Explain the Meaning and Importance of Baptism for Christians

Baptism is one of the more important parts of any Christian's life, although it has stronger significance for Catholics and Baptists than Anglicans or Protestants.
One of the keys to analysing the importance of baptism lies in the tradition. Baptism is not a Christian concept - it was around with the Jews before Christ was born. John the Baptist told people to be baptised in readiness for Jesus' arrival, to cleanse themselves of sin. Today, there is still the same sense of preparing oneself, via baptism, for Jesus. According to the Catholic viewpoint, a person who dies without being bapti…