Please, I would like to know whether I can be able to baptize some new converts I have won to the LORD's side. Since I am not an ordained pastor can I go ahead and do so?
Baptism is an act of obedience and a public expression faith in the resurrection of Christ, but is not a condition of salvation itself. It is the expression of salvation already accepted by faith. The baptizer must be given the authority to baptize directly by Jesus Christ himself. Ordination and apostolic succession do not guarantee valid authority to baptize.
The only way to acquire the authority to baptize is to receive the commission directly from Jesus Christ. There is altogether too much usurping of the authority of Christ on the part of people who claim authority by ordination and some kind of apostolic succession. Such people bind the consciences of believers to themselves and take away their loyalty to Christ the king.
"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:18-20).
The only way we have today of receiving the commission directly from Christ is in the formation of a Gospel ecclesia or church. That requires two or three people who gather in the name of Christ, solemnly aware of his personal presence among them. When they are agreed that Christ has designated one among them to baptize, then by the laying on of hands and prayer they may dedicate that person to the office of elder or deacon among them. Christ himself is present to give the commission.
The church is a valid church of Christ only when gathered in the name of Jesus, and Jesus is only present in such a body. The entire group must be submitted to the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. It is not enough just to get together and claim to be a church of Christ. The church or ecclesia, that is the group of called out ones, represents the kingdom of God on earth. That kingdom has a law and a king. Without that law and king, the group is not part of the kingdom of God. When the proper conditions are met, Christ himself founds the church. No merely human founding or ordination is valid.
It is a wonderful thing that God has used you to bring faith in Christ to others. But you should not assume that you have the right to baptize them at this point. You should gather these people as a home church where Christ is present and follow the leading of Christ to commission an elder and deacon to serve in that capacity. It may be that you will find that Christ is calling you to that service, or it may be someone else. He will speak directly to the gathered congregation and make his will clear.
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written by Dennis Iornongu, February 08, 2010
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written by Mark Anthony Clemeno, January 28, 2010
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written by Jonard Rodriguez, January 26, 2010
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written by Tessy S.M., January 04, 2010
a new convert pouring water on his/her head "in the Holy Name of the FATHER,
SON and the SPIRIT" in an urgent situation.
How ever, when an authorized person like a Priest or a
Pastor is available, it is good that he does this Sacrament.
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written by Norberto jr. devera, December 15, 2009
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written by endtime elijah, November 16, 2009
I am at a loss as to what it is you oppose in ur post.
Baptism IS REQUIRED FOR SALVATION!!
written by Katherine Higuet, October 12, 2009
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John said he was 'sent' by ? (must be Father YHWH)
John 1:33
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (not with water)!!!
Christ must have authorized His disciples - although it is not specifically stated - (according to John - the world could not hold the book if all that Christ said/did was written down)
John 3:22
After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. John 4:2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
The principles regarding the authority to baptize by immersion in water on this website seem correct according to scripture. It is an act of obedience - AFTER receiving salvation.
The thief on the cross did not have the opportunity (as far as we know) to be baptized in water. Did he not receive salvation?? (looks like the 'safest' person in all scripture to me)
Why the cry - WRONG, WRONG???
Shalom
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written by Katherine Higuet, October 12, 2009
Sorry, but baptism is derived from the Greek word "baptizo", and the literal Greek translation of that word is IMMERSING. It never said a thing about sprinkling or pouring. It said that a thing or person must be immersed into water. John the Baptist used the Jordan River. Why the river? If sprinkling was the practice, why didn't he go to a well and use a bucket of water?
Acts 22:16 said "Be baptized and wash away your sins". It didn't say "Get rid of your sins, THEN baptize" nor did it say "Get rid of your sins." Baptism is an absolute essential to salvation. No ands, ors, or buts! Acts 2:38 again mentions baptism. Acts 8:14-17 speaks of the disciples laying hands on a person and so caused that person to receive the Holy Spirit without being baptized in water. Again, you are saying that no one has direct permission from Jesus for ANY sort of baptism AT ALL. Sorry, but baptism by fire and by water are both baptisms, period. When's the last time we had baptisms by fire? When's the last time doves came down alighting on us? The days of big and loud miracles are OVER. The days of prayer and God working mysteriously through people have begun, long ago.
1 Peter 3:21 says baptism saves us, too. Also, a disciple was talking to a man about the Gospel and this man wanted to be baptized and spotted a river. He pointed to the river and said "There is the river. What is to stop us from baptizing me?" A verse in there said "BECAUSE THERE WAS MUCH WATER THERE". Sadly, people think an entire river is essential to only mere sprinklings or pourings and therefore immersions never happened and this makes it ok for us to baptize in false doctrines. Don't even get me started on baptizing infants. The Bible clearly states we must do five things IN ORDER. 1. Hear the Gospel. 2. Believe the Gospel. 3. Be baptized. 4. Repent. 5. Live a Christian life. Babies cannot do every one of those above. They have no idea what it all means! Why would the Bible even mention it if the Word knows infants can't do it? They're all going to hell, then, for baptizing and then foregoing the former and latter steps? Nice one, but nope.
Anyone who genuinely believes in Jesus Christ, who is continually adding Jesus' qualities to his/her own character, has a good testimony of his/her life inside AND outside of the church has the authority to recruit people into God's fold. He commanded us ALL to preach to ALL four corners of the world, AND convert them. How do we convert if none of us has the so-called direct permission from Jesus himself to baptize any of them in any way? You MUST be baptized along with the other four steps, or it's nothing!
Some people hear it, believe it, baptize, and repent... then think they're saved and it's a guarantee even if they go back to their old sinful life and think nothing more of it. Wrong. Salvation is NOT unconditional. Just like the parable of the master to his three slaves... the last slave who was left in charge of some of the master's money refused to invest the money for the master and was thus cast out of his home. We all are judged by how much we work FOR God, WITH God. We cannot work for God if we cannot/refuse to recruit people into God's fold just because a few people tells us Jesus didn't say we could.
WRONG WRONG WRONG!
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written by lilydith salazar, October 06, 2009
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written by robert kwofie, October 04, 2009
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written by David S G, July 29, 2009
We need to be baptized. As you said Baptism has EVERYTHING to do with our salvation but Salvation is independent from baptism. This article doesn't contradict bible. Your views are welcomed!
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written by Mr. Gonska, July 14, 2009
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written by Claudette Huntington, June 21, 2009
the Lord bless and keep you all, your sister in Christ.
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written by EZEH REMIGIUS UCHE, June 08, 2009
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written by Jay Remorosa, May 09, 2009
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written by michael devera, April 24, 2009
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God bless you all and pray for the spirit of discernment that we may understand the truth of God the right way and may not fall victims of the evil one.