Many people position themselves as Christians, but at the same time they have not been granted the sacrament of holy baptism in their lives. This belief in the popular consciousness is determined by "faith in the heart, " which absolutely does not need church "ritualism." Such thinking does not correspond to the worldview of an Orthodox person, because believing in God means trusting in Him. Therefore, trust and faith must be manifested in the fulfillment of God's commandments.
The New Testament Scripture makes clear the need for holy baptism. The Gospel of Matthew ends with the Lord's words that the apostles teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. In other places of the gospel, Christ speaks of the need to be born of water and the spirit, which is an indication of the New Testament baptism. It turns out that the sacrament of holy baptism was not established by man, but by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
If a person is a believer, then he should show it on concrete deeds, position himself as a Christian not only in “his heart”, but also in society.
The sacrament of holy baptism is the spiritual birth of a human person. The Lord spoke of this rebirth for eternal life in an interview with Nicodemus in the gospel of John. In baptism, a person is adopted by God, becomes a direct member of the Christian Church. This is a prerequisite for achieving eternal life (paradise), provided that after baptism a person will strive for God. The Lord saves not only each person individually, but his entire Church. Therefore, depending on what relation a person has to the Orthodox Church and the moment of salvation occurs.
According to the Orthodox faith in the sacrament of baptism, all sins are forgiven to an adult. Life begins with a clean slate. The newly baptized is given the opportunity to abandon the former sinful life and begin the renewal of his being. In the baptism of infants who are sinless, the washing away of original sin, which absolutely all people come to this world, is traced.
It is in the sacrament of holy baptism that divine grace descends upon a person who makes a newly baptized saint. The desire for holiness is the main goal and meaning of earthly life for the Orthodox person. Of course, in the course of life, a person loses the grace received in baptism. However, the Lord does not leave believers in Him. Having become a member of the Church of Christ (having been baptized), a person can already proceed to other saving church sacraments, for example, confession and communion.
In addition, in the sacrament of baptism, a person is given a holy heavenly patron and guardian angel.
It turns out that the sacrament of baptism sees the fulfillment of the covenant of God Himself. A truly believing Orthodox person must accept this sacrament before entering the Church of Christ. Baptism is not accepted for the sake of earthly material wealth, but for future eternal life. In the sacrament of baptism, a person combines with Christ, rejects the devil, manifests his will for good, renouncing evil.
Holy baptism is the first essential step of a person to His Savior Jesus Christ. Throughout the rest of his life, a believing person should strive to become more perfect and, if necessary, to cleanse his soul from sins, approaching through this to his Creator and Savior.
