Baptism
Covenant
Ceremony
COVENANT VOWS
· Do you believe that Jesus is The Christ and the Firstborn Son of God? (Acts 8:37; Col. 1:13-18)
· Do you accept Jesus Christ as your only Lord, Master, Savior, and King in this life and the Kingdom to come? (Matt. 23:10; John 13:13; Titus 1:4; 2 Pet. 1:11; 3:18)
· Do you believe that Jesus is only name by which your sins are forgiven? (Acts 4:12)
· Do you seek to be buried with Jesus Christ through baptism into His death for the remission of your sins? (Acts 2:38; Rom. 3:25; 6:2-11)
· Have you repented to God of your sins, which are transgressions of His Law? (Acts 2:38)
· Do you acknowledge the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the cleansing of your sins? (Rev. 1:5)
· Do you have faith and believe that God has forgiven your sins? (Rom. 3:25)
· Have you counted the cost of bearing your cross—the afflictions and trials that test the hearts of all who are called to be children of God? (Luke 14:28; Matt. 10:38; 16:24; Acts 14:22; Rom. 8:17; 2 Thess. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:12; 3:12)
· Do you swear[1] to strive to obey the Law of God—His commandments, statutes, judgments, testimonies, and precepts? (John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; 1 John 5:3)
· Do you swear1 to strive to love God and Jesus Christ with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength; to love your fellow saints as Jesus Christ loves you; to love your neighbor as yourself; and to love your enemies? (John 14:15; 15:12; Matt. 5:44; Luke 10:27)
· Do you now commit your life to serving God the Father and the Lord Jesus through the ministry of Good Works unto all, but especially those of the household of God, as you have the means and opportunities? (Matt. 5:16; 2 Cor. 9:8-14; Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:10; 2 Tim. 3:17; Titus 2:14; 3:8, 14; Heb. 10:24; 1 Pet. 2:12)
BAPTISM & LAYING ON OF HANDS
What is your full name?
<NAME>, you are about to enter into an eternal covenant with God the Father and Jesus Christ based upon the vows you have just made. I now baptize you, not into any sect, denomination, or organization of the world, but in the name of Jesus[2] who is The Christ and the Son of the Living God (Matt. 16:16; Acts 2:38).
<PERFORM BAPTISM>
I now lay my hands upon you and pray that God the Father will beget you with His Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ (John 14:17, 26; 1 John 5:1) who places you into the Body of Christ with the promise of eternal life to you and to all who belong to our Lord and Savior. I do this in the name, authority, and power of Jesus Christ (Matt. 28:18; 1 Cor. 15:27; Eph 1:20-22; Phil. 2:9-10).
<LAYING ON OF HANDS & PRAYER>
I now commend you into the hands of the Living God and His beloved Son Jesus Christ (Luke 23:46). AMEN!
[1] Matthew 5:34 omits a crucial word and should read “… do not swear [falsely] at all …” (Lev. 19:12; Deut. 6:13; 10:20; Heb. 6:13, 16). All biblical covenants are established by the swearing of an oath. An affirmation is a concept of man’s legal systems and is not supported.
[2] The statement “… baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” in Matthew 28:19 is added text. Jesus is the only name by which one must be baptized in accordance with all other Scripture (Acts 2:38; 4:10, 12; 8:12, 15-16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4).