To us Catholics and to historical Christianity(Which is Catholicism) Baptism is the loving and beautiful sacrament that Christ gave the Church for salvation, and union with him. It is in this Sacrament that Christ unites us to him and his death and resurrection and makes us Christian(Rom 6, Gal 3:26). It is through this sacrament that Christ unites the Holy Spirit to mere Water to create us anew(Eph 5:26-27) wash away our sins(Acts 22:16, Acts 2:38-39), Sanctify and Justify us(1 Cor 6:11) and give us the initial grace of salvation( Titus 3:5-7). It is through this sacrament that we are born anew and can enter heaven(Jn 3:3-5, Mk 16:16). It is prefigured in the Old testament in Genesis 1:2 were we see water and Holy Spirit acting to create new life(Gen 1:2) just like the Holy Spirit does in the waters of baptism for us. It is and prefigured in Exodus when the Israelites were saved through the water of the red sea(Ex 14:13, 16, 30) and when 8 were saved through the waters at the flood. We the Church, the New Israel were saved through the saving waters of baptism( 1 Peter 3:19-21) . This sacrament was formally spoken and prophesied of by the Prophets Ezekiel(Ez 36:25-27) and Zechariah (Zech 13:1).

This sacrament was how the early Christian fathers viewed one to be born again;

See here:
http://www.catholic.com/library/Born...in_Baptism.asp

Baptism truly is a great gift that Jesus gave his church. Baptism like the Eucharist is how we become partakers of the divine nature(2 Peter 1:4)

God bless you all

Athanathius

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Roma locuta est causa finita est