Baptism is a sacrament that frees man from original sin and personal guilt, which makes him a member of Christ and His Church. Therefore, Baptism is the door to a new and extraordinary life. It is the amends to a friendship with God. The sharing of this sacrament makes a person an adopted son of the Father. "In fact, when a man becomes a new creature in Christ, his old life has disappeared, everything has become new about him" (II Corinth. 5:17).

             The sacrament of Baptism is also called "the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit." It is called this because it indicates and brings about the birth of water and the Spirit, for without these, no one can enter the kingdom of God. .

             Baptism is necessary for salvation. It affects the forgiveness of sins and of all punishment due to sin, gives glorifying grace, and presents membership in Christ and in the Church. Therefore, people must be baptized to enter the kingdom of God.

             The sacrament of Baptism has been agreed upon in the Church since the beginning of the Christian tradition. It has never been rejected by any protest. The only way people could arise doubts would be due to the way and means of administering it, or the way of operating the sacrament.

             SYMBOLS OF BAPTISM.

             Water is the substantial sign of Baptism. Water is used for cleansing from dirt or dust; therefore, it may be the symbol of washing from original sin. Water can also symbolize life and death. One can dive into water and be drowned by it; then it is a symbol of death. After the dive, one can rise to the top of the water as a symbol of the resurrection. .

             Water is an excellent symbol of Baptism because it is a sign of separation. Water is often a boundary between places. Those who live on one side of the water are "separated" from the ones on the other side. Also, the Red Sea had to be "separated" so the Israelites could cross it.