The Christian life is marked by a variety of passages, however, the primary passage is made in the waters of baptism.

Here is the beginning of the passage into life with God in Christ Jesus. Here is the sacrament of our identity as children of God. Although the baptismal bath is a once-in-a-lifetime passage, the sacrament of baptism gives shape to each day of the Christian’s life.

Baptism is considered a rite of initation into the Christian family.  In baptism, a person is washed clean in water and then sealed with oil as a symbol of Christ's claim on us.