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==Baptismal regeneration==

==Baptismal regeneration==

Within the [[Catholic Church]], [[Orthodox Church]], and some  [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, it is a [[sacrament]] generally necessary for [[salvation]] in accordance with [[Jesus]]' teaching in [[Gospel of John|John]] 3:5--  

Within the [[Catholic Church]], [[Orthodox Church]], and some  [[Protestantism|Protestant]] denominations, it is a [[sacrament]] generally necessary for [[salvation]] in accordance with [[Jesus]]' teaching in [[Gospel of John|John]] 3:5--  

<Blockquote>"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".</blockquote> Luke 18:15 and Mark 10:13<ref>See commentaries on [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/18-15.htm Luke 18:15] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/mark/10-13.htm Mark 10:13].</ref> are taken by Catholics and Orthodox as scriptural support for the practice of infant baptism, together with Luke 2:22-24 (presentation of Jesus in the temple), and those texts in the book of Acts which mention whole households being baptized by the apostles of the Lord as most probably having babies in them. They reason that if the blessing of Christ benefited children and babies, being received by them in their souls, the blessing of the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism can likewise be bestowed on infants, and be received by them in their souls. Because of this, infants are baptized a few weeks after being born. In the Catholic ritual, water is poured (''infused'') over the head of the child while the [[priest]] repeats the baptismal formula of [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 28:19-- <blockquote>"I baptize you (name) in the Name of the [[God the Father|Father]], and of the Son, and of the [[Holy Spirit]].  Amen."</blockquote> The Orthodox generally give to infants immediately after baptism their first [[Eucharist|communion]], and [[confirmation]]. Those baptized as infants in the Catholic Church normally receive first communion when they have reached the age of reason, and about the age of 12, after being fully instructed and prepared, they may choose as believing Christians making an informed decision for Christ to be [[Confirmation|confirmed]], as "soldiers for Christ". Adult converts to Catholicism are ''infused'' three times with water (pouring on the head, leaning over a basin or baptismal ''font''), fully ''immersed'' in water (in a tank or pool, sometimes recessed in the floor of the church), or ''submerged'' (by standing in water with water poured over the head) for baptism during the [[Easter]] [[vigil]]. Converts to the [[Anglican Communion]] are sometimes baptized by ''aspersion'', a sprinkling of water onto the baptismal candidate or collective group of candidates from an ''aspergill'', a sprinkling implement like a short baton containing a sponge in the perforated tip dipped in blessed water and specially designed for the purpose, or dipping a sprig of leaves, evergreen or palm, in water as an aspergill of nature, and sprinkling with it.

<Blockquote>"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God".</blockquote> Luke 18:15 and Mark 10:13<ref>See commentaries on [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/luke/18-15.htm Luke 18:15] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/mark/10-13.htm Mark 10:13].</ref> are taken by Catholics and Orthodox as scriptural support for the practice of infant baptism, together with Luke 2:22-24 (presentation of Jesus in the temple), and those texts in the book of Acts which mention whole households being baptized by the apostles of the Lord as most probably having babies in them. They reason that if the blessing of Christ benefited children and babies, being received by them in their souls, the blessing of the grace of the Sacrament of Baptism can likewise be bestowed on infants, and be received by them in their souls. Because of this, infants are baptized a few weeks after being born. In the Catholic ritual, water is poured (''infused'') over the head of the child while the [[priest]] repeats the baptismal formula of [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]] 28:19-- <blockquote>"I baptize you (name) in the Name of the [[God the Father|Father]], and of the Son, and of the [[Holy Spirit]].  Amen."</blockquote> The Orthodox generally give to infants immediately after baptism their first [[Eucharist|communion]], and [[confirmation]]. Those baptized as infants in the Catholic Church normally receive first communion when they have reached the age of reason, and about the age of 12, after being fully instructed and prepared, they may choose as believing Christians making an informed decision for Christ to be [[Confirmation|confirmed]], as "soldiers for Christ". Adult converts to Catholicism are ''infused'' three times with water (pouring on the head, leaning over a basin or baptismal ''font''), fully ''immersed'' in water (in a tank or pool, sometimes recessed in the floor of the church), or ''submerged'' (by standing in water with water poured over the head) for baptism during the [[Easter]] [[vigil]]. Converts to the [[Anglican Communion]] are sometimes baptized by ''aspersion'', a sprinkling of water onto the baptismal candidate or collective group of candidates from an ''aspergill'', a sprinkling implement like a short baton containing a sponge in the perforated tip dipped in blessed water and specially designed for the purpose, or dipping a sprig of leaves, evergreen or palm, in water as an aspergill of nature, and sprinkling with it, or simply the use of one or more fingers dipped in the container or receptacle of water to sprinkle it onto the candidate.

The significance and mode of baptism remain controversial subjects among evangelical Protestant Christians. Some churches believe that baptism needs to take place as an infant (called ''pedobaptism'' or in an alternate spelling ''paedobaptism''), while others believe only when a person makes an informed decision for Christ should he be baptized. The latter position is called ''believers' baptism,'' and those who follow it cite the following [[Bible]] passage in support:

The significance and mode of baptism remain controversial subjects among evangelical Protestant Christians. Some churches believe that baptism needs to take place as an infant (called ''pedobaptism'' or in an alternate spelling ''paedobaptism''), while others believe only when a person makes an informed decision for Christ should he be baptized. The latter position is called ''believers' baptism,'' and those who follow it cite the following [[Bible]] passage in support: