Q&A for How to Baptize Someone

By attending church service, praying, reading the Bible, and helping those in need in your community.

No, you cannot baptize yourself.

Yes, you can.

As cheesy as this sounds, it's the thought that counts. God will be understanding if you're doing the best you can and for the right reasons.

No, but since Jesus is the one accepting you as a result of your baptism, then in a way, he's always part of your baptism regardless of who performs it.

You should ask the leaders of the church you belong to, as different churches have different requirements.

Different Christian groups have different answers, but for most groups, it's best for a minister or priest to baptize the person.

According to Catholic Answers - Fr. Charles Grondin: If a newborn is in danger of death, the child should be baptized immediately. If no priest is readily available, any layperson can baptize using water and the Trinitarian formula. If the unfortunate should occur and the child dies before receiving baptism, there are other Rites of the Church that would apply. The Book of Blessings contains an Order for Blessing of Parents After a Miscarriage. The Order of Christian Funerals contains prayers that can be said in the presence of the deceased’s body that can be adapted for infants and also contains prayers explicitly for deceased children that can be used immediately following a death.

He can be baptized without complete submersion. You could submerge his feet and cover his face with a cloth that has been soaked in holy water. (You do need a minister to bless the water and cleanse the soul though.)

Once is sufficient to satisfy the Scriptures. However, the Scriptures do not say that one person can only be baptized once.

No. You do not have to read it every day, although you can. Many Christians would like you to.

Baptism should be performed by a believer in Jesus Christ. It is not necessary to be a credentialed pastor or own a church building.

One of the features of water baptism is the open declaration in front of others of your personal identification with Jesus Christ. However, you may have someone stand alongside for encouragement and support.

The water of baptism does not need any special ritual. It should simply be clean enough and quantity enough.

"...because of your confession of faith in Jesus Christ, I now baptize you as He commanded in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

There is no difference between those examples. However, no person should speak out disruptively during baptism or worship and that goes for all of us.

When there is not sufficient water for immersion or if a person cannot be immersed because of health or other restrictions, you may pour water over the head as a necessary substitute.

There is no information about children being baptized by John or Jesus' disciples. If a person, regardless of age, makes a profession of faith in Jesus and a desire for water baptism, it should be permitted. No person, such as a child, should be compelled to be baptized. If a person was "too young" when they were baptized, they can simply get baptized again when they feel the need to do so.

Yes. It is better to be baptized with witnesses because baptism is a public proclamation of faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

You can baptize yourself at home as many times as you would like. When you have the opportunity to make a public confession of faith and identification in Jesus, it is better to do it with witnesses such as a minister or priest.

Most churches follow the formula "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" because of Jesus' words in the last chapter of Matthew. The Book of Acts written by Luke mention being baptized in Jesus' name, so some churches use that formula.

Most churches do not accept transfer of ordination credentials across denominations. Churches within the same fellowship or organization will accept ordination.

No, but you can be baptized for the sake of the deceased person. If you baptize a dead person, that person cannot be baptized of their own free will, meaning that the baptism will not be traditional. So instead, become baptized for that person's sake.

Yes. That means that you are saved and that all of your sins have been washed away.

If you don't believe in Jesus, you will not make it to Heaven. The Bible says that if one claims the Father but rejects the Son, they will have eternal torment.

You are right, God did not create religion or rituals, but He created man to share the word in the Bible and to be an instrument for Him. It is our beliefs that makes us true servants of God. If you believe that you are doing a work for God, then man cannot judge you.

Yes, God never said that we must be an ordained pastor to baptize anyone. Go to God in prayer with a sincere heart and believe in what you are doing and why. No one can judge you but God, and this is considered a work of God.

Make sure to hold the four-year-old by his or her stomach and back, and then submerge the toddler into the water, but take him or her out of the water immediately, after he or she is submerged.

A baptismal candidate may be turned away because he or she is too young to understand the significance of water baptism or they may have wrong motives or they may not be following Jesus. Ask why you can't be baptized. Let them explain. If it is age, ask again in a few months and give a good explanation of your sincere understanding of water baptism.

Baptizing animals is pointless because they have not sinned and don't require redemption. However, if you feel that it is necessary, then go for it.