Christ Church United Methodist Sutton WV - Volume 3  Issue 7   June 2008

And it came to pass in
those days, that Jesus
came from Nazareth of
Galilee, and was
baptized of John in
Jordan. Mark 1:9

"And John went down
into the water and
baptized [Jesus].

"And Jesus when he was
baptized, went up
straightway out of the
water; and John saw ...
the Spirit of God
descending like a dove
and lighting upon Jesus.
"And lo, he heard a
voice from heaven,
saying, This is my
beloved Son, in

whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him" (Joseph Smith Translation,
Matthew 3:44-46).

When Jesus was about 30 years old, He came from Nazareth to the
river Jordan and was baptized by John the Baptist (see Matthew 3:13;
Mark 1:9; Luke 3:23). John knew that Jesus had not sinned, so he did
not think Jesus needed to be baptized. Instead, John felt that Jesus
should baptize him. Jesus explained to John that even the Savior of
the world must be baptized. (See Matthew 3:14-15.)

Baptism has six primary effects, which are all supernatural graces:

1.*The removal of the guilt of both Original Sin (the sin imparted to all mankind by the
Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden) and personal sin (the sins that we have
committed ourselves).

2.*The remission of all punishment that we owe because of sin, both temporal (in this
world and in Purgatory) and eternal (the punishment that we would suffer in hell).
3.*The infusion of grace in the form of sanctifying grace (the life of God within us); the
seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; and the three theological graces

4.*Becoming a part of Christ.

5.*Becoming a part of the Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ on earth.

6.*Enabling participation in the sacraments, the priesthood of all believers, and the
growth in grace.