Baptism - Assyrian Church of the East

Baptism is the immersion in and the washing with water and this is divided into five kinds:

First, the washing off the filth of the body, as is commonly done by all men. Second, the washings according to usages of the law, whereby it was believed that purity towards God from all carnal uncleanness was attained. Thirdly, those of the traditions of the elders, such as “the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, beds”, and as “when they come from the market, except they bathe, they eat not.” Fourth, the baptism of John, whereby he preached only repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Fifth, the baptism of our Savior , which is received, through the Holy Spirit, for the gift of adoption of sons, for the resurrection from the dead, and for everlasting life; which is “the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.” For as the circumcision of the flesh was given for a sign denoting those who were of the family of Israel of old according to the flesh; so the baptism of Christ is a sign of spiritual relationship to the new Israel, viz., those who are the called, and the children of God. “But those who received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God.

The matter of Baptism is pure water. If a man is not born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”. The form, of baptism is:

“in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit .” according to the words of our Savior. There is also a Sixth Baptism, that of blood, as our Lord has indicated: “I have a baptism to be baptized[26] with, and I am oppressed until it is fulfilled”. There is also a Seventh Baptism, that of tears, after the saying of the fathers. These two are allied to the fifth, which is an emblem of death and the resurrection.