No, it does not! Water baptism does not equal redemption. That was Christ's gift to us. From the moment Adam and Eve sinned, the world has sought a way to return to the favor of God, and Christ was that one and only and perfect Redeemer.
But many do not understand the difference between Redemption and Salvation. Christ was the Redeemer of the world, and opened the door to Salvation for each of us.
Salvation is individual. It has been called the "justification of the individual". It is his or her journey through life, bowing completely to the Will of God, moving towards the state of grace that concludes with eternal existence with God, that begins with an unmerited, yet freely given gift of grace from God which moves each sinner towards the first step of salvation, repentance.
Salvation is not simply the remission of sins, but a sanctification of the soul and a restoration of it's supernatural life. Eternal salvation then, is available to all who bow down to the will of God and are obedient, but in the end, it cannot be earned, and ultimately, it depends upon the love and mercy of Almighty God.
But, remember, Jesus commanded we "born again" and restore the life of our souls, and be baptized. So, in obedience to His will, we do that. Some churches hold that, because of the symbolic nature they ascribe to the baptismal rite, there must be an "age of consent". Others, such as the Roman Catholic Church, or Methodists, and Anglicans, to name a few, do baptize infants, and indeed, the Roman Catholic Church believes in the "sacramental" nature of baptism, as well as the grace and blessings baptism confers.
Some Protestant churches use a "dedication" ceremony for infants, to fulfill their perceived need to welcome the newborn into the Christian community and have the babies are dedicated to the church, and the family promises to raise them as Christians. Catholic baptism, as well, requires that the parents promise, publicly, and before God, to raise the child within the values of the Christian community, until the child is of an age to make their own choices.
The Catholic Church teaches that there are different "kinds" of baptism, "Baptism by Water", "Baptism of Desire", and "Baptism of Blood". This can be hard for some to understand.
Baptism of Desire is an act of perfect love of God, made by one not baptized. Such an act includes a genuine sorrow for all sins committed and the intention of doing all that God wishes (including, at least implicitly, receiving baptism by water). Through such an act, all sins are removed, and sanctifying grace is infused into the soul. The thief on the cross, or one who accepts Christ upon their deathbed, may be good examples of baptism of desire.
Baptism of blood is the act of martyrdom of an un-baptized person. Willingly undergoing death, inflicted by hatred for Christ or His teachings. Such a one may never have taken a stand for Christ, but at the moment of most extreme challenge, choose to defend and live in Christ, even though they risk losing their physical life.
We believe that baptism is NOT simply a "symbolic" rite. Baptism is also an effusion of grace in which the soul is immersed, as it were, with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:5) I'd also like to note, that sprinkling, pouring or immersion of the baptized are all valid forms, as long as the intent is to baptize and it is done in the "Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit". All baptisms done in the "Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit" are seen as "valid" by the Catholic Church.
The chief effect of baptism is the conferment of grace, that is, the removal of sin from the soul. The conferring of baptism conforms the soul to Christ, it is a sharing of His life, and designates the soul as a Christian in the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church.
Baptism, as taught by the Roman Catholic Church, is a necessary sacrament (John 3:5) for entering a new state of grace, the way of regeneration (rebirth) to the divine life. (Mt 28:19, Acts 2: 38-41)
In His Love,
Lisa Alekna
7/14/99
Check back now and then for new articles, or sign up for the Serendipity Mailing List and discuss these and many more issues of the Church and Christian life.