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By Rev. Dr. Curian Kaniyamparambil
First let us see what baptism really is. Some religions believe that salvation is possible by asceticism, pilgrimage, and self-torture. Christian belief is that, salvation is only through Christ, who is the giver of salvation to those who believe in Him.
"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). i.e. if one receives baptism, God will give him salvation.
"Repent and let every one be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38). (The recipient receives remission of sins and gift of the Holy Spirit).
If the recipient obeys his orders, God will forgive and make him his disciple.
John 1:12, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." (the recipient receives the right to become child of God.)
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find it, knock, and it will be opened to you." (Mat 7:7) That is to say, if the recipient pleads, God will forgive and he will be rewarded.
Therefore it is obvious that if the recipient does 'acts' as per the commands of Jesus Christ and apostles, God will give the recipient salvation and many other gifts from God. There are so many examples in the Bible which show that if the giver has the power to give in the name of God, because of the Godly acts he does to the recipient, the recipient receives the benefits.
The Acts describes what the apostles did in Ephesus and in Samaria. The recipient received the Holy Spirit when the apostles laid their hands on them. If the elders of the church, pray and anoint a sick person, the sick will be relieved of his diseases. (James 5: 14) i.e. The act of anointing by the priest, gives the recipient relief.
2 Cor. 5:20 - "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf be reconciled to God." This summarizes what we just said (i.e. there is importance in the 'act' and the person 'who performs the act.')
This is what the Anglican Church says The internal effect of Baptism is the new birth or regeneration; the beginning of the life in grace (John 3:5). Every person who is baptized receives the new birth Baptism also conveys the forgiveness of sins and provides the recipient with a remedy against the tendency to sin (original sins) with which all human beings are born. (The Christian faith by Claude Beaufort Moss, London 1954). The Anglican Church believes that by the act of baptism the recipient receives the remission of sins and is born again.
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