Vetting Prior to Baptism
The baptism process should be a solemn but joyous occasion. Of utmost importance is ensuring that the person being baptized is fully surrendered to God, committed to their relationship with him, and committed to living righteously every day of their lives. They should have a clear understanding of the Holy Spirit and his role in teaching, guiding and sanctifying them, and preparing the chosen for a role in God's kingdom.
There should be a brief exchange between the person being baptized and the person baptizing them. The ideal exchange and vetting would proceed as follows:
Q1. Do you understand the importance of baptism as essential to the spiritual cleansing necessary for you to gain salvation and be redeemed?
Q2. Do you believe that Jesus is the only son of God, that he came to earth to pay the penalty for sin so that we can be redeemed, that he was resurrected from the dead after his crucifixion in Jerusalem during the first century, that he will return in bodily form to establish a spiritual kingdom on the earth, and that he is the only person through whom we can gain forgiveness of sins and access to God's kingdom?
Q3. Are you willing to proclaim God's salvation to all people, irrespective of their religion, skin color, race or creed, and to respect their religious practices, customs and traditions as long as those practices, customs and traditions do not contradict God's written Word?
Q4. Are you willing to have God's Holy Spirit live inside of you for the purpose of teaching, guiding and protecting you?
Q5. Are you willing to surrender your way of doing, speaking and thinking if it conflicts with God's commands, and instead follow Jesus' example and adopt his way of doing, speaking and thinking, and to do so beginning now and for all eternity?
Of course, the person being baptized should respond with a "yes" to each question.
FOR A PRINTABLE OR DOWNLOADABLE PDF OF THIS BAPTISMAL PROTOCOL CLICK HERE.
There should be a brief exchange between the person being baptized and the person baptizing them. The ideal exchange and vetting would proceed as follows:
Q1. Do you understand the importance of baptism as essential to the spiritual cleansing necessary for you to gain salvation and be redeemed?
Q2. Do you believe that Jesus is the only son of God, that he came to earth to pay the penalty for sin so that we can be redeemed, that he was resurrected from the dead after his crucifixion in Jerusalem during the first century, that he will return in bodily form to establish a spiritual kingdom on the earth, and that he is the only person through whom we can gain forgiveness of sins and access to God's kingdom?
Q3. Are you willing to proclaim God's salvation to all people, irrespective of their religion, skin color, race or creed, and to respect their religious practices, customs and traditions as long as those practices, customs and traditions do not contradict God's written Word?
Q4. Are you willing to have God's Holy Spirit live inside of you for the purpose of teaching, guiding and protecting you?
Q5. Are you willing to surrender your way of doing, speaking and thinking if it conflicts with God's commands, and instead follow Jesus' example and adopt his way of doing, speaking and thinking, and to do so beginning now and for all eternity?
Of course, the person being baptized should respond with a "yes" to each question.
FOR A PRINTABLE OR DOWNLOADABLE PDF OF THIS BAPTISMAL PROTOCOL CLICK HERE.
