WHO QUALIFIED TO BAPTIZE?

Who qualified to baptize?

Qualification for baptism is another interesting part of the topic, baptism. Different people baptize on various grounds, I interviewed a clergyman about why they baptize infants, and he said it is done for protection. Some denominations baptize near-death people and others too, baptize the dead.

Leaders of some denominational churches determine those that are qualified. God has given us all things that pertain to life; the Bible is not silent about who qualified for baptism. Let the bible speak about qualifications for baptism.

Self-acceptance as a sinner

Self-acceptance as a sinner is the key! All those who were baptized accepted that they are sinners and all those who would like to be baptized must do likewise. Without accepting yourself as a sinner, it would be very difficult for you to hear the gospel of Christ let alone believing it. How can one repent if he does not accept himself to be a sinner? 

Self-acceptance as a sinner means that you are poor in the spirit; you cannot do anything to save yourself and no one can save you except Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) In the book of Luke 18: 9 – 14, Jesus told a parable about some that trusted in themselves that they were righteous. Two people went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 

The Pharisee bragged about all the “good things” he has done, thinking that he is the holiest person on the earth but the tax collector on the other hand humbly asked God for forgiveness. The tax collector, in other words, accepted himself as a sinner and he was justified. Again Jesus Christ told the Pharisees that the prostitutes and the tax collectors go into the Kingdom of God before them because they realize and accept that they are sinners (Matt. 21:31).

If you are self-righteous, then you are not qualified to baptize! Those who are well, have no need of a physician; but those who are sick. Jesus came not to call the righteous, but sinners. Are you self-righteous or you need Jesus Christ?

Hearing the gospel of Christ

The gospel is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1Cor. 15:3). But why is it good news? Because life and immortality are revealed through the gospel (2Ti 1:10); hearing this message produces faith. Faith comes through hearing and hearing by the word of God. All who received the Christian baptism in the Bible heard the gospel of Christ.

Before the three thousand were baptized on the day of Pentecost, they heard the gospel of Christ Peter and the rest of the apostles preached to them.

(Act 2:36-37) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men, and brethren, what shall we do?

The inhabitants of the city of Samaria heard the gospel of Christ through Philip, the evangelist and gave heed to it.

(Act 8:5-6) Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

The Ethiopian eunuch heard the gospel of Christ

(Act 8:35) Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him, Jesus.
Others include Cornelius and household (Acts 10: 34-43), Lydia (Acts 16: 13), the Philippian jailer (Acts 16: 32). The gospel of Christ is the foundation upon which baptism is administered; therefore all those who were baptized heard the good news first and all those who would like to qualify for baptism must be preached the good news. The gospel is God’s power to save.

(Rom 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.


Read also: IS BAPTISM A REQUIREMENT FOR SALVATION?

Believing in Jesus Christ

(Mar 16:15-16) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.
To believe is to put your trust, reliance, dependence, confidence, and hope in someone or something. Believing is another qualification for baptism, if you baptize without it, your baptism is in vain. The “about three thousand” that were baptized on the day of Pentecost were not the only people gathered there that day, but they were the people who and received (believed) the message and they were baptized.

(Act 2:41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The Samaritans believed the gospel message

(Act 8:12-13) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

The Ethiopian eunuch believed and he was baptized

(Act 8:37-38) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

The Philippian jailer who was trembling and fell before Paul and Silas asked, what must I do to be saved? The answer was,  "believe in Christ Jesus".

(Act 16:31-32) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

(John 8:24) I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

The need for repentance

Repentance is the change of mind and the conversion from sin to God. Repentance is an inward change that manifests physically. Repentance is a command of the gospel of Christ if you have not repented of your sins you are not qualified to baptize. It is a requirement and a command for everyone, anywhere to repent.

(Act 17:30) And the times of this ignorance God winked at, but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
Even some Pharisees and Sadducees who by pretend came to John the Baptist to receive the preparatory baptism were denied because they did not repent (Matt. 3: 6-7).

On the day of Pentecost, when the multitude asked: “…brethren what shall we do?” Peter told them to repent.

(Act 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Confession of Jesus Christ

(Rom. 10:9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
The confession the Bible means here is the acknowledgment and declaration of the belief that Jesus is the son of the living God, not the acknowledgment of sins before a priest as some denominations usually do. The Bible does not teach us to so before baptism.

An example can be found in the book of Acts where an Ethiopian Eunuch confessed Jesus Christ before he was baptized.

(Act 8:37) And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
If we deny Jesus before men, He will also deny us before His Father on the

(Mat 10:32-32) Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Conclusion

One is qualified to baptize if he heard the Gospel of Christ, believed in Jesus Christ, repented of sins and is ready to confess that Jesus Christ is the son of the living God before men. Each and every step is very important for baptism. If one of the steps is left out, one is not qualified to baptize! Where repentance and confession are not stated in the Bible before baptism, it is implied. Infants and the dead are not qualified for baptism because they cannot meet the above requirements.

If a person who is on the verge of death can meet the requirements for baptism then he may do so otherwise it would be in vain. No one is supposed to determine to his friend whether he is qualified for baptism because you cannot tell whether he believes or repented. Each and everyone should be accountable for himself.

Are you qualified for baptism? If you are qualified to baptize then:

(Act 22:16) …why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.



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