Baptism is the covenantal rite of public initiation into the Church as ordained by God in Christ for the People of God in the New Covenant era. In the Old Covenant era, circumcision served as the rite of initiation into membership in the covenant. All baptized believers, including infants and children, may receive communion in any Basileia Eucharistic worship service. Thus Basileia regards Baptism performed in any jurisdiction of the Church in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as ultimately a work of the Holy Spirit that makes the person a member of the Church. In regards to nations, Jesus’ command to baptize entire nations indicates that Baptism has a broader application than just in relation to individuals. In relation to collectives Baptism is the means of initiating them into obedience to the covenant that they also, like individuals, may be dwelling places of God in the Spirit. Thus Baptism, both for individuals and collectives, is a public rite of initiation into the covenant. And obedience to the covenant is the condition God requires for Him to come and dwell in us by the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:12). Therefore, all Baptisms are also a Baptism in the Spirit, which is why Basileia performs Chrismation immediately upon the baptism of any individual. Baptism is not just about having the guilt of one’s sins washed away, but because of the Incarnation, Baptism also reverses the corruption of God’s image in us as a result of the Fall. This in turn restores us to be temples in which the Spirit comes and dwells. Thus Baptism and Chrismation go hand in hand.
Also see Chrismation, Infant Baptism, and Restoration.