Efficacious Baptism: A Conversation

Luther-diet-worms

The following is a conversational essay between Anisha O. (University of Texas at Austin) and Daniel S. (Loyola University at Chicago) regarding Mr. Sutkowski’s Baptism and Circumcision: Anisha: Thank you Daniel, for sharing your perspective in that article. I enjoyed learning about the relationship between baptism and circumcision and was glad to be reminded of how God sees Jews and then Christians as God’s people across the old and new testament. We both agree that baptism is a commandment that Christ gives us and should be honoured by Christians everywhere. On the other hand, we have significantly different beliefs on … Continue reading “Efficacious Baptism: A Conversation”

Baptism and Circumcision

The Christian sacrament of initiation, Baptism, was instituted by Christ and reinforced by his disciples as a way Christians enter the new covenant with him. As the Early Church Father Tertullian writes, “Happy is our sacrament of water, in that, by washing away the sins of our early blindness, we are set free and admitted into eternal life” (Baptism 1). This happy sacrament is the manner of entrance into the new covenant, in the same way that Circumcision marked the entrance into the Jewish people. Baptism is so significant that Christ tells us, “unless one is born of water and the … Continue reading “Baptism and Circumcision”