Believer Baptism
The Bible does not explicitly state who can baptize someone, but it provides some principles and examples that have been interpreted and applied in various ways by different Christian traditions.
In the Great Commission, Jesus instructs His disciples to baptize. Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Here, Jesus gives this task to His disciples, implying that those who are His followers can carry out His mission of baptism.
The overall pattern in the New Testament shows that baptisms are conducted within the context of the Christian community and often by those who are recognized as having a certain level of spiritual authority or leadership. This implies that the community's recognition of a person's ability to baptize is significant.
While the Bible primarily shows baptisms being performed by apostles and other recognized leaders, it does not provide a strict, exclusive requirement on who can baptize. The focus is more on the faith and authority within the Christian community.
At Bar.Church, we view baptism as a significant sacrament marking the beginning of one's faith journey and entrance into the Christian community. It symbolizes cleansing from sin and new life in Christ. Baptism will be performed using the Trinitarian formula and is considered a means of grace, though not necessary for salvation, emphasizing God's grace and individual faith.
In alignment with our belief that baptism is an outward declaration of an inward transformation and a public testimony of a person's decision to follow Jesus, if you would like to be baptized, we encourage you to contact Pastor Jim using the form below. He will inform you of an upcoming baptismal service….or we can schedule one for you.