THE ADMINISTRANTS OF BAPTISM

By Gary Ray Branscome

Just as the words, “Go, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,” authorize every believer to spread the good news of forgiveness in Christ; they also authorize every believer to baptize those who come to faith (Matthew 28:19). In saying this, I am by no means giving my approval to those who separate themselves from other Christians. Every Christian who is led by the Holy Spirit will want baptism to be carried out by the congregation that he or she is a member of, simply because that is the way that is honorable and above reproach. At the same time, there are occasions (such as Philip’s baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch) when that is not possible (Acts 8:26-39). And, in such cases every Christian has not only the privilege, but the duty to baptize. As it is written, “You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people valued by God; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,” (1Peter 2:9).

The words, “All things are yours” and “All the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen,” tell us that all of the spiritual blessings that Christ has secured for us by His death on the cross, belong to every believer (1Corinthians 3:21, 2Corinthians 1:20). And, we should all want the affairs of the Christian church to be carried out “decently and in order” (1Corinthians 14:40).