let me see what you understand about baptism

De Maria October 22, 2012 at 6:46 PM

You said:
Yes I can elaborate, But first let me see what you understand about baptism as taught in the Catechism and its relation to the baptism in the New Testament.

Mark 16:16
King James Version (KJV)
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Is baptism, the only Christian Initiation requirement?

 It begins with God’s free gift of grace. That gift is faith. Which if exercised by the individual, results in his turning to and seeking God.

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

After which the seeker begins to study the faith of Christ in order to be approved:
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Then he learns to do God’s will and keep the Commandments:
John 14:21
King James Version (KJV)
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Having learned God’s will, he asks the Church for Baptism and has his sins washed away calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Afterwards, he continues to learn about his faith and adds to his faith knowledge and virtue:
2 Peter 1:4-10
King James Version (KJV)
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Is that what you were asking?

Sincerely,

De Maria