Baptism.

[YknJoker288]

What exactly does being baptized represent?

[snoochface]

Water baptism represents being washed clean of your sins through Jesus' death and resurrection. It represents the baptism of the Holy Spirit that occurs when we become Christians. It follows the example of Jesus, who was baptised by John the Baptist in the river. And it acts as our public profession, in front of others, of our knowledge that we are sinners, requiring redemption, and our desire and intention to follow Jesus as our Lord and savior.

[chilehed]

The idea that Baptism is only a symbol is a Protestant belief of fairly recent origin.

As a Catholic I believe the Church's teaching that it is not merely symbolic, but that it is a vehicle by which God's grace is given to us. As circumcision created a physical sign that one was part of God's covenant, so Baptism creates a spiritual sign of belonging to Christ. It cleanses the us from the stain of original sin, thus bringing us into a special and intimate relationship with God. It enables us to believe in God, hope for Him and to love Him; provides the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit; and allows us to grow in goodness. It makes us a member of the Body of Christ.

[snoochface]

Catholics believe in infant baptism, but nowhere in the Bible was a single infant baptized. Only people who believed in Jesus through faith participated in baptism. Infants aren't able to make that leap of faith.

You have to trust in Jesus for your salvation before baptism means anything. Our salvation comes through our faith, not through our baptism. I think we all know that Jesus told the thief on the cross "Today you will be with me in paradise" - and he was never baptized. If baptism were required for salvation, why would Paul have said:

1 Corinthians 1:14
1 Corinthians 1:17

[Radagast]

For a Calvinist perspective, Baptism isn't just a symbol:

We believe and confess that Jesus Christ ... having abolished circumcision, which was done with blood, has instituted the sacrament of baptism, instead ...

by which we are received into the Church of God, and separated from all other people and strange religions, that we may wholly belong to him ...

Therefore he has commanded all those, who are his, to be baptized with pure water, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" ...

signifying ... that as water washes away the filth of the body, when poured upon it, and is seen on the body of the baptized, when sprinkled upon him; so does the blood of Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost, internally sprinkle the soul, cleanse it from its sins, and regenerate us from children of wrath, unto children of God...

Not that this is effected by the external water, but by the sprinkling of the precious blood of the Son of God; who is our Red Sea, through which we must pass, to escape the tyranny of Pharaoh, that is, the devil, and to enter into the spiritual land of Canaan...

our Lord gives that which is signified by the sacrament, namely, the gifts and invisible grace; washing, cleansing and purging our souls of all filth and unrighteousness; renewing our hearts, and filling them with all comfort; giving unto us a true assurance of his fatherly goodness; putting on us the new man, and putting off the old man with all his deeds... (Belgic Confession 34)
Also Calvinists see Baptism as replacing circumcision, and so baptise infants.

-- Radagast

[Tenorvoice]

Water baptism represents being washed clean of your sins through Jesus' death and resurrection. It represents the baptism of the Holy Spirit that occurs when we become Christians. It follows the example of Jesus, who was baptised by John the Baptist in the river. And it acts as our public profession, in front of others, of our knowledge that we are sinners, requiring redemption, and our desire and intention to follow Jesus as our Lord and savior.

:thumbsup: Best answer I have seen so far!!! Keep up the great work Snoochface

[DawnTillery]

To me its an obedient act, One of the first examples you follow that Jesus left for us.
This should be done after you have confessed your sins and made Jesus your Lord and Savior.