Repentance, Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Senior 2 · Religion and Ethics
Repentance, Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Lesson 3 of 5
18 min
Many Rwandan Christians were baptised as babies, carried to the font by their parents and godparents. Others were baptised as teenagers or adults, stepping down into a river or a baptismal pool in front of their congregation. Baptism is the way a person enters the Christian Church, and it is closely linked with repentance and forgiveness.
Baptism is a Christian rite in which water is used, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as a sign that a person is washed from sin, joins the Church and begins a new life with Christ. The word comes from a Greek word meaning "to dip" or "to immerse". Most churches call baptism a sacrament: an outward sign of God's inner grace.
"In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptised by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”" (Mark 1:9–11)
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Water | washing away sin; new life |
| Going under the water and coming up | dying to the old life and rising with Christ (Romans 6:4) |
| White garment | a new, pure life in Christ |
| Lit candle | Christ, the light of the world, and the light of faith |
| Sign of the cross, and oil in some churches | belonging to Christ; strength from the Holy Spirit |
| Infant baptism | Believers' baptism | |
|---|---|---|
| Who? | babies and young children, as well as adults who were never baptised | only people old enough to repent and profess faith for themselves |
| How? | water is usually poured on the head | usually full immersion |
| Promises | parents and godparents promise to raise the child in the faith; the child later confirms this faith (confirmation) | the person makes the promises personally, in front of the congregation |
| Examples | Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist and Orthodox churches | Baptist, Pentecostal and Seventh-day Adventist churches, and many other evangelical churches |
Christians who baptise infants stress that baptism is God's gift, given before a person can earn it. Christians who practise believers' baptism stress that the Bible links baptism with personal repentance and faith (Acts 2:38).
Question: Compare infant baptism with believers' baptism. (4 marks)
Model answer: Both are done with water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and both mark entry into the Church (1 mark). Infant baptism is given to babies, usually by pouring water, and parents and godparents make the promises (1 mark); believers' baptism is given only to people who can repent and believe for themselves, usually by full immersion, and they make the promises personally (1 mark). Churches that baptise infants see baptism as God's gift before a person can respond; churches that baptise believers link it with personal repentance, as in Acts 2:38 (1 mark).
Tip
Memory hook. Five Bible moments of baptism: John (Mark 1:4), Jordan (Mark 1:9), the command (Matthew 28:19), Pentecost (Acts 2:38) and Paul (Romans 6:4). And remember: infant = pouring + godparents; believers = immersion + personal faith.
Define baptism.
Answer: a Christian rite using water, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as a sign of washing from sin, joining the Church and beginning a new life with Christ.
What happened when Jesus came up from the water after his baptism?
Answer: he saw the heavens open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove, and a voice said, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mark 1:10–11)
What did Peter tell the crowd to do in Acts 2:38?
Answer: to repent and be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
What does going under the water and coming up symbolise?
Answer: dying to the old life of sin and rising to new life with Christ (Romans 6:4).
Name two churches that practise infant baptism and two that practise believers' baptism.
Answer: infant baptism: Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Orthodox (any two). Believers' baptism: Baptist, Pentecostal, Seventh-day Adventist (any two).
Remember
Sources and credits
