Who Is Authorized to Baptize?
by David K. Bernard
Podcast recording (no venue stated in the delivered transcript)
Kind: teaching
Scripture: Acts 22:16, Acts 16

Source: https://acts238.life/repository/sermons/david-k-bernard--who-is-authorized-to-baptize
Published by Acts 2:38 Life from the sermon transcript on that page.
Free to copy and share with attribution.

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You're correct that the Bible doesn't give us explicit instructions. Uh we have typically said that baptism should be performed by a minister of the gospel or someone authorized by a minister of the gospel. And I think uh the first reason is pragmatic so that we make sure it's performed correctly according to the New Testament especially making sure the person truly has faith in Jesus Christ is truly repented of sins and baptized by full immersion with the invocation of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So we want somebody who's competent and knowledgeable and not a novice or not just rushing through this because somebody thinks it's a good idea.

Uh now some have questions further. So does that mean they're the the person baptizing must have special qualifications? So what if we think they're a credential minister and they're really not? Or what if they're living in hypocrisy and secret adultery or false doctrine or what have you? And I think at the end of the day, we have to say the efficacy of water baptism is based on first of all the Lord Jesus Christ, his atoning sacrifice. uh we're being we're identifying with his burial and and then of course the person's faith in Jesus Christ and repentance from sin to the extent that they have knowledge of what that means.

And I I qualify that by saying a new person may have a very limited understanding. But as long as they're truly wanting to serve God, truly wanting to turn from a life of sin, turn to God, ask for the forgiveness of sins, putting their faith in Jesus Christ as savior, then I would say the baptism is effective. Uh and of course we understand in by immersion in water in the name of Jesus Christ is all component of that. But my point is we don't have to worry about the qualifications of the person baptizing or the secret sins or you know what we may not know about that person because it's really the person being baptized.

Uh and that's the key uh element. Um but as I said there's a practical reason to make wanting someone with some qualification but also the purpose of baptism does indicate that there should be some qualification because you're not only being identified with Christ in a personal relationship and of course the primary goal is the forgiveness and washing away of sins but you're being incorporated into the church. It's a public statement. It's not only a public confession but it is uh part of our Christian initiation. Water baptism and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is how we join the body of Christ and how we join the New Testament church.

And in the New Testament, believers are supposed to congregate together as a local body. You you can't really serve God in isolation barring unusual circumstances that you're you have no choice. But every in other words, you can't just be a Christian and not go to church. You have to belong to a local church. So part of water baptism a practical purpose is to incorporate you into a local body. So let's say you're you're witnessing to somebody and you lead them to repentance and maybe you're on a trip and so on. You say, "Well, let's just baptize them." Well, you're doing the evangel evangelism part, but you're not doing anything for disciplehip.

If you're not connecting them to a local church and local pastor, you haven't really positioned them to be a disciple. So, for that reason, we would normally say you need to get the pastor of a local church that this person potentially could come uh and be part of or, you know, if they're out of town or something, at least they could be referred to a a fellow church, a sister church. Uh and and so you would want the pastor or someone designated by him. So it could be another ministry. It could be a lay person who's a mature leader. But under ideal circumstances, uh not that the person baptizing has to meet certain qualifications in order for the baptism to be effective.

We're not taking it to that extent. but for the practical reason of making sure the baptism is done properly with repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and that we're making our best effort to connect this new believer to a local church where they can be discipled. So they need to feel a and so if the person who has baptized them is representing a local church that increases the chances they will feel a connection and they will feel a need to continue their walk with the Lord in the context of a local church which is definitely what we want to do and that is a part of the function of baptism is incorporating the person into the body of Christ in not only the universal mystical body but the local body where they can be discipled.

Now having said that there are sometimes unusual circumstances. I did know of a man who saw baptism in the name of Jesus Christ in scripture. He was not aware of anybody else who who who performed that. So he baptized himself in the name of Jesus Christ. Um obviously we wouldn't recommend that. We do think as you indicated every example in the Bible is of someone performing the baptism. uh and as soon as he did come in contact with um in that case it was a United Pentecostal church then the pastor did baptize him but you know I if those unusual circumstances could God have accepted that well I I think you might say so even though that's not what we would recommend if we have a choice Acts 22:16 uh Ananas told Saul of Tarsus arise and be baptized and wash away your sins calling on the name of the Lord we normally would want the person baptizing to call the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to make sure it's done properly and to make sure it's done with full understanding but there is this example where we might ask the person to confess at the same time um and there's nothing wrong with that and and the person and often we will pray for the person first and we can expect them and ask them or just tell them to call on the name of Jesus Christ so that both the one baptizing and the one being baptized both are calling on the name of Jesus Christ.

There are some other unusual cases like with COVID and the aftermath and uh technology. People have asked me, well, I'm I'm witnessing somebody across the world via the internet. We're having Zoom Bible study or we're we're online. They want to be baptized. What do I do? And of course, I tell them, find a local United Pentecostal church. Find a local apostolic church. If they can't do anything, they can't find anyone, I would say, well, find someone who is their friend who does believe in Jesus to some extent or what what to whatever extent you can and baptize them. But while while they're physically being baptized, if you could uh join them remotely and then you can actually say the the formula of baptism as well.

Uh, and somebody said, "Well, can I just do that remotely and have the person baptize himself?" And I've always said, "Well, I think you should at least try to have someone physically present, but if they're not a pastor of a local church or a representative of the local church, then then at least find somebody, but then you also can say uh, you know, the baptismal form at the same time." Uh, so, you know, they're interesting, unique circumstances. I think under most circumstances, you you would do what I've already said, have the pastor or another authorized representative of a local church, but there are cases, as I've already mentioned, of witnessing to somebody across the world or someone on a trip.

And I think a lot of times if there is an or maybe someone's stationed overseas where there is no other church and I I would the best practice I would say is I if if you're not a minister get your pastor's authorization say I want your blessing. I I'm on this trip. This person is hungry for God. I want to baptize them in the swimming pool or or I'm stationed in the military and a base. I'm to witness someone. There is no apostolic pastor. I want your blessing. Can I take them out and and baptize them? And so I think what we're trying to do there is follow a proper order.

Uh again, for the two reasons I've just mentioned, to make sure it is done correctly according to scripture and also to make sure we do as much as we can to connect that person to a local church where they can be discipled. But the Bible doesn't give hard and fast rules. uh this is the guidance that I give to people for these unusual cases. But uh to summarize, I do think we need to treat baptism very seriously. We do believe it's part of New Testament salvation. It's not optional. It's necessary. So we shouldn't arbitrarily delay it for various reasons. If a person is ready to be baptized, as in Acts 16, even if it's in the middle of the night, go ahead and baptize them.

You don't have to wait till uh the next day. Um or if if you're alone in the wilderness and they're ready to be baptized, you don't have to wait a few days to the next church service or till there's a congregation of people, you can baptize the person immediately. It seemed to be that important. On the other hand, sometimes in our zeal to tally converts, we may rush people through and I don't I I don't think it's sufficient just to say, "I want to be baptized." Or, "I feel good in this service. I want to be baptized or my friend tells me this is what to do or my family says.

I think there should be an effort uh to make sure you pray. Some representative of the church prays with a person long enough to feel they've genuinely repented of their sins and even explain what repentance means if they're a brand new person to make sure they feel that they've repented. And certainly they're putting their personal faith in Jesus Christ, not just it's the thing to do or if I want to be saved, I have to do this, but they're personally saying,"I want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ." So, we definitely want to emphasize baptism and not delay it or put it off, but we also want to make sure as much as we can that the person understands what they're doing.

They've genuinely put their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. they've generally repented of their sins to the extent of their understanding of what that means. And those that's the most important aspect. Um, of course, calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as obedience to scripture and an expression of our faith in Jesus.