that OUR OLD SELF WAS CRUCIFIED with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin Col2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST 12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

ACTS 19:1 And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples 2 He said unto them HAVE YE RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YE BELIEVED? And they said unto him WE HAVE NOT so much as HEARD whether THERE BE any HOLY GHOST 3 And he said unto them UNTO WHAT THEN WERE YE BAPTIZED? And they said Unto John’s baptism 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance saying unto the people that they should believe on him which should come after him that is on Christ Jesus 5 When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them the Holy Ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied More is needed than belief and faith to be born again, because John’s baptism was of repentance and believing or having faith in the one to come Christ. They needed the sacrament of Christian water baptism because the Holy Spirit and baptism go hand and hand else why would Paul ask about baptism when he found they had not heard of the Holy Spirit? We receive the Holy Spirit in the sacrament of Christ’s baptism and a strengthening in the sacrament of confirmation, by laying on of hands, confirmation is Petecoast for the baptized.

 

[RosaryFan]

Just how symbolic is baptism (Catholicly speaking)?
For certain Protestant denominations (IMHO) baptism is NOT symbolic, and that’s why they stress baptism by immersion. What about we Catholics?

Baptism is not symbolic. The sacrament of baptism leaves an indelible mark on the soul, just as Confirmation and Holy Orders do. The 3 sacraments that leave indelible marks on the soul can only be received once in your life. If baptism was merely symbolic (like blessing yourself with holy water when you walk into church), you’d be able to receive it as many times as you like. It is anything BUT symbolic. It’s a shame that many think of it that way.

 

[yesukristus]

So it is not Catholic to consider baptism in any way symbolic? What I mean is is there any sense that baptism can be considered by the Church to be symbolic? Sorry id I seem to be picking at straws here…

 

[Pax]

So it is not Catholic to consider baptism in any way symbolic? What I mean is is there any sense that baptism can be considered by the Church to be symbolic? Sorry id I seem to be picking at straws here…

The sign of baptism is the washing with water. There is symbolism in this in so far as it represents the efficacious power of God’s grace in washing away our sins.

 

[NHInsider]

So it is not Catholic to consider baptism in any way symbolic? What I mean is is there any sense that baptism can be considered by the Church to be symbolic? Sorry id I seem to be picking at straws here…

It is a symbol but not ONLY a symbol - it’s a symbol that DOES what it symbolizes.

Actually, the churches that require adult baptism (or “believer’s baptism”) generally do believe that the rite is only symbolic, and believe that it can only has meaning when it symbolizes the faith of the one being baptised. Whereas we believe it is effective because of the action of the Holy Spirit, not because of any condition met by the recipient.

 

[anon5216]

The only things visible and verifiable to us are the symbolic words and actions.

As to the Holy Spirit’s action behind the scenes, we have only belief.

 

[DavidFilmer]

Is baptism symbolic?

Absolutely.

Every Sacrament is symbolic. But it is also an actual event of Grace.

“A Sacrament is an outward sign [ie, symbol] instituted by Christ to give grace” (Baltimore Catechism, #574).

 

[jlhargus]

So it is not Catholic to consider baptism in any way symbolic? What I mean is is there any sense that baptism can be considered by the Church to be symbolic? Sorry id I seem to be picking at straws here…

The seven sacraments are the fruit of the tree of life, the cross. [Mt 8:17 He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.] Paul states in [1Cor 4:1 This is how one should regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the MYSTERIES OF GOD.] The Sacraments or mysteries in English are part of those mysteries, now made known through the Gospel. Instituted by Christ, and performed with the intention of doing as Christ willed, they are signs, words and actions, by the power of Christ and action of the Holy Spirit, confer the grace signified. They are an outward, material sign that points to and inward, spiritual reality. The CCC says. [As fire transforms into itself what it touches, so the Holy Spirit transforms into the life of the Spirit, through the sacraments whomever he touches.]

Mk 8:23 tells us of a blind man, Jesus spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him and he was healed. Mk 7:32 a deaf man with a speech impediment, Christ put his fingers in his ears and spat and touched his tongue and healed him Jn 9:6 he spat on the ground, made clay of spittle and anointed the man’s eyes, saying Go wash in the pool, he went washed and came back seeing.

Did he who spoke the world into existence need to use signs to heal? No, but he choose to do so, because man is both material, body and spiritural, soul. Christ choose to apply the fruit of the Tree of Life (Cross) making use of material signs and words to bring about a spiritual reality to heal.] Lk 6:19 And all the crowd sought to touch him for power came forth from him and healed them all. [The crowd knew, power came from Christ, they didn’t see the power, but they saw and experienced the change in others and themselves.
He wants to touch us and he continues to touch us and heal us in the sacraments which he left as gifts to the Church, the bride of Christ formed by the water and blood from the side of Christ (New Adam) as it came forth from his side on the cross. That bride, the Church, was given the breath of life (Holy Spirit) and power at Pentecost and sent on her mission. The Church ever virgin, conceiving, by the Holy Spirit and birthing the children of God by water and Spirit in the sacrament of baptism.

Christ said to the people in [Luke 12:54 …When you see a cloud rising in the west you say at once, A shower is coming and so it happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, There will be scorching heat; and it happens] Now, Christ is not speaking of sacraments in Lk12 the point is, when certain signs are seen in nature we know certain things will come about, AS GOD ORDAINED. So it is with sacraments, performed, with the intention to do as Christ willed, just as the cloud in the west and the south wind, produce what they signify in nature, so also sacraments produce what they signify, spiriturally, AS GOD ORDAINED.

Sacraments are God’s power and action, using material things to bring about his grace. It is God who instituted them not man. Man can only do as God instructed, man cannot earn sacraments they are a gift of God.

 

[thistle]

So it is not Catholic to consider baptism in any way symbolic? What I mean is is there any sense that baptism can be considered by the Church to be symbolic? Sorry id I seem to be picking at straws here…

Baptism is NECESSARY for salvation. Does that seem symbolic?

 

[Junebug999]

Protestants (baptists in particular ) heavily stress that baptism is a symbol only of the “SAVED” person with the free bus ticket to heaven is “following Christ” in baptism by showing they have died to sin (original sin) and have been raised in the newness of life.

They do not believe that baptism does anything but SHOW that. They do not believe baptism is involved in grace, or salvation, or is a sacrament, but believe it is an “ordinance”. If a person is “SAVED” but does not choose to “follow the Lord in baptism” then they believe the person is still “SAVED” and still has the free bus ticket to heaven.

Besides, even if they believed baptism was a sacrament, or necessary for anything than some type of pious show, there is no one to administer it since they don’t believe in apostolic succession either! Remember that they also believe each person is their own priest!!!

 

[FromTheAshes777]

Protestants (baptists in particular ) heavily stress that baptism is a symbol only of the “SAVED” person with the free bus ticket to heaven is “following Christ” in baptism by showing they have died to sin (original sin) and have been raised in the newness of life.

They do not believe that baptism does anything but SHOW that. They do not believe baptism is involved in grace, or salvation, or is a sacrament, but believe it is an “ordinance”. If a person is “SAVED” but does not choose to “follow the Lord in baptism” then they believe the person is still “SAVED” and still has the free bus ticket to heaven.

Besides, even if they believed baptism was a sacrament, or necessary for anything than some type of pious show, there is no one to administer it since they don’t believe in apostolic succession either! Remember that they also believe each person is their own priest!!!

I think this may need some clarification.

The Catholic Church teaches that there are 3 Priesthoods.

We each (all the faithful) have a priesthood called the Universal Priesthood, then there is the ministerial Priesthood (right word here?) which provides the Sacraments to the faithful (what we each would know as our Parish Priests, Bishops, the Pope, ect), and then there is the Highest Priesthood, the High Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Himself before God the Father.

Baptists and many other protestants typically teach that there are only two priesthoods, the “priesthood of all believers” as they call it, and the High Priesthood of Christ.

Keep in mind as well that by necessity, according to Catholic teaching, anyone can Baptize as long as they use water, the intention to Baptize, and the Trinitarian formula. It does not have to be a Priest.

Therefore if a protestant wants to be recieved into to the Church they usually are not Baptized again if it can be verified that they recieved Baptism validly in their own Christian community.

~Josh

 

[Junebug999]

edited…

Also, it is rare to be able to obtain a baptism proof or baptism certificate from a baptist church because it is a mere symbol, they do not keep records and do not issue certificates (Landmarks are especially inept at this). Southern Baptists do issue certificates. And also to clarify for you Catholic teaching (I’ll refer you to the Catechism for details), but we are not “rebaptized”. If there is no proof of valid baptism what is done is a conditional baptism, not a rebaptism. There are other baptism details, but for clarification you can look those up in the Catechism.

Blessings,

 

[Canardmom85]

Catholics do NOT believe in a symbolic baptism. Also, we don’t have a problem with full immersion baptisms.