​The Doctrine of Baptisms

 

There are three baptisms which are part of our foundation.  However, we must remember that just one baptism brings us salvation and reconciliation with God.  We will examine the scriptures regarding each of these three baptisms.  In each of them, the baptizer, and what is baptized with, is different.

 

BAPTISM INTO CHRIST

 

We will begin with the most important baptism, the one baptism by which we are actually saved.  We will also examine the blessings and benefits which come to us through this baptism.  This baptism "into Christ" or into "the body of Christ" (the church) is done by the Holy Spirit - God Himself.  It is important to realize that the Spirit of God is the gate keeper of eternal life.

 

1 Cor 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

 

Eph 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

 

The "one body" (Eph. 4:4 & 1 Cor. 12:13 above) is the body of Christ (the church).  The one Spirit is God's Holy Spirit.

 

Col 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. (Christ is the head of his church.)

 

Col 1:24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,

 

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A SERIOUS ERROR

 

Some men like the priests of the Roman Catholic Church have claimed that through infant baptism and otherwise that they control the gate of salvation. This is false!  God's Holy Spirit controls who becomes part of God's church through baptizing us into Christ.

 

ONE IN CHRIST THROUGH BAPTISM INTO CHRIST

 

We are baptized into Christ (into his body) by the Holy Spirit. Through this baptism, the Bible speaks of all believers as being, one in Christ Jesus and sons of God.

 

Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

 

God Organized the Church through Baptizing believers into Christ. We are united in Jesus Christ by a power much greater than ourselves. We have each been baptized into the church by God himself (the Holy Spirit). He alone places the members in the body according to his own will.

 

1 Cor 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

 

1 Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

 

1 Cor 1:30 But of Him (God) you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God; and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;

 

THE BENEFITS OF BEING BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST'S BODY

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We are Reconciled to God.

 

Through being baptized into Christ, both Jews and Gentiles are reconciled to God in Christ's body.

 

Eph 2:16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ("both" in the verse above refers to Jews and Gentiles)

 

We are Dead to Sin.

 

The reconciliation in Ephesians 2:16 (above), is "in one body through the cross".  Through being baptized into Christ, we are baptized into his death. We are crucified with Christ (see Gal 2:20). The Apostle Paul carefully explained the benefits which are ours through being baptized into Christ Jesus.  We have died to sin, having been set free from its dominion, and have the promise of eternal life with Christ.

 

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

 

We are married to Christ.

 

Through being baptized into the body of Christ (the church), we are joined with Christ in one body. Our relationship with the Lord is the same as that of a husband and wife.

 

Eph 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

 

The result of this marriage is that we are dead to the law through the body of Christ. This means that we are no longer required to fulfill the many fleshly requirements of the law of Moses (i.e. circumcision, Sabbath days, food and drink, etc.). The circumcision of Christ in the following verses is the same as the baptism into Christ which we are now discussing. Through the Holy Spirit baptizing us into the body of Christ, we are dead with Christ and dead to the law.

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Rom 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another; to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.

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Col 2:9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.

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Gal 2:19 "For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 "I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."

 

The verses previously quoted (Col. 2:9-17) speak of being complete in him and of how God has forgiven you all trespasses. These are just a few of the benefits of the baptism into Christ. All of the blessings and all that God is dwells in Christ; "For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;"
(Col. 2:9)

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Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 

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THE POWER OF GOD MANIFEST IN OUR LIVES

When we believe the gospel and call on God for salvation, the Lord demonstrates his great power in us. He baptizes us into Christ's death so that we are dead with Christ. The penalty for our transgressions being paid, God then raises us from the dead. Salvation in a believer is the demonstration of the same power which God used in raising Christ from the dead. (Col. 2:11-13 above) The church (Christ's body) is resurrected to have dominion over sin with Jesus.

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Eph 1:19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

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Eph 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

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A NEW CREATION

The result of our death and resurrection is a new creation in Christ.

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2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

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Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

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A VICTORIOUS CHURCH

True believers are a triumphant church which God has raised up from the dead in Jesus Christ. They are no longer under the dominion of Satan.

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Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

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THE GATE OF OUR ENEMIES

The baptism into the body of Christ (the church) gives us power. We are the seed of Abraham and will therefore possess the gate of our enemy (Satan).

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Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

 

Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

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Mat 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

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LIFE AND A CLEAN CONSCIENCE 

In Christ, we are free from all guilt and condemnation and have the gift of eternal life.

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Rom 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

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A FINAL WORD CONCERNING THE BAPTISM INTO CHRIST

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God promised to bless all nations in Abraham's seed. In Christ, we who are of many nationalities, inherit the blessing of Abraham. We can receive the promise of the Holy Spirit.

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Gen 22:18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."

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Gal 3:14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

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BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT -- THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER

 

Having studied the baptism by which we are reconciled and saved; we will now turn our attention to the baptism by which we receive the promise of the Spirit.

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Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."

 

Acts 1:4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; 5 "for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."

 

The Promise of the Father of which Jesus spoke, is found in the Old Testament. God promised an outpouring of his Spirit before the day of the Lord.

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Joel 2:28 "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 "And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. (Compare Acts 2:16-21)

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BAPTISM WITH WATER

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Baptism with water is an essential part of the foundation of our faith. God first commanded John the Baptist concerning water baptism. He preached the "baptism of repentance for the remission of sins". The relationship to repentance from dead works (Heb. 6:1 ) is obvious.

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Mark 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

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WATER BAPTISM AND FAITH

John's message concerning his baptism involved faith in the Messiah who would come after him.

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Acts 19:4 Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus."

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John the Baptist taught us that water baptism is not to stand alone. Instead, it is to accompany faith. We are instructed by the Lord Jesus to believe and be baptized. Water baptism should immediately follow believing in God's son.

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Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

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Acts 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, "See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?" 37 Then Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may." And he answered and said, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." 38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

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​WHAT ABOUT INFANT BAPTISM?

Water baptism is to be done in accordance with faith. Infants should not be baptized. They do not possess the necessary mental capabilities to confess their sins and be persuaded of the gospel. Water baptism alone cannot save or cleanse from sin. It must be coupled with faith in Jesus. However, a young child is set apart to God by the faith of either or both parents (1 Cor. 7:14). Our children should be baptized at a time when they understand the significance of repentance and faith. Water baptism should be a young person's own first step of obedience to God and coupled to their own faith in Christ.

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BAPTISM IN WHICH NAME?

Much controversy has erupted about the name in which we are to be baptized. Water baptism is done according the commandment of God and of his Son Jesus Christ. Therefore, when baptism is administered by one of God's servants, it is done in the name of (by the authority of) the Lord. Whether we baptize in the name of: Jesus, the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ or the Lord Jesus makes no difference. We perform the baptism by the commandment of the same God and the same Lord, Jesus Christ. Those who stir up this controversy are either misled or are purposely stirring up strife and divisions among believers.

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Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

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Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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Acts 8:16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

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Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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THE NEW TESTAMENT CLEANSING

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Baptism with water is an outward cleansing from sin. The Old Testament abounds with ceremonial washings and cleansings of the body which are not part of the New Covenant. Water baptism is the only carnal or outward washing commanded as part of the New Testament. The emphasis of the New Covenant is on the cleansing of the conscience from sin by the blood of Jesus and the washing of God's word.

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John 3:25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purification (Greek - washing, cleansing). 26 And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified; behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him!"

 

Acts 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

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Heb 9:9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience; 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation. 11 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

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John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

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Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 

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NOT JUST A SPRINKLE

Water baptism is not a mere sprinkling with a few drops of water. It requires a river, a lake, a pond or some other body of water to be properly done. We can see from the scriptures, that both the baptizer and the person being baptized entered the water for this cleansing.

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Mat 3:16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

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Acts 8:38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing.

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John the Baptist baptized at the River Jordan because there was "much water there". Ten gallons would have baptized multitudes if John's baptism was by sprinkling. The eunuch above could have been baptized with a few drops of drinking water. Instead, he made his request when he saw a body of water large enough to be entered by both he and Philip.

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John 3:23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.

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God Honors Water Baptism.

God specially honored his Jesus on the occasion of his water baptism. He spoke from heaven of his righteousness and sent his Holy Spirit upon him.

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Mark 1:10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the "Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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The Example of the Lord Jesus

Let us keep the commandment of our God and follow the example of our Lord Jesus in fulfilling all righteousness. Water baptism provides each of us an opportunity to openly confess our faith before God and men. With faith and obedience comes a clear conscience.

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Mat 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" 15 But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him.

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1 Pet 3:21 There is also an antitype which now saves us; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 

 

Notice that it is not the washing of the body in baptism that saves us.  It is the cleansing of the conscience through faith in Christ.  Water Baptism is part of that faith.

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In summary, the doctrine of baptisms concerns three baptisms. The baptizer and what or who is baptized with is different in each. Each baptism serves a different purpose in the life of a believer. The illustration below may help you to better understand the doctrine of baptisms.

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