Baptism identifies a born again believer with The Lord Jesus. My Granddaughter wants me to baptise her. I lead her to the Lord Jesus. I did not find scripture about this. John the Baptist was Jesus cousin. Just an old Grandpop. PTL!
Hello John. What your daughter has asked of you, I believe is entirely scriptural. Nowhere in the NT do we read that it must be a minister of religion or a pastor that baptizes a person. In fact, the act of water baptism goes hand-in-hand with being born again (repenting of sins & accepting the Lord Jesus as Saviour).
It is always seen in the NT (e.g. Acts 2:36-41; Acts 8:27-38) as happening together or soon after accepting Christ; not as we often see these days, where some are baptized months or years after being saved. It's the responsibility of the one leading a soul to Christ to see to his/her baptism - if not done by the soul winner, then by another believer. And preferably water baptism should be conducted before others, so that the act itself is both a personal & public testimony of what God has done in the believer's life & that act of baptism can be used against Satan when he puts doubts into the mind questioning one's salvation. Also remembering, that "baptism doth also now save us (NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh, BUT the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" ( 1 Peter 3:21). There is no merit in water baptism for salvation but for the sake of having a good conscience before God & man. The obedience part belongs to the one who baptizes ensuring that the Gospel delivered & believed upon, is also set in concrete with water baptism.
What I share here, I believe is the NT Church pattern - others may feel it's more appropriate for baptism to be done by the clergy, i.e. to make it 'official', with a certificate, etc. But I would not hesitate in doing it the NT way. May the Lord guide you in this matter.
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It is always seen in the NT (e.g. Acts 2:36-41; Acts 8:27-38) as happening together or soon after accepting Christ; not as we often see these days, where some are baptized months or years after being saved. It's the responsibility of the one leading a soul to Christ to see to his/her baptism - if not done by the soul winner, then by another believer. And preferably water baptism should be conducted before others, so that the act itself is both a personal & public testimony of what God has done in the believer's life & that act of baptism can be used against Satan when he puts doubts into the mind questioning one's salvation. Also remembering, that "baptism doth also now save us (NOT the putting away of the filth of the flesh, BUT the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" ( 1 Peter 3:21). There is no merit in water baptism for salvation but for the sake of having a good conscience before God & man. The obedience part belongs to the one who baptizes ensuring that the Gospel delivered & believed upon, is also set in concrete with water baptism.
What I share here, I believe is the NT Church pattern - others may feel it's more appropriate for baptism to be done by the clergy, i.e. to make it 'official', with a certificate, etc. But I would not hesitate in doing it the NT way. May the Lord guide you in this matter.
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