A Candid Look at Baptism, Number Two

Our previous article under this topic gave attention to THE ACTION OF BAPTISM and THE DESIGN OR PURPOSE OF BAPTISM. In this we will notice two other facets of this very important Biblical subject. We'll consider the proper candidate for and the administrator of baptism.

THE PROPER SUBJECT OR CANDIDATE FOR BAPTISM: The New Testament speaks to this matter with such clarity and simplicity, one wonders how there could be confusion regarding it. As is generally the case, the confusion results from ideas advanced by man, not from what the scriptures say. A couple of references will suffice to illustrate our point. The Discipline of the Methodist Church states, "Let every adult person, and the parents of every child to be baptized, have the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion." Then follows "The Order for the Baptism of Infants." (1956 edition, page 545). The Manual, Church of the Nazarene in Articles of Faith, XIII Baptism, says that "baptism…is to be administered to believers…" and then in the next paragraph says "Baptism being the symbol of the New Testament, young children may be baptized, upon request of parents or guardians…." (1948 edition, pages 30-31). From these quotes it is apparent that some teach that believing adults as well as infants and young children are candidates for baptism. Let's let the word instruct us.

In the great commission Jesus said, "Go therefore and make disciples (teach all nations, KJV) of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mat. 28:19). Mark's account reads, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mk. 16:15-16). Those who are to be baptized are those who are taught and who become believers. Those who on Pentecost were cut to the heart by Peter's preaching were told to "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…." (Acts 2:38). These were hearers who were old enough to so reason and understand that they could be "cut to the heart" and ask, "what shall we do?" They were sinners who were told they needed to repent. Infants and young children do not satisfy this description of candidates for baptism.

WHO MAY ADMINISTER THE BAPTISM OF THE NEW TESTAMENT? Denominational creeds, manuals and disciplines speak of those who are "licensed" or "ordained" being "vested with authority to administer the sacraments", one of which they consider to be baptism. A human board or agency does this licensing and ordination. However, nothing of its kind is found in the New Testament.

Interestingly no emphasis is given in the New Testament to the administrator of baptism, the person actually performing the act. The emphasis there is upon the candidate or subject of baptism. The administrator in the given instances of baptism recorded in the New Testament is mentioned only in the sense of one who assists the candidate in his obedience. The efficacy of baptism does not rest upon the person doing the baptizing, but upon the one being baptized. "God be thanked that you were servants of sin, yet you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered" (Rom. 6:17). "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized…." (Acts 2:38). Such individuals are those who have "purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit…having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever…." (I Pet. 1:22-23).