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Baptism as a significant practice in Christianity: HSC Studies of Religion

Syllabus dot point

“Significant practices in the life of adherents: describe ONE significant practice within Christianity drawn from Baptism, Marriage ceremony, Saturday/Sunday worship; demonstrate how the chosen practice expresses the beliefs of Christianity; analyse the significance of this practice for both the individual and the Christian community”

15 min read

Quick answer

Baptism is the Christian rite of initiation with water "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19), following Jesus' own baptism in the Jordan (Mark 1:9-11). In infant baptism (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Uniting, Lutheran) parents and godparents renounce sin and profess the Creed and water is poured three times (Catechism 1239 to 1240), followed by anointing with chrism, a white garment and a candle; in believer's baptism (Baptist, Churches of Christ, Pentecostal) a person who professes faith is fully immersed. Baptism expresses the Trinity; the death and resurrection of Christ ("buried with him by baptism into death ... so we also might walk in newness of life", Romans 6:4); salvation and forgiveness ("so that your sins may be forgiven", Acts 2:38); the Holy Spirit ("born of water and Spirit", John 3:5); and the Church ("baptized into one body", 1 Corinthians 12:13). For Catholics it is "the basis of the whole Christian life" (Catechism 1213), given once and never repeated (1272). For the individual it gives a new identity and belonging; for the community it brings new members, shared responsibility, mission and unity ("one Lord, one faith, one baptism", Ephesians 4:5), shown in the Common Baptismal Certificate recognised by ten Australian churches.

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  1. What this dot point is asking
  2. The answer
  3. In one sentence
  4. Try this
  5. Exam-style questions
  6. Practice questions

What this dot point is asking

The Christianity depth study asks you to choose ONE significant practice from Baptism, Marriage ceremony, Saturday/Sunday worship, and to:

  1. Describe the practice.
  2. Demonstrate how it expresses the beliefs of Christianity.
  3. Analyse its significance for both the individual and the Christian community.

This page covers baptism, the rite of entry into the Christian Church, practised by almost every denomination. NESA's 2022 sample answer used baptism. Because denominations differ sharply (infant or believer's baptism; sacrament or ordinance; pouring or immersion), strong answers describe one rite in detail and show awareness of others. The Christian significant practice has been examined every year from 2019 to 2025.

The must-know spine

Scripture (NRSVue): Matthew 28:19 (Great Commission); Mark 1:9-11 (Jesus' baptism); John 3:5 ("born of water and Spirit"); Acts 2:38 (repent, forgiveness, the Spirit); Acts 16:33 (a whole household baptized); Romans 6:3-4 (buried and raised); 1 Corinthians 12:13 (one body); Galatians 3:27 ("clothed ... with Christ"); Ephesians 4:5 ("one baptism"); Mark 16:16. Catechism: 1213 ("basis of the whole Christian life"); 1239 to 1240 (triple immersion or pouring, the formula); 1250 (infant baptism shows the "gratuitousness" of grace); 1263 (all sins forgiven); 1265 ("a new creature"); 1267 (members of the Body of Christ); 1272 (indelible mark, cannot be repeated). Symbols: water, chrism, white garment, candle, sign of the cross. Diversity: infant and believer's baptism; sacrament and ordinance; Salvation Army and Quakers do not baptise with water. Unity: NCCA Common Baptismal Certificate (ten churches).

The answer

Origins of baptism

  • Jesus' baptism. "Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased'" (Mark 1:9-11). The Father, Son and Spirit all appear.
  • Jesus' command. "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).
  • The early Church. At Pentecost Peter urged, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Acts also records whole households being baptized (Acts 16:33), which supporters of infant baptism cite.
  • Paul's theology. "All of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death ... so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead ... we also might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:3-4).

Describing the practice

Infant baptism: the Catholic rite

  1. Reception. At the church door the celebrant asks the parents what name they give the child and what they ask of the Church; the child is signed with the cross.
  2. Liturgy of the Word. Scripture readings, a homily and prayers, including a prayer of exorcism (deliverance from evil).
  3. Blessing of the water.
  4. Renunciation of sin and profession of faith. Parents and godparents reject sin and profess the Creed on the child's behalf.
  5. Baptism. Water is poured three times over the child's head with the words "N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Catechism 1240); immersion may also be used.
  6. Explanatory rites. Anointing with chrism (the Spirit; sharing in Christ's role as priest, prophet and king), a white garment ("clothed yourselves with Christ", Galatians 3:27) and a candle lit from the Easter candle (Christ the light).
  7. Lord's Prayer and blessing.

Anglican, Uniting, Lutheran and Presbyterian infant baptisms follow a similar pattern: promises by parents, sponsors and the congregation, water in the Trinitarian name, and prayer.

Orthodox baptism

Orthodox Christians baptise infants by triple immersion in the font, the priest saying "The servant of God, N., is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Catechism 1240 describes this Eastern form). Chrismation and first communion follow immediately, even for babies.

Believer's baptism: Baptist and Pentecostal churches

Baptists, Churches of Christ and most Pentecostal churches baptise only those who can personally profess faith, usually teenagers or adults. The candidate gives a testimony of their conversion, then is fully immersed in a baptistry or river by the pastor in the Trinitarian name, picturing burial with Christ and rising to new life. Baptists usually call baptism an ordinance (an act of obedience and witness) rather than a sacrament. Many Pentecostals also seek baptism in the Holy Spirit, a distinct experience often associated with speaking in tongues.

Churches that do not baptise with water

The Salvation Army and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) do not practise water baptism, emphasising inward, spiritual baptism; Salvationists publicly commit through enrolment as soldiers.

How baptism expresses the beliefs of Christianity

Belief How baptism expresses it Evidence
The Trinity Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, often with three pourings or immersions Matthew 28:19; Catechism 1239 to 1240
The death and resurrection of Jesus Going under the water is burial with Christ; rising is resurrection to new life Romans 6:3-4
Salvation and forgiveness of sin Water washes away sin; for Catholics "all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins" Acts 2:38; Catechism 1263
The Holy Spirit Anointing, laying on of hands, Pentecostal Spirit baptism John 3:5; Acts 2:38
Grace Infants receive grace before they can respond Catechism 1250
Faith and repentance Believers profess personal faith before baptism Acts 2:38
The Church as the Body of Christ The baptized become members of one body 1 Corinthians 12:13; Catechism 1267
New life and discipleship White garment, candle, "a new creature" Galatians 3:27; Catechism 1265
The Second Coming and eternal life The candle recalls going out to meet Christ; baptism as the beginning of eternal life Mark 16:16

Significance for the individual

  • A new identity. Baptism makes the person "a new creature, an adopted son of God" (Catechism 1265); "as many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (Galatians 3:27).
  • Forgiveness and a fresh start. Especially powerful in adult baptism, where it marks conversion and turning from an old life.
  • Belonging for life. For Catholics it gives an "indelible spiritual mark" and "cannot be repeated" (Catechism 1272); a baptized person always belongs to Christ.
  • The door to the Christian life. "The door which gives access to the other sacraments" (1213): confirmation, Eucharist, marriage.
  • Lifelong renewal. Catholics renew baptismal promises every Easter; many Christians recall their baptism when they bless themselves with holy water.

Significance for the Christian community

  • New members. The Church grows and receives each new member into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13).
  • Shared responsibility. Parents, godparents and the congregation promise to nurture the new Christian; baptisms are often celebrated during Sunday worship so that the whole community takes part.
  • Mission. Baptising fulfils the command to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19).
  • Unity. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). In Australia, ten churches recognise one another's baptisms through the Common Baptismal Certificate of the National Council of Churches in Australia, so a person baptized in one does not need to be rebaptized in another.
  • Continuity. Baptism links today's Christians to the first disciples at Pentecost.

Evaluating the practice

  • Near-universal. Almost all Christians baptise, and most recognise each other's baptisms, making it the clearest sign of shared Christian identity.
  • Real disagreement. Infant versus believer's baptism, sacrament versus ordinance, and pouring versus immersion reflect deeper differences about grace, faith and the Church.
  • Changing practice. As Christian affiliation falls in Australia (43.9% at the 2021 Census, ABS), fewer infants are baptized as a cultural custom and more adults choose baptism deliberately, which can make the rite more personally significant.
Answering "Describe how ONE significant practice expresses ONE belief of Christianity" (3 marks, 2025)

Step 1: Name ONE belief with terminology

"Christians believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that believers share in his death and resurrection."

Step 2: Describe the specific part of the practice

"In believer's baptism, the candidate is fully immersed in water and then raised up out of it."

Step 3: Link them explicitly

"Going under the water enacts being 'buried with him by baptism into death', and rising from it enacts walking 'in newness of life' (Romans 6:4), so the rite expresses belief in the Resurrection and new life in Christ."

Common traps
Describing one generic baptism for all Christians
Name the denomination and show how others differ.
Treating the Salvation Army and Quakers as baptising
They do not practise water baptism.
Listing symbols without beliefs
Link water, chrism, garment and candle to specific beliefs and texts.
Forgetting the community half
Parents, godparents, congregation, mission and unity all matter.
Confusing confirmation or chrismation with baptism
They follow baptism; in the Orthodox Church chrismation is given immediately.

In one sentence

Baptism, the rite of entry into the Church with water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, whether infants by pouring or believers by immersion, expresses the Trinity, sharing in Christ's death and resurrection, forgiveness, the gift of the Spirit and membership of the Body of Christ, giving each Christian a new and lasting identity and giving the community new members, shared responsibility, mission and a sign of unity.

Try this

Q1. Outline ONE action or ritual drawn from baptism. (3 marks)

  • What the marker wants. A specific action (for example the pouring of water with the Trinitarian formula, or the anointing with chrism) accurately described with its meaning.

Q2. Explain why some churches baptise infants while others baptise only believers. (5 marks)

  • What the marker wants. Grace versus personal faith, Acts 2:38 and Acts 16:33, sacrament and ordinance, named denominations.

Q3. Analyse the significance of baptism for the Christian community. (5 marks)

  • What the marker wants. Membership, shared responsibility, mission and unity, with evidence and a judgement.

Exam-style questions

Questions in the style of NESA exam questions on this dot point, each with a worked answer. They are written by ExamExplained unless tagged "Past paper"; the year shows the paper a question is modelled on.

2025 HSC SoR II Q24 (a)Past paper3 marks
Describe how ONE significant practice expresses ONE belief of Christianity.
Show worked answer →

Criteria (NESA 2025 marking guidelines, SoR I Q13(a), SoR II Q24(a)). 3: describes how ONE significant practice expresses ONE belief of Christianity, integrating relevant terminology. 2: outlines. 1: statements about Christianity.

A 3-mark answer using baptism.

  1. Belief. Christians believe in the Trinity: one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
  2. Practice. In baptism the minister immerses the candidate in water, or pours water over the head, three times, saying "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Catechism 1240), following Jesus' command in Matthew 28:19.
  3. Link. The threefold action and the words make the Trinity the name into which the new Christian is baptized, expressing belief that the Christian life is a sharing in the life of the three persons.

Source: NESA, 2025 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2024 HSC SoR II Q24 (b)Past paper8 marks
Religious practices are the sacred threads that weave together adherents' beliefs and connect them to the divine. With reference to this statement, explain how ONE of the following practices expresses the beliefs of Christianity: • Baptism • Marriage ceremony • Saturday/Sunday worship.
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Criteria (NESA 2024 marking guidelines, SoR I Q13(b), SoR II Q24(b)). 8: a detailed and accurate explanation of how ONE significant practice expresses the beliefs of Christianity, integrating the statement effectively throughout, clear and relevant evidence, integrated terminology. 6 to 7: accurate explanation, statement integrated. 4 to 5: some explanation. 2 to 3: an outline. 1: general statements.

Plan using baptism (each part of the rite as a thread).

  1. Water: death and resurrection. "We were buried with him by baptism into death, so that ... we also might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).
  2. The Trinitarian formula (Matthew 28:19): the Trinity.
  3. Forgiveness and salvation. "Repent and be baptized ... so that your sins may be forgiven" (Acts 2:38); Catholics teach "all sins are forgiven" (Catechism 1263).
  4. Holy Spirit. Anointing with chrism; "born of water and Spirit" (John 3:5).
  5. The Church. "In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13); "connect them to the divine" as a member of Christ's Body.
  6. Light and new life. Baptismal candle and white garment ("clothed yourselves with Christ", Galatians 3:27).
  7. Diversity as more threads. Infant baptism (grace received) and believer's baptism (faith professed).

Source: NESA, 2024 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2023 HSC SoR II Q24 (b)Past paper5 marks
Analyse the importance of ONE significant practice to the adherents of Christianity. In your answer, refer to ONE of the following: • baptism • marriage ceremony • Saturday/Sunday worship.
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Criteria (NESA 2023 marking guidelines, SoR I Q13(b), SoR II Q24(b)). 5: an accurate and detailed analysis of the importance of ONE practice to adherents, with clear and relevant examples and terminology. 4: accurate analysis. 3: an explanation of importance. 2: general statements about the practice. 1: general statements about Christianity.

Plan (baptism).

  1. Entry into Christian life. "The basis of the whole Christian life ... the door which gives access to the other sacraments" (Catechism 1213).
  2. Salvation and forgiveness (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16).
  3. Identity for life. Once for all; for Catholics it "cannot be repeated" (1272).
  4. Belonging. Membership of the Church; mutual recognition of baptism by ten Australian churches (NCCA Common Baptismal Certificate).
  5. Judgement. Almost universally important, though understood differently (sacrament or ordinance; infant or believer), and not practised by the Salvation Army or Quakers.

Source: NESA, 2023 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2022 HSC SoR II Q24 (b)Past paper6 marks
Explain how ONE significant practice expresses the beliefs of Christianity. In your answer, refer to ONE of the following. • Baptism • Marriage ceremony • Saturday/Sunday worship
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Criteria (NESA 2022 marking guidelines, SoR I Q13(b), SoR II Q24(b)). 6: a clear and detailed explanation of how ONE practice expresses the beliefs of Christianity, integrated terminology. 4 to 5: clear explanation with relevant evidence. 2 to 3: some explanation. 1: a general statement.

NESA's sample answer used baptism. It said baptism "signifies a person's initiation into the Christian community", expressing beliefs "in the Holy Trinity, salvation and the death and resurrection of Christ": water cleanses the candidate with a Trinitarian blessing (Matthew 28:19); water symbolises new life, joining the candidate to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus (it cites 1 Corinthians 15:20-23); and "for Catholic and Orthodox Christians, Baptism is a necessary element of salvation (Mark 16:16)".

Improve on it with Romans 6:3-4, the most direct text on dying and rising with Christ.

Source: NESA, 2022 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2021 HSC SoR II Q24 (c)Past paper6 marks
But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our holy faith. (Jude 20) How does ONE significant practice encourage adherents to build and strengthen their lives according to their holy faith? In your answer, refer to ONE of the following. • Baptism • Marriage ceremony • Saturday/Sunday worship
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What earns 6 marks (NESA 2021 marking guidelines, SoR I Q13(c), SoR II Q24(c)): thorough and accurate information on how the practice encourages adherents to build and strengthen their lives in faith, integrating the stimulus with clear evidence.

Model (baptism).

  1. The foundation. Baptism is "the basis of the whole Christian life" (Catechism 1213): the stimulus's "foundation".
  2. Building up. Baptismal promises (renouncing sin, professing the creed) are renewed each Easter; for Catholics baptism leads on to confirmation and the Eucharist.
  3. Strengthening together. Parents and godparents promise to raise the child in faith; the congregation promises support.
  4. Believer's baptism. For Baptists and Pentecostals, baptism publicly commits an adult to discipleship, strengthening faith through witness.

Source: NESA, 2021 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2020 HSC SoR II Q24 (a)Past paper7 marks
(i) Outline ONE significant practice within Christianity from the following. • Baptism • Marriage ceremony • Saturday/Sunday worship (3 marks) (ii) What is the significance for the Christian community of the practice outlined in part (a) (i)? (4 marks)
Show worked answer →
Criteria (NESA 2020 marking guidelines, SoR I Q13(a), SoR II Q24(a))
(i) 3: accurately outlines ONE practice. (ii) 4: a clear understanding of the significance of the practice for the Christian community, integrating terminology; 3: some understanding; 2: general statements; 1: statements about Christianity.
(i) Model
Baptism is the rite of entry into the Church: water is poured over the candidate or they are immersed, "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). Many churches baptise infants; Baptists and Pentecostals baptise believers by full immersion.
(ii) Model
For the community, baptism adds a new member to the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), renews the congregation's own baptismal faith, commits parents, godparents and congregation to nurture the new Christian, and is a sign of unity: "one Lord, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5), shown in the mutual recognition of baptism among Australian churches.

Source: NESA, 2020 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

2019 HSC SoR II Q24 (b)Past paper8 marks
. . . we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ. (Ephesians 4:15) How does this statement help to demonstrate the significance of ONE of the following practices for the Christian community? • Baptism • Marriage ceremony • Saturday/Sunday worship
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Criteria (NESA 2019 marking guidelines, SoR I Q13(b), SoR II Q24(b)). 7 to 8: a detailed and accurate explanation of the significance of ONE practice for the Christian community, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the statement, with clear evidence and integrated terminology. 5 to 6: detailed explanation, clear understanding of the statement. 3 to 4: general statements. 1 to 2: statements about a practice or the community.

Plan (baptism). "Growing ... more and more like Christ": baptism configures the Christian to Christ (Catechism 1272), "clothed ... with Christ" (Galatians 3:27); the community takes responsibility for that growth (godparents, catechesis, confirmation). "Speak the truth in love": the creed professed at baptism and the congregation's promise of loving support. The significance for the community: new members, unity ("one baptism", Ephesians 4:5), and mission (Matthew 28:19).

Source: NESA, 2019 HSC Studies of Religion examination and marking guidelines.

Practice questions

Original practice questions graded from foundation to exam level, each with a full worked solution. Try them before revealing the solution.

foundation3 marks
Outline the main features of infant baptism in ONE Christian denomination. (Original)
Show worked solution →

In the Catholic rite, the parents and godparents are welcomed and the child is signed with the cross. After readings and prayers, the parents and godparents renounce sin and profess the Creed. The priest or deacon pours water three times over the child's head, saying "N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (Catechism 1240). The child is anointed with chrism, clothed in a white garment and given a candle lit from the Easter candle.

Marking: 1 for the promises, 1 for the water and formula, 1 for the explanatory rites.

core5 marks
Compare infant baptism and believer's baptism. (Original)
Show worked solution →

Similarities. Both use water in the name of the Trinity (Matthew 28:19), express dying and rising with Christ (Romans 6:4) and admit the person to the Church.

Infant baptism (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Uniting, Lutheran): emphasises God's grace given before we can respond; "the sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is particularly manifest in infant Baptism" (Catechism 1250). It appeals to whole households being baptized (Acts 16:33). Faith is professed by parents and godparents and later confirmed by the person.

Believer's baptism (Baptist, Churches of Christ, Pentecostal): emphasises personal repentance and faith first ("Repent and be baptized", Acts 2:38); usually by full immersion to picture burial and resurrection; an ordinance of obedience and witness.

Why they differ. Different views of grace, faith and the sacraments, and different readings of the New Testament evidence.

Marking (Original): 5 for accurate features of each, a similarity, and the reason for the difference.

core5 marks
Demonstrate how baptism expresses the beliefs of Christianity. (Original)
Show worked solution →

The Trinity: baptism "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19).

The death and resurrection of Jesus: "buried with him by baptism into death ... so we also might walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4); immersion enacts it.

Salvation and forgiveness: "so that your sins may be forgiven" (Acts 2:38); original and personal sin forgiven (Catechism 1263).

The Holy Spirit: "born of water and Spirit" (John 3:5); anointing with chrism.

The Church: "baptized into one body" (1 Corinthians 12:13).

Marking (Original): 5 for four or more beliefs each linked to a specific element and text.

exam8 marks
Analyse the significance of baptism for both the individual and the Christian community. (Original)
Show worked solution →
Individual
New identity as a child of God, "a new creature" (Catechism 1265); forgiveness and new life (Romans 6:4); lifelong belonging marked once for all (1272); for adults, a public commitment and turning point; a foundation renewed each Easter.
Community
Growth of the Church and incorporation into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13; Catechism 1267); responsibility of parents, godparents and congregation; a sign of Christian unity ("one baptism", Ephesians 4:5), shown in the NCCA Common Baptismal Certificate recognised by ten Australian churches; mission (Matthew 28:19).
Analysis
Baptism is significant for almost all Christians, but its meaning differs (sacrament or ordinance, infant or believer), and falling rates of infant baptism in Australia show it is increasingly a conscious choice.

Marking (Original): 8 for individual and community both analysed with evidence and diversity, and a judgement.

Practise this

Sources & how we know this

Based on the official NESA syllabus. Not yet individually reviewed by a person; always check NESA and your school's materials for current rules.

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