Baptism will be our first topic of 2010

Folks
I will be down in Trenton this Sunday for our Photo project and will be unable to see you at Adult Bible Study which resumes this Sunday, January 10. Hal Hill has graciously agreed to take the class and you will be discussing Baptism.  Below is an outline that I have suggested to Hal, but he will take the discussion in whatever direction he (and you all ) wish to.  Sorry to miss it.
Have a Blessed week, and do try to  "read up" a little on this using Oatis, the CCC and some of the other materials if you have access to the internet.
Yours in Christ
SLG



Adult Bible Study

January 10, 2010

Baptism

It is through Baptism that we are brought into the family of God and are made his children.  “ Baptism is not merely a ceremony, not merely a rite of passage.  It is our entry into a New Covenant bond, a new family, a new life, a new birth, a new creation.”  Dr. Scott Hahn Signs of life pg. 34  Baptism makes us “partakers of the divine nature” (2Pt 1:4).

Most Protestants in reality deny the sacramental nature of Baptism and so cannot appreciate the importance that it has in the lives of those in the Catholic Church.

Catholic Answers:

http://www.catholic.com/library/Necessity_of_Baptism.asp

http://www.catholic.com/library/Infant_Baptism.asp

http://www.catholic.com/library/Early_Teachings_of_Infant_Baptism.asp

New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02258b.htm#XI

CCC:
         1213-1284

Regarding infants see:
         1252,1261**,1283

** regarding children who have died without Baptism