Baptism, Christian

Christian baptism is an ordinance instituted by Christ in the Great Commission — Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19) — and administered throughout the book of Acts as the rite of incorporation into the Christian community. It is distinguished from Jewish proselyte baptism and from John's baptism of repentance by its trinitarian formula and its connection to faith in the risen Christ and reception of the Holy Spirit.

Paul's theology of baptism in Romans 6:3–4 and Colossians 2:12 presents it as a sign and seal of union with Christ in his death and resurrection — the believer is buried with Christ through baptism into death and raised with him to new life. The relation between the outward rite and inward reality is treated differently in the traditions: some understand baptism as instrumental (effecting what it signifies) while others treat it as a public declaration of grace already received. Peter's language in 1 Peter 3:21 — 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 — has been foundational in this discussion.