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Church Sacraments, Part 1

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church Sacraments, Part 1 - Baptism

Objectives:

  1. To introduce The Sacraments
  2. To realize the importance of Baptism
  3. To study the symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament
  4. To see the practice of Baptism
  5. To understand the Baptism of infants
  6. To address some questions about Baptism

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Introduction to The Sacraments

  • What does Sacrament mean?
  • Who instituted The Sacraments?
  • When does the church start practicing The Sacraments?

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Introduction to The Sacraments Cont.

Sacrament means:

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    • Invisible grace (gift from God) obtained by
    • Visible signs through
    • The Holy Spirit by
    • Ordained priests/bishops

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Introduction to The Sacraments Cont.

  • Who instituted The Sacraments?
    • Jesus Christ!

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  • When did The Church practice these sacraments?
    • The first church practiced these sacraments as seen in The Gospels & Book of Acts

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Church Sacraments, Part 1 - Baptism

Objectives:

  • To introduce The Sacraments
  • To realize the importance of Baptism
  • To study the symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament
  • To see the practice of Baptism
  • To understand the Baptism of infants
  • To address some questions about Baptism

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The Sacrament of Baptism

The Importance:

Our fathers sinned and deserved death (The Original Sin)

“The wage of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

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  • As a result of sin, everyone must die (physically, spiritually and eternally)
  • Jesus died once on our behalf so that we all can live
  • Baptism is death and life with Christ and that is why it must be done once as Jesus died once

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The Sacrament of Baptism Cont.

The Importance:

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  • It is the gate of Christianity
  • No one can be called a Christian if they are not baptized
  • Baptism is ESSENTIAL for Salvation and The Kingdom of Heaven

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“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16)

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The Parable of The Great Banquet in Luke 14

  • Unbaptized = not dressed in wedding garments

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The Sacrament of Baptism Cont.

Ananias Baptized St. Paul

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  • Even a great Apostle, like St. Paul, who was invited by Jesus Christ in a special vision, had to be baptized before starting his ministry

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The Sacrament of Baptism Cont.

Baptism in The Agbeya

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  • The Prime Prayer (1st Hour)

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  • St. Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians – Chapter 4
    • One Lord, One faith, One baptism

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Church Sacraments, Part 1 - Baptism

Objectives:

  • To introduce The Sacraments
  • To realize the importance of Baptism
  • To study the symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament
  • To see the practice of Baptism
  • To understand the Baptism of infants
  • To address some questions about Baptism

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The Symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament

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Death and life through water

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The Symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament Cont.

  • All of these symbols have the same meaning of death followed by a new life:
    1. Noah’s Ark
    2. Circumcision
    3. The Crossing of The Red Sea
    4. Naaman the Syrian, the military commander, going into The Jordan River 7 times

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Between Moses and Christ

Moses Christ

Children massacre Children massacre

Saved by a miracle Saved by a miracle

Crossed the red sea baptism by water & Holy Spirit

Law on mountain sermon on mountain

Manna from heaven true Manna

Bronze snake Jesus on the cross

Selected 70 helpers Selected 70 apostles

Died high on a mountain Died high on the cross

Hidden Body location resurrected body in heaven

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Church Sacraments, Part 1 - Baptism

Objectives:

  • To introduce The Sacraments
  • To realize the importance of Baptism
  • To study the symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament
  • To see the practice of Baptism
  • To understand the Baptism of infants
  • To address some questions about Baptism

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Epiphany/ Theophany/ Jesus’ Baptism

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The Sacrament of Baptism Cont.

When did Jesus Institute Baptism?

    • Before His Ascension to Heaven

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“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” (Matthew 28:19)

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The Season of Baptism�

The Season of Baptism

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  • The early Christians used to baptize their infants on two occasions:
    1. Epiphany
    2. The Born Blind Sunday

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“I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25)

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The Practice of Baptism

  1. The Visible Signs
  2. The Invocation of The Holy Spirit
  3. The Invisible Grace

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The Visible Signs

  • The water in the basin, after prayers by the priest

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  • Baptism by immersion three times in the water in the name of The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit

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The Invocation of The Holy Spirit

Prayer before Baptism

  1. Simple oil 3 times in the shape of a Cross
  2. A silent prayer
  3. The Thanksgiving Prayer
  4. 5 handfuls of incense
  5. The Pauline Epistle / Titus’ Epistle
  6. The Catholic Epistle / 1st John 5
  7. Agios 3 times

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The Invocation of The Holy Spirit Cont.

  1. The Psalm
  2. The Gospel / John 3 - Nicodemus meeting w/ Jesus
  3. Short litanies, 7
  4. Long litanies, 3
  5. The Creed
  6. The Holy Myron
  7. Immersion of the child
  8. After the Baptism is completed, there is a prayer to release the water

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The Invisible Grace/Benefits

  1. Rebirth / The 2nd Birth

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“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3)

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“having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible” (1 Peter 1:23)

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The Invisible Grace/Benefits Cont.

  1. Rebirth / The 2nd Birth Cont.

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  • New birth from God as sons and daughters of God
  • As sons and daughters of God we must imitate Our Father and follow his path

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“I write my works according to your sayings”

The Gregorian Liturgy

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The Invisible Grace/Benefits Cont.

  1. Rebirth / The 2nd Birth Cont.

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  • Through Baptism, we become sons and daughter of The Church and follow the church instructions/rules
  • Sons & Daughters of Blessing
  • Sons & Daughters of The Holy Spirit

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The Invisible Grace/ Benefits Cont.

  1. The Remission of Sins

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  • St. Peter said to the multitude:

“Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38)

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  • Forgiveness of The Original Sin (Infants)
  • Forgiveness of The Actual Sins (Adults)

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The Invisible Grace Cont.

  1. Eligibility for Salvation

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“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16)

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  1. Becoming the Image of Jesus Christ on Earth

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“For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27)

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  1. To be ready to receive The Holy Spirit

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The Role of The Parents (Godparents)

  • Parents commit to teach their baby the Christian values

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The Role of The Baptized

  1. Before being baptized, one must openly declare (for adults)
    1. Repentance (Original Sin or Actual Sins)

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“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38)

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The Role of The Baptized Cont.

  1. After being baptized, one must:
    • Listen to Abouna’s public command in front of the congregation
    • Consider themselves as belonging to God
    • Read The Bible and scripture daily
    • Attend church regularly
    • Practice the Church Sacraments (Confession, Communion, etc.)

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Church Sacraments, Part 1 - Baptism

Objectives:

  • To introduce The Sacraments
  • To realize the importance of Baptism
  • To study the symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament
  • To see the practice of Baptism
  • To understand the Baptism of infants
  • To address some questions about Baptism

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Baptism of Infants/Pedobaptism

Biblical Proof:

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  • Since The Apostolic Age, entire families were baptized and there were babies among those families, like the families of:
    1. Cornelius (Acts 10:48)
    2. Lydia (Acts 16:14 - 15)
    3. The Keeper of The Prison (Act 16:33)
    4. Stephanas (1 Corinthians 1:16)

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Baptism of Infants / Pedobaptism Cont.

Holy Tradition Proof:

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“The Apostles handed over to the church the tradition of baptizing; Babies are baptized for the remission of sins to be washed of the inherited sin”

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  • We baptize boys at 40 days old
  • We baptize girls at 80 days old

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Spiritual Meanings

Infant Clothes:

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  1. White as a symbol of the new pure nature
  2. Red rope as a symbol of The Blood of Christ / death with Christ
  3. A crown as a symbol of being a new member in The Heavenly Kingdom

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Church Sacraments, Part 1 - Baptism

Objectives:

  • To introduce The Sacraments
  • To realize the importance of Baptism
  • To study the symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament
  • To see the practice of Baptism
  • To understand the Baptism of infants
  • To address some questions about Baptism

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church Sacraments, Part 1 - Baptism

Objectives:

  • To introduce The Sacraments
  • To realize the importance of Baptism
  • To study the symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament
  • To see the practice of Baptism
  • To understand the Baptism of infants
  • To address some questions about Baptism

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1) Types of Baptism

There are two types of Baptism:

    • Water, as with Jesus Christ
    • Blood / Martyrdom

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“Therefore , whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32)

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2) The Authority/Right

  • Who has the right to practice Baptism?
    • The Clergy
    • The Bishops
    • The Pope

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3) Repetition

  • Can we repeat Baptism?
    • NO!
  • Why?
    • It is a symbol of Jesus’ death and Baptism means death and a new life

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“we were buried with Him through baptism into death”(Romans 6:4)

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“We confess one baptism for the remission of sins” (The Orthodox Creed)

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4) Sprinkling vs Immersion

  • Do we sprinkle with water or immerse in water?
    • We should practice via immersion in water as Jesus Christ did
    • Immersion symbolizes death and a burial underground

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5) The Distinction from John’s Baptism

  • What is difference between John’s Baptism and Christian Baptism?
    • John’s Baptism was with water ONLY for the declaration of sin and desire for repentance
    • Christian Baptism is with water and The Holy Spirit
    • The Holy Spirit forgives The Original Sin
    • The Holy Spirit forgives the old sins (adults)
    • The Holy Spirit grants you a new beginning as a son/daughter of God

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John’s Baptism Cont.

“This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1 John 5:6-8)

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John’s Baptism Cont.

  • John’s Baptism was an introduction to the Christian Baptism
  • Aquila and Priscilla corrected the faith of Apollos:

“Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John. So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:24-27)

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John’s Baptism Cont.

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6) Other Christian Denomination Baptism

  • Do we accept Baptism from other Christian denominations?
    • They should get baptized in our Orthodox Church
    • We do not acknowledge the baptism of other churches because of few differences in the faith

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“one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5)

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7) Did…

  • Did Jesus Baptize anyone?
    • No
  • Did Jesus’ disciples baptize anyone?
    • Yes
  • Did Peter perform baptism?
    • Yes
  • Did Paul perform baptism?
    • Yes

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Review Questions

  1. What are the requirements for any Sacrament?
  2. List 3 symbols of Baptism in The Old Testament
  3. List 4 benefits of Baptism
  4. Can Baptism be repeated? Why or why not?
  5. Who can perform the Sacrament of Baptism?
  6. What is difference between John’s and The Christian Baptism?

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Memorization Verses

  1. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23)

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  • “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27)

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  • ‘He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16)

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  • “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32)

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