We are having a problem with words in our congregation. When you baptize someone should you say the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of your sins?” Or should you just immerse them and say nothing? Also, our preacher does not want to take their confession before baptizing. He states that there is no confession in the New Testament. This is the first time we have ever encountered this. We are not under eldership but do have experienced sojourners here. We are trying hard to get this congregation sound.<\/p>\n\t
There are no set words to say at a baptism. All baptisms are done in by the authority of the Lord. Thus, whether someone says it is being done in the name of Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:18-20) or in the name of Jesus (Acts 10:48), it is the same thing since God is one.<\/p>\n
Confession is required in Romans 10:8-10, but nothing says it has to be done right at the point of baptism. We do have an example of the eunuch’s confession in Acts 8:37. Some translations place this verse in the margins, but I personally believe that is a mistake.<\/p>\n\t
Do you need to have witnesses or can the preacher baptize without witnesses?<\/p>\n
Are you saying he doesn’t have to say, “I baptize you for the remission of sin?’ I was always taught that was mandatory throughout the brotherhood. I’ve been in five congregations and two states. It has always been done the same way, for the same reason and it was always spoken. That is one thing that sets us apart from being a denomination.<\/p>\n\t
I must disagree. A uniform way of conducting baptisms does not distinguish us from denominations. There is no record of what people said while baptizing someone. There is no command stating that particular words need to be used. What we are told is that baptism is based on faith, repentance from sin, and confession that Jesus is the Son of God. The authority for baptism comes from the Lord God. The purpose of baptism is to bring forgiveness of sin and enter into the covenant with God.<\/p>\n
Yes, people tend to mention these facts during baptism because the denominational world has lost sight of the necessity and purpose of baptism, so mentioning these things makes it clear to those watching the baptism.<\/p>\n
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses<\/em>” (I Timothy 6:12). It takes two or three to serve as a witness. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established<\/em>” (II Corinthians 13:1). Even if we take the minimum, there should be at least one other person besides the preacher who hears the person’s confession.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: We are having a problem with words in our congregation. When you baptize someone should you say the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of your sins?” Or should you just immerse them and say nothing? Also, our preacher does not…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[52,51],"class_list":["post-52729","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-baptism","tag-confession"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23716,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-the-proper-thing-to-say-as-you-are-baptizing-someone\/","url_meta":{"origin":52729,"position":0},"title":"What is the proper thing to say as you are baptizing someone?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 31, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi Jeff, I read an article that asks what does someone says before they baptize someone else. It almost answered my question but not completely. I have always been taught that it is not a proper baptism unless the proper things were said. After taking their confession and then\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":23714,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-many-times-does-a-person-need-to-be-immersed-during-a-baptism\/","url_meta":{"origin":52729,"position":1},"title":"How many times does a person need to be immersed during a baptism?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 6, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I want to know if it is necessary to say \"I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit\" during a baptism? And is immersion valid if it is done once in the name of the Father, once in the name of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":41471,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-i-baptize-myself\/","url_meta":{"origin":52729,"position":2},"title":"Can I baptize myself?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 5, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Hi, Thanks for a good website I have learned a lot from reading questions and answers! Is it possible to support your website financially? I want to ask if you would pray for me so I can get out of my sin. As a person, I used to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":90252,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-any-christian-man-baptize-another-person\/","url_meta":{"origin":52729,"position":3},"title":"Can any Christian man baptize another person?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"September 8, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good day. I obeyed the gospel of Christ nearly ten years ago. My question to you is: Can I baptize someone? Let me give you the scenario. I go to worship service with my children, and my son wants to get baptized, but he is fearful of getting in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":39697,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-must-i-confess-before-i-am-baptized\/","url_meta":{"origin":52729,"position":4},"title":"What must I confess before I am baptized?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Let me start off by thanking you for all that you do in the name of Jesus Christ. A few weeks ago I had prayed to God asking for guidance in finding the true church of which I can become a part so that I may further my understanding\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":18676,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-saying-yes-enough-to-confess-christ-before-baptism\/","url_meta":{"origin":52729,"position":5},"title":"Is saying “yes” enough to confess Christ before baptism?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 14, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I enjoy reading your articles on your web site. I find your answers to questions biblically sound and with justification. I'm having trouble with confession, perhaps you can expound on it for me. Is simply answering \"yes\" when one is asked to confess Christ (before baptism) enough? 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