Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

24On the Holy Baptism 47 48Quintessence of Religious Doctrinesones experienced by the individual concerned. It is because,Christian life is not only individualistic but it is corporate also.4. Baptism and other sacraments, however, shall be received onlywith devotion and faith.Ref: Acts. 8:36, 37. As they were going along the road,they came to a place where there was some water.The official said, “Look, here is some water. Whycan’t I he baptised?...” Philip replied, “you can, ifyou believe with all your heart”. The officialanswered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son ofGod.” (L.B.)CommentThis provision is the basis for the office of the Catachumenatethat was prevailing in the early Church. From the ‘ApostolicTradition’ of Hippolytus we gather that the Church authoritiesprescribed a period of preparation to gain entry into theChristian way. During this period of preparation thecandidates were instructed in the theory and practice of theChristian faith.5. For, it is only through faith that the sonship of God and God’sgrace are obtained.Ref: 1Gal. 3:26. It is through faith that all of you are God’ssons, in union with Christ Jesus (G.N.B.)CommentBoth sonship and the grace of God cannot be obtained bymere external acts of deeds or words. Faith, pure and simpleis the inevitable condition for getting sonship and all othergraces. Here, it must be remembered that faith itself is a giftgiven by God to the pure in heart. Therefore everyone shoulddevelop it through spiritual practices and yearnings.6. Objects like, holy myron, chrism, water etc used and ritualslike the public profession of faith, laying on of hands, blowing ofbreath, consignation of cross on the forehead, which all areemployed and availed of in the administration of baptism arethe representative symbols of the graces that we receive fromGod. Likewise they are reminders of what we ought to believeand act upon, of which all actions did Christ perform and ofwhat the Holy Spirit does covertly. As bathing washes off theentire bodily dirt, so does baptism received with true faith anddevotion wipe off all the iniquities of the soul. Therefore thissacrament has come to be christened baptism, meaning spiritualbathing.Ref. (a) Rom. 6: 3, 4. For surely you know that when we werebaptised into union with Christ Jesus, we werebaptised into union with his death. By our baptism,then we were buried with him and shared his death,in order that, just as Christ was raised from death bythe glorious power of the Father, so also we mighthave a new life. (G.N.B.)(b) 1Pet. 3:21. Those flood waters were like baptism thatnow saves you. But baptism is more than justwashing your body. It means turning to God with aclean conscience because Jesus Christ was raisedfrom death. (L.B.)(c) Jn. 20:22. Then he breathed on them and said,“Receive the Holy Spirit” (G.N.B.)(d) Acts. 8:17. Then Peter and John placed their handson them and they received the Holy Spirit. (G.N.B.)CommentThe theology of symbols and signs used in the celebrationof baptism is explained. The S.O.C. employs symbols andsigns as the visible representative objects of the invisiblegrace. This practice has come out of the wisdom born out ofdeep reflection. The Syrian Fathers realized that the humanmind can with ease comprehend the elusive incomprehensiblerealities and truths with some pointers. This is the use ofsymbols and signs. A danger, however, is inherent in thispractice. It is the proneness to venerate symbols as if theyare the realities.