Holy baptism was instituted in the Church by Christ to signify and seal God's promises. The word baptize means to immerse, and also signifies washing, cleansing and purifying. The sign used is water, and the act of baptism is meant to signify the washing away of sins, or the cleansing from sin. In the Old Testament, cleansing occurred by both water and blood and both sprinkling and immersion signified purification.