Adult Baptism

For the italic expressions the feminine or plural should be substituted where appropriate.
 
1     THE INTRODUCTION

The minister reads this introduction:
The Lord Jesus Christ said: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew 28.18-20).

Since the time of Abraham God's people have been given a sign of admission to his covenant by means of which God reassures his children that he is their God and they his people. In the New Testament baptism replaced circumcision as the sign, but the covenant itself remains the same. Those who believe God's promise and trust in Christ alone for salvation, are made the spiritual heirs of Abraham and the children of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ suffered death on the cross and rose again from the dead for our salvation. Baptism is the outward sign of all that God does for us in Christ. He unites us with him in his death, grants us forgiveness of sins for his sake and raises us with him to new life in the Spirit.

2  The minister says:

Let us pray.

All pray:
Almighty and eternal God,
who in mercy saved Noah and his family
in the days of the flood,
and who safely led the children of Israel
through the waters of the Red Sea,
symbolising thereby holy baptism;
and by the baptism of your Son, Jesus Christ,
sanctified water to represent the washing away of sin:
look in mercy on this person.
Wash him , and sanctify him with the Holy Spirit;
deliver him from your wrath;
receive him into the ark of Christ's church;
make him firm in faith and joyful through hope;
and fill him with your love so that,
passing through the waters of this troubled world,
he may finally come to the land of everlasting life,
there to reign with you for ever,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

3       The minister reads these words from the gospel of John

Hear these words of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in the third chapter of John's gospel verses 1-8:

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no-one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
 

4       THE DECLARATION OF REPENTANCE, FAITH AND OBEDIENCE

The candidate(s) stand and the minister says:

The Scriptures teach that all people are conceived and born with a sinful nature; and you have heard in these words of our Saviour Christ that no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Holy Spirit. The sacramental sign of the new birth is baptism. Those who come to be baptized must affirm their allegiance to Christ and their rejection of all that displeases God. It is your duty to fight against evil and to follow Christ. Therefore I ask:

Do you renounce the devil and all his works, the empty show and false values of the world and the sinful desires of the flesh so that you will not follow nor be led by them?
Answer : I renounce them all.

Do you believe and trust in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to die for us?
Do you believe and trust in his only Son Jesus Christ, who was crucified for our sins, rose from the dead and is the only way of salvation?
Do you believe and trust in his Holy Spirit, who enables us to receive God's word, repent and believe the gospel?

Answer : I believe and trust in the one true God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Do you desire to be baptized in this faith?
Answer : That is my desire.

Will you then keep God's holy will and commandments all the days of your life?
Answer  : I will, with the help of God.
 
 

5       PRAYERS

The minister says:
Let us pray.

Merciful God, grant that the old Adam in this person may be buried, and that he may be raised a new man in Christ. Amen.

Grant that the sinful desires of the flesh may die in him, and that all things belonging to the Spirit may live and grow in him. Amen.

Grant that by faith he may have power and strength to have victory and to triumph over the devil, the world and the flesh. Amen.

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ shed from his side both water and blood for the forgiveness of our sins; and commanded his disciples to go and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: hear our prayer. Consecrate this water to signify the washing away of sin; and grant that this person now to be baptized in it, may receive the fulness of your grace and be numbered among your chosen and believing children, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
 

6       THE BAPTISM

The minister baptizes the candidate with water, saying:

N, I baptize you in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 

7      THE CHARGE

All say:
We receive you into Christ's congregation
and sign you with the sign of the cross.
We pray that you will not be ashamed
to confess the faith of Christ crucified,
that you will fight bravely under his banner
against sin, the world and the devil
and that you will continue Christ's faithful soldier
and servant to the end of your life. Amen.
 

8       THE LORD'S PRAYER All pray:
 

9      Then the minister says:

We praise you, most merciful Father, that all whom you receive and adopt as your own are spiritually regenerate and made true members of your church: grant that this person, being buried and raised with Christ, may have victory over sin, the world and the devil, that he may live a righteous life and that at the end he may inherit your eternal kingdom along with all your faithful people, through Jesus Christ our
Lord. Amen.
 

10      The minister addresses the newly baptized:
 

You have today solemnly promised in the presence of this congregation and your chosen witnesses that you will follow Christ. It is your duty to trust in him, to daily follow his example and to be a faithful and loyal member of his family, the church. You should develop the habit of daily Bible reading and prayer. And if you are not coming to confirmation today you should as soon as possible be confirmed and then regularly receive Holy Communion, by which we are reminded of Christ's death for us and at which we rededicate ourselves to his service.
 

11      The minister may conclude with the GRACE

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.