Why do we pragmatically need baptism?

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Fatherskid

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My premises may be wrong here so please correct me.
  • The main reason we get baptized is to wash away original sin. The other reasons being to enter into God’s family, and to open the door for the other sacraments.
  • We are stained with Original Sin, and it was through our first parent’s sin that we have concupiscence.
  • Baptism washes away Original Sin, but it does not take concupiscence with it.
  • We do not share in Adam’s guilt of Original Sin though we are still stained by it.
  • So essentially, what does baptism wash away? How does Original Sin affect us? Does it at all? If not, why wash it away other than to be clean of something we are guiltless for?
I hope I’m making sense here.

Glory Be to Jesus Christ.
 
  • The main reason we get baptized is to wash away original sin.
There is much more to baptism than “washing away original sin” .

I’ll quote part of what the Catholic Catechism teaches about baptism :-----

This sacrament is called Baptism, after the central rite by which it is carried out: to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to “plunge” or “immerse”; the “plunge” into the water symbolizes the catechumen’s burial into Christ’s death, from which he rises up by resurrection with him, as “a new creature.”

This sacrament is also called “the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” for it signifies and actually brings about the birth of water and the Spirit without which no one “can enter the kingdom of God.”

“This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . .” Having received in Baptism the Word, “the true light that enlightens every man,” the person baptized has been “enlightened,” he becomes a “son of light,” indeed, he becomes “light” himself:.

Baptism is God’s most beautiful and magnificent gift. . . .We call it gift, grace, anointing, enlightenment, garment of immortality, bath of rebirth, seal, and most precious gift. It is called gift because it is conferred on those who bring nothing of their own; grace since it is given even to the guilty; Baptism because sin is buried in the water; anointing for it is priestly and royal as are those who are anointed; enlightenment because it radiates light; clothing since it veils our shame; bath because it washes; and seal as it is our guard and the sign of God’s Lordship.
 
In a sense, you are right, and you are making sense (good Eastern Catholic that you are 😉 )

But I think there is a misunderstanding that causes you to see a dilemma.

Of course, your dilemma assumes Original Sin alone, with no actual personal sin. So let’s work with that assumption (say, for an infant):

Original Sin is indeed a privation. As an Eastern Christian, this especially emphasized (while in the West, sometimes it was sometimes seen more as personal guilt – but that is not official church teaching). So anyway, what baptism “washes away” is that privation. How? By the sanctifying grace of God that uplifts our nature.

Don’t let the “washing” language disturb you. Baptism really does do something, but the “washing” is the sign.

But for personal sin of the adult convert, there is an actual washing away – a washing of personal, actual sins. As Peter says, Baptism saves us, not by removing dirty from the body, but an appeal to God for a “clean conscience.” He was referring to adult converts.
 
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Original sin is enough to keep me out of heaven. That is all I need to know!
 
Glory Forever!

St. John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instruction 3:6. (Ancient Christian Writers, p. 57)

“You have seen how numerous are the gifts of baptism. Although many men think that the only gift it confers is the remission of sins, we have counted its honors to the number of ten. It is on this account that we baptize even infants, although they are sinless, that they may be given the further gifts of sanctification, justice, filial adoption, and inheritance, that they may be brothers and members of Christ, and become dwelling places of the Spirit.”

Mentioned in 3:6:

1 remission of sins
2 sanctification
3 justice
4 filial adoption
5 inheritance
6 brothers of Christ
7 members of Christ
8 dwelling places for the Holy Spirit

Two more mentioned in 12:6:

9 purity of soul
10 kingdom of heaven

 
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