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Baptism and Chrismation

Baptism is the first sacrament that is administered to a person, giving them entry into the Orthodox Church and the Kingdom of Heaven, and is closely followed by Chrismation, which is the giving of the Holy Spirit.

There are numerous references in the New Testament that attest to Baptism, in two Gospels, in the Acts of the Apostles, and there are numerous references made in St Paul's epistles and in the first epistle of St Peter (see below for a selection).

Far more than a simple statement of allegiance or a recitation of a creed, Baptism is the beginning of the process of an individual's salvation. The Orthodox Church teaches that the salvation process is threefold: a person was saved at their conversion, through belief and baptism; a person is being saved, through continuing to love God and acting accordingly; and a person will be saved and brought to eternal life. It is important to note that the idea of a person being saved for all time at their conversion is without basis in Scripture - rather, Christ and His Church give a great deal of emphasis on how to live the Christian life, rather than simply converting large numbers.

The term 'baptism' comes from the Greek word 'βαπτιζω' (baptizo), which means 'to immerse', which the Church has traditionally done through water. Dated by biblical scholars to the early second century, the Didache provides the form that the Church used in its earliest days - the baptism was to be done in running water (as opposed to 'still water'), in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit; both the baptiser and the baptisant were to prepare by fasting, along with any of their supporters.

Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen"
Mark 16:16: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved."
Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized..."
Acts 8:36-38: "...the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Acts 16:33: "And immediately he and all his family were baptized."
Acts 22:16: "'...Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'"
Romans 6:4: "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Galatians 3:27: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Colossians 2:12: "...buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
1 Peter 3:21: "There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ"

In the Orthodox Church, immediately after baptism, the baptisand is anointed with chrism in a service called Chrismation (the equivalent in the Western churches is 'confirmation'). The purpose of anointing with chrism is to give the seal of the Holy Spirit.

While Baptism is universally acknowledged, Chrismation is often neglected or ignored entirely. However, the basis for Chrismation is scripture (see below for a selection) - the Church, since its earliest days, has always had the need to seal the rising with Christ in baptism with the Holy Spirit, thus making the newly-illumined a full member of the Church, able to participate and to partake of Communion.

There is an unfortunate tendency to view biblical texts on Chrismation and to mistake the receiving of the Holy Spirit as something that happens through baptism. However, not only is St Peter very clearly referring to three separate events in Acts 2:38 (see below), but there is evidence of people who did not receive the Holy Spirit until hands were laid on them by the apostles (Acts 8:14-17).

John 3:5: Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Acts 2:38: "Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Acts 8:14-17: "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit."
2 Corinthians 1:21-22: "Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. "
Ephesians 1:13: "In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise"
Hebrews 6:1-2: "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."
1 John 2:20: "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things."

We must restate, however, that knowing the texts is a different thing from praying these texts in community, as they were designed to be used. We invite you to visit us.

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Southport   4215
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Divine Liturgy
Sunday 8am
The Chapel,
18 Tonga Pl, Parkwood

The Parish of Saint Barnabas the Apostle, 2007-2008, is in the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia and New Zealand.
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