From the letters of Paul and the First Letter of Peter, we can see how baptism was understood. 1 Peter 1:23 understands the person who has received baptism to have been born again, as a child of God. In Galatians 3:27,-28 Paul says, 'You were baptized into union with Christ, and now you are clothed, so to speak, with the life of Christ himself. So there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, between slaves and free men, between men and women; you are all one in union with Christ Jesus.'

A new kind of character, a Christ-like character, is created by the Holy Spirit in the person who receives baptism. Through God's grace, the person is re-born as the spiritual child of God. In Romans 6:3- 11, Paul teaches that in the action of being immersed in water, the one being baptized enters into death and burial with Christ; in the action of rising up out of the water, he enters into the new Resurrection life of Christ. 'For surely you know that when we were baptized into union with Christ Jesus, we were baptized into union with his death. By our baptism, then, we were buried with him and shared his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from death by the glorious power of the Father, so also we might live a new life ... And we know that our old being has been put to death with Christ on his cross, in order that the power of the sinful self might be destroyed ... Since we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.'

Peter, in Acts 2:38, says, 'Each one of you must turn away from sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins be forgiven; and you will receive God's gift, the Holy Spirit.'

The early Church was very clear that the change in the baptized be was the work of God alone, in the inner person of the believer.

·