Genesis 17 - Baptism and Children

Genesis 17 - 10 This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you, every male among you shall be circumcised...11...it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. 12 And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations...14 But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant. 

Message: Baptism and Children

Time: Genesis is the first book and Moses is credited as authoring. The book spans 2400 years of time. It was originally written in Hebrew.

What the Lord is Saying: Well, this is a lesson I have been wanting to understand for some time. I have always wondered why infants are baptized. For me, a person growing up in a very Catholic heavy state of New Mexico, USA, baptism of infants was common, but later in my life, probably just 10 years ago in discovering the Reformed church and to found out that noted scholars such as RC Sproul also signed on to and agreed with infant baptism has been startling to me. And honestly I had never really taken the time to try to understand their position. 

Today's lesson states that while this issue is controversial today or rather there is clear opposition for it, 500 years ago, at the time of the Reformation while there may have been differences in theology, Anglicans, Lutherans and Reformers all agreed that baptism can be administered to those who profess faith and their children. 

I started to understand this as I did the lesson before the last when Paul showed the similarity between circumcision and baptism. In that lesson and seeing that baptism is really the new testament circumcision it made me think that infant baptism is in line with circumcision of the past. And the first point being that if circumcision occurred both before and after a person made a belief in God then this would mean baptism, if it has a link to circumcision is a sacrament that could be administered either before or after a person is saved or regenerated. 

In today's passage, this act of circumcision was given to Israel to speak of a sign of the covenant between God and man. It was something that happened to all the members of a family chosen by God. It was not for pagans but for his chosen people or nation. I am reminded of that verse from Joshua 24:15 which ends with, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Perhaps that idea of the leader of the family making the statement that his house will serve the Lord means that children are to be included in this sign of regeneration. Acts 16:15 also records the statement, "And when she and her household had been baptized" which gives the idea that the children were included in baptism.  

Many think that if the new testament does not repeat something from the old Testament then it doesn't apply, but what if rather the Old Testament begins the standard and unless the New Testament speaks otherwise then the ways of the Old Testament remain? It is possible it would seem. 

Think about Matthew 5:17-20 -- 

17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

If Christ did not abolish the Law but fulfill it and we are not to annul its commands but rather continue to teach them. 

This is an interesting perspective. It is way different from how I have been raised and taught to think. This doesn't nullify baptism by immersion at an older age when someone is converted for the first time, but it does give the idea that baptism by a child is because the Christian household is commissioned toward Christ and it is a sign of regeneration to all. 

Summary: Baptism can include children of a believing parent to provide evidence of the sign of regeneration for the entire family. 

Promise: To baptize only those who have professed faith may run the risk of making baptism more about our response to God than about God's initiative to saving us. 

Prayer: God, thank you for continuing to teach me through Your Word and helping me better understand the meaning of your word and how it is applied, yet in many different ways by people all called by you and part of the visible church. Yet, Lord, there seems to be only one way and yet different takes on what that one way is, which seems to be normal. Help me to be one that hones in You and always affirms You as My Savior and Lord. Give me continued wisdom. Thank you for where you have placed me but also allowing me to see and understand Your Word in its different applications. Continue to confirm yourself to Me and draw Me closer to you. Show me how I am to respond. 

Acts 10:44-48 - Baptism and Time

Acts 10:44-48 - 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who save received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days.

Message: Baptism and Time

Time: Clearly written by Luke, this book follows the lives of Peter and then Paul after Jesus' ascension into heaven. The book was completed about 62 AD as Paul sat in prison. It provides an account of the growth of the Church and spread from Jerusalem, from a small group of frightened believers in Jerusalem transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ, and it should help us to be bold and have zeal in our walks with God. 

What the Lord is Saying: In these verses, my first observations are that the Holy Spirit fell upon these people and so the Holy Spirit is speaking truth. There were tongues heard and in this exalting God. And Peter orders those who have received the Holy Spirit to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. In Acts, I also notice that Peter is often the one connecting with baptism. 

In the previous lesson Paul made a connection between baptism and circumcision. The question then that just as circumcision did not save anyone, perhaps baptism is the same way. For the life of the Old Testament believer, the moment of regeneration could occur before or after the act of circumcision. Abraham believed God before circumcision while Isaac's faith came about when he was older. 

Tabletalk authors argue then that although baptism is often prescribed following a person's faith as in today's passage in Acts and we should have an urgency for people to be baptized, regeneration of the Christian can occur earlier or even after a person is baptized. 

Summary: Is baptism a new covenant sacrament and regeneration the same today as it was with circumcision in the old covenant? The idea here is that since regeneration occurred separate from circumcision, then with baptism this is also so. 

Promise: God does not always regenerate people at the time of baptism. We need to pray that all who are baptized are regenerated. 

Prayer: God, is baptism and circumcision the same? I do see that regeneration did not occur at the time of circumcision, so is this true today for baptism. I do see many examples in Acts of baptism happening right after regeneration or repentance. So does this mean they are tied together like many churches teach or is separate. It still seems to me that you will save people no matter what and that salvation has not changed throughout history. But, I pray that you would continue to illuminate me and give me patience for those with different convictions. 

Colossians 2:11-12 - Baptism and Circumcision

Colossians 2:11-12 - And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  

Message: Baptism and Circumcision

Time: Paul penned this letter to the Colossian church in AD 60-61 during his first imprisonment in Rome after the church was under attack and denigrating the deity of Christ. He penned it before visiting the church. Christ was and is the visible image of the invisible God, containing within Himself the fullness of Deity. 

What the Lord is Saying: I continue to study baptism and it has been a joy. I appreciate these lessons and how each of them communicate something and I continue to build an understanding. Initially as I read this text in Colossians, the first thing that stands out to me is the words "without hands." Thus the circumcision wasn't an actual circumcision but a sign that occurred. My flesh, my old life, my old nature was cut away and removed by Christ. How was this done? By what I studied in the last lesson - I was "buried with Him in baptism." And then also I was "raised up with Him through faith." What? I was hoping it was going to say my raising up occurred with the baptism but instead it says it occurred through faith. And faith is "the working of God, who raised Him (Jesus) from the dead." Once again, a loaded text. 

God raised Jesus from the dead. I joined Jesus in baptism. Faith is the working of God. Circumcision is not a physical but something done without hands. Okay - this is my observation of this text. 

According to Tabletalk writers, this verse in Colossians communicates that in the Old Covenant there was circumcision and now in the new covenant there is baptism. And so they are to work the same way - done to infants. In both, people are set aside to be God's children. Circumcision did not save and nor does baptism, but they both point to the need for regeneration. People must be circumcised to inherit the kingdom of God and so baptism now works the same way. 

So I think I am understanding this belief now that the reformers have in infant baptism. Maybe it is not mandatory at a young age only, but it can occur at a young age just as it can occur later. 

For me, I think there is a parallel picture given here between circumcision of the Old Covenant and baptism of the new covenant. For circumcision -- "in the removal of the body of the flesh." Circumcision showed the sign of the removal of the flesh or God setting aside his people to be his. He consecrates His People for His Purpose. He removes their flesh. And with baptism in the New Testament is the same setting aside. But in water, it is "having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith." And so in baptism we have been buried with Christ, as we looked in the previous lesson (Romans 6:4) and raised up with Him through faith. Both are pictures of the new life we have. 

Summary: Both circumcision and baptism are signs of the new life we have with God in Christ -- having been set apart from all the world to Him. 

Promise: Both with circumcision and baptism, people must repent and believe in order to be of God's people and of eternal salvation. 

Prayer: Lord, you continue to take me on a journey about baptism and I hope I am coming to a better conclusion about it. You are using this sacrament to confirm your people as your people. As you used circumcision in the past, baptism is used today. But people must repent and believe. Thank you for these truths and Lord I do trust you for you have a plan that I can trust. I do trust in You. 

Romans 6:3-4 - Baptism and Union with Christ

Romans 6:3-4 - 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Message: Baptism and Union with Christ

Time: Paul wrote Romans from Corinth as he prepared to leave for Palestine. Phoebe (16:1,2) was given the great responsibility of delivering the letter to the Romans believers. At this time, Rome had a population of 1 million, many of whom were slaves. The Romans church was doctrinally sound, but it still needed rich doctrine and practical application. Rome had massive buildings but also slums.

What the Lord is Saying: I have studied this passage before. When I studied the book of Romans in 2014 I looked at this passage. I noted that the first five chapters of Roman were about doctrine -- getting lost and that we are all sinners and only Christ can make us clean -- and then starting in chapter 6 moving to application. Similar to circumcision, baptism is an ordinance that we must do. The saved person should not have a desire for sin any longer. A change has occurred and there is a change in our thinking but there is also a change in our actions. The change in our thinking show first to others by our being baptized. This baptism shows that we are in Christ and it shows others that we are a new creation. It shows others our willingness to be obedient to Him. As the water covers our entire body we have an entire body commitment to Him. 

This passage even mentions the words that we mention when someone is baptized -- walk in newness of life. We are testifying that our lives will be lived in a different way. 

But in these verses it also expresses baptism being a unity with Christ. We baptized into his death. Christ lived and died but in baptism we join with him in the death. So something happens here that is more than simply an act of obedience. We are united with Christ. I definitely didn't recognize this when I got baptized but I did get baptized and so this did occur in my life. And then as Christ was raised, we too. We became new creatures. I immediately also think that a person cannot lose their salvation. A true Christian is raised to walk in newness of life with Christ. Our life is new. We are born again. This isn't something that can be lost. Again because we are united with Christ. 

The Westminster Confession does offer some interesting words in 28.6:

The efficacy of baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited and conferred by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongeth unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in his appointed time.

Maybe this is the reason the reformers believe that baptism is apt for those even as infants because this divine grace is conferred upon the elect. And maybe it is okay to get this out of the way as there is the recognition that grace is conferred at his appointed time. Not sure. 

In my previous study of Romans, by the time I arrive at Chapter 6 a person is already saved if the life of a Christian is seen in the light of the chronology of the book. In Chapter 4 my faith is counted as righteousness. My having faith resulted in this credit having occurred. And this faith also made me an heir to His Kingdom. And therefore I am justified before Him. So is this theory or did having faith already make this happen and now baptism in Chapter 6 speaks of how I live. I live without sin reigning in me any longer. I am dead to sin in verse 6:2 - How shall we who died to sin still live in it? And so therefore these words we are studying today speak to what has occurred or the picture of baptism that has occurred rather than the actual act of baptism. So maybe this passage really isn't a proclamation to be baptized but that now that I am a person that has had faith and grace has been conferred upon me, baptism shows me this picture of being buried and being raised in newness of life. And so from that point it does not matter then when baptism has occurred. And maybe this is the reason it can be done as infants. There is no saving power in baptism but rather it is the picture of the change that has occurred in the elect. 

I am not entirely sure. I continue to move on this journey of studying baptism and what it means. 

Summary: Baptism gives us a sign but in being baptized there also occurs a mystery - union with Christ in his death and resurrection. 

Promise: Look to the waters of baptism as proof that you have died to sin and have been raised with Christ. 

Prayer: Lord, this learning of baptism remains a learning. At times, I start to feel closer to the meaning of it and then at other times I still feel like I have a ways to go in understanding it. In it, is it only a picture of do you confer something on me when it occurs. You clearly are using baptism to show me something but it also seems to be doing something in me - uniting me to You. At the minimum, a change has occurred in me. And the life of those who are in Christ are different. My old way of living is now just that, the old way, and in Christ I am a new creation. May it be that simple. That is a simple application but the deeper theology around this act continues to make me ponder. Keep illuminating me with the words of scripture. Thank you for people in my life that help me to understand you.  

Acts 2:38 - Baptism and Forgiveness

Acts 2:38 - Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Message: Baptism and Forgiveness

Time: Clearly written by Luke, this book follows the lives of Peter and then Paul after Jesus' ascension into heaven. The book was completed about 62 AD as Paul sat in prison. It provides an account of the growth of the Church and spread from Jerusalem, from a small group of frightened believers in Jerusalem transformed into an empire-wide movement of people who had committed their lives to Jesus Christ, and it should help us to be bold and have zeal in our walks with God.

What the Lord is Saying: I am enjoying taking a deeper dive into these studies on baptism and its significance as a sacrament. As I have studied in the last 2 lessons -- Baptism is commanded in Scripture following conversion and it is to be instituted in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, but the method can be any form with water over the person. Baptism has regenerated all who believe in Christ alone for salvation. For me in these studies, there needs to be a strong emphasis on baptism and its work before God in 3 persons and then being regenerated as a Called One of Christ. It is true that not everyone that is baptized will be part of the kingdom of God but this should not diminish the act of baptism. Baptism needs to be important in the life of the believer, of the person being regenerated. I think it needs to be something that each person that has made a decision to follow Christ does. In the previous lesson it speaks of how there is change in that person or a renewal. 

In today's passage it speaks of the forgiveness of sins. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith speaks of Baptism in 28.1. 

Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, not only for the solemn admission of the party baptized into the visible church, but also to be unto him a sign and seal of the covenant of grace, of his ingrafting into Christ, of regeneration, of remission of sins, and of his giving up unto God through Jesus Christ, to walk in the newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be continued in his church until the end of the world.

Thus, there remains this close relationship between a person repenting and then being baptized. Acts 2:38 states that baptism follows repentance. "Repent and be baptized..." Thus, before one is baptized they repent of their sins.  

There are places in scripture that speak of salvation into the Kingdom of God that do not speak of baptism. I understand now that this does not mean that Baptism is not necessary, but I think repentance is the first key to our lives. It is the commitment and the act to turn oneself from sin and run towards Christ. We repent and then as we do baptism assures us that God has cleansed us from our sin and forgiven us. Thus, baptism gives us confirmation of God cleansing us. 

I definitely have not thought of baptism in this way in my life. I have heard some say it is necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Yet, what it seems to be that we repent and turn from sin and then baptism confirms our forgiveness of sin. A baptized person can be a saved person, but a non-baptized person can still be a saved person and a baptized person can be an unsaved person. I am still not sure it is a requirement but it is very important and with the language about it being so prevalent in scripture, I think it is something that needs to be present in the life of every believer. It is not something to shy away from. 

For me, I believe a person can be complete in Christ following repentance but still it is a command and we need to follow through on baptism to the best of our ability, as soon as we can. I think a person can be complete because of so many instances of this in Scripture. And yet baptism needs to be present in the life of a follower of Christ.  

The Westminster Confession acknowledges that baptism can occur with an infant. I don't understand this thinking. This doesn't seem to be a valid form of baptism, but the reformers I know agree with this thinking.  

I'm still struggling with this. I also think that well Jesus has the authority to forgive sin. He forgives sin often in the Gospels. But forgiveness by people always was in the form of people acting. In the Old Testament, people would sacrifice animals. They carried out an act. In the New Testament people are baptized. And so people have this responsibility to act. As people we need to see these outward signs of our commitment to Him. But let's not get caught up in thinking that doing these acts saves people.  

Summary: People who have repented need to be baptized. It confirms their new birth to the visible church.  

Promise: The water of your baptism is God's unbreakable promise to you to forgive you when you repent. But it is the Spirit that cleanses us. God cleanses us. Baptism reminds us in a visual way to the visible church God's promise to cleanse and forgive. 

Prayer: Lord, this subject is one that I continue to struggle with in understand. Perhaps it is the way some people share it with me - with such authority that if a person is not baptized then they are not saved. And yet on the flip side I struggle with it that maybe it is too much of an afterthought. You have given us words that speak of its importance and so Lord help me to be one that confirms its practice. Right now, I'm thinking of my son-in-law Brandon and him sharing to me that he has not been baptized. Help me to encourage him in this. And continue to give me wisdom and guidance as I have future conversations about this with others. 

John 3:5 - Baptism and Regeneration

John 3:5 - Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Message: Baptism and Regeneration

Time: Throughout church history, Christians have consistently attributed this gospel to Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee. John was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing he was to confirm the belief that Jesus was both the Christ and the Son of God

What the Lord is Saying: Chapter 3 of the Gospel of John is the "born again" chapter as Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, a Pharisee, about the works that He has been performing and Nicodemus has heard about. Nicodemus wants more information and so Jesus provides it mentioning His central message that every person must be born again and on the heels of making this statement, emphasizing the importance of being born of water and the Spirit. This is a must to enter the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is the dominion of being among the Called Ones of Christ for all eternity, on earth among the Body of Christ, and in heaven, as sealed ones for eternity with God. 

Thus, we need to emphasize always the importance of baptism. Recently, I had a conversation with a Muslim man and in the conversation as we started to examine scripture he mentioned that Muslims only recognize the Gospel of Matthew and do not recognize Luke, John, or Mark. It makes sense because as I read these words from John and how they clarify further the Gospel of Jesus Christ it seems that people would want to figure out a way to get around this type of thinking so that it would not be applicable to them. It is language that speaks of complete devotion to Jesus and Jesus alone and this is not a doctrine of Muslim teaching. 

This particular mentioning of being affected by water and the Spirit may not at the time have meant the same baptism that we see today. It is hard to say. Jesus had previously been baptized. John could be simply connecting some sort of change in a person in which water, as well as the Spirit of God, is involved. The key point is this water produces a change or regeneration. This concept of regeneration is a significant one in scripture as we see elsewhere how we are encouraged to in many ways be renewed from our birth into Adam and then into a new way of being. I studied this idea of regeneration a little over 3 years ago from Ephesians 2 and talking of being dead and then becoming alive. So it is significant here that water is spoken of by Jesus as connecting these two. 

Titus 3:5 states, "He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." Here also is this connecting of renewal through washing (water) and the Holy Spirit. We are cleansed and made new. 

There is prophecy concerning this from Ezekiel 36:25-27 -- "25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances." -- I realize now that verse 26 is a verse I have prayed for my youngest son Derek very often and I never noticed before that verse that water cleansing precedes it and really speaks of the newness that happens in a person. That newness is shown in water. The context here also refers to the metaphorical death of the Babylonian exile which again speaks of being rescued or renewed or born again. 

This concept of God created something new also occurs in Scripture to speak of a new heaven and new earth as in Isaiah 65:17, "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind" and also Revelation 21:1, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea."

Again, the idea is being made new and that is a consistent idea in scripture. And this idea here hinges on water being involved in this regeneration. 

I am impressed with these words and it makes me wonder if we really do emphasize baptism enough and its importance in speaking of this new life in Christ, before God and by the work of the Holy Spirit in our life. That is the message today, of the importance of baptism and how it needs to be a part of our process of witnessing to people and giving them the Good News of Jesus. That visible act needs to occur for the person to see in themselves and for others to see. 

Summary: Baptism has regenerated all who believe in Christ alone for salvation. 

Promise: Jesus connects the Water and the Spirit for newness of life that God produces by His Spirit. Baptism will regenerate His people and we can look to our baptism to be reminded of God's faithfulness to cleanse us from our sin. 

Prayer: O Father God, thank you for bringing home to me this message of regeneration and renewal. Life is about starting anew and afresh with you. I pray that people would recognize this, like the people we spoke to last night at the mall, Hamet, Brian, and also Carlos. I pray Lord these males would have lives that are born again and new again. May your gospel penetrate their lives. Lord, keep me on this path of regeneration continually where I am always examining me and how I need to be renewed in You. 

Matthew 28:18-20 - The Institution of Baptism

Matthew 28:18-20 - 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Message: The Institution of Baptism

Time: The date of Matthew's composition is anywhere from 55-60 AD probably in Antioch of Syria, written by Matthew, the former tax collector, and one of the 12 disciples or apostles. The writing is most likely to the Jews. His purpose was to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs of this.

What the Lord is Saying: During the Reformation, as the Protestants studied scripture they believed that the churches only sacraments are to be the Lord's Supper and Baptism. The defining factor was that they had been instituted by Christ. 

As Jesus prepared to ascend into heaven He spoke of the great commission, the giving of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people and in the process of seeing people coming to faith and becoming His disciples He stated that baptism should occur among people in the name of the triune God: Father, Son and Spirit. Therefore, churches today need to prioritize baptism and as we do this we need to be clear in it being in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit. 

Baptism allows us time to teach of the importance of God in three persons. John Calvin comments on Matthew 28:18-20, "We perceive that God cannot be truly known, unless our faith distinctly conceived of Three Persons in one essence; and that the fruit and efficacy of baptism proceed form God the Father adopting us through His Son, and after having cleansed us from the pollutions of the flesh through the Spirit, creating us anew to righteousness." 

Also, the Greek word for baptism does not give mention of a specific mode for baptism - as such immersion, dipping, pouring, sprinkling, or any other means of applying water are lawful. 

In my life I have always been in churches that upheld immersion baptism. And this baptism often occurred at the request of the individual as part of their obedience. I think these churches believe this is the only way and I think this is fine to have these convictions. And yet it is also possible I think for others to have different convictions about other ways people are baptized. 

I was baptized after attending a Disciple Now (a weekend church retreat for youth in which 10-15 young people gathered in a person's home for bible study and fellowship) that occurred after I became a Christian in 1982. I think my baptism occurred in 1984 or 1985. I don't remember, but I remember who performed it: a man by the name of Jim Brooks who led a retreat I attended that weekend not far from my house. My regret in life was not letting my mother know that the baptism was occurring and she showed up for church after it had happened. That is one of many regrets I have in regards to my mom and my failure to include her and be included in her life. 

Summary: Baptism is commanded in Scripture following conversion and it is to be instituted in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, but the method can be any form with water over the person. 

Promise: If a baptism is not administered in the triune name of God, it is invalid. This is a new covenant baptism. 

Prayer: O Father God, you are Holy and good and true. Your Name is above all other names. You have given us baptism as a command. We witnessed you Jesus being baptized and now we are to do the same and also do it in the name of God, Son, and Spirit. Thank you for placing me in environments that have always prioritized this and I pray your Church would continue to uphold this. Work in me continually Lord to strengthen the Body of Christ and encourage this as well.