Public Worship and Aids to Devotion Committee Website

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General Assembly of Australia

Adult Baptism: Second Order

Baptism and Admission to Communicant Membership for Adults

Second Order

At an appropriate place in the service following the preaching of the Word, the minister shall stand with the candidates at the font.

Our Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection and before his ascension to the right hand of God, gave the following commission,

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising 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. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20)

On the day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed,

Repent and be baptised every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call. (Acts 2:38-39)

Baptism is the sacrament of admission into Christ's church, in which the washing with water in the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, represents and seals the washing away of sin, our being united to Christ, and having a share in the benefit of the covenant of grace and our commitment to be the Lord's.

To the candidates:

You have heard the gospel call to repentance and faith, will you now profess your faith by answering these questions?

Do you believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

Response: I do.

Do you repent of your sin, and with a humble and grateful heart put your trust in the mercy and grace of God and in Jesus Christ whose sacrifice on the cross takes away your sin?

Response: I do.

Do you promise to share regularly with your fellow Christians in worship on the Lord's Day?

Response: I do.

Do you promise to be faithful in reading the Bible, and in prayer?

Response: I do.

Do you promise to love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength and to give a God-honouring proportion of your time, talents and money for the Church's work in the world?

Response: I do.

Do you promise to confess Christ before others, to serve him in your daily work, and to walk in his ways all the days of your life?

Response: I do.

Do you acknowledge your dependence upon the Holy Spirit to equip you and to enable you to be faithful to this your confession?

Response: I do.

Do you promise to submit to the authority of the Session as they exercise pastoral oversight of the congregation?

Response: I do.

Let us pray:

Almighty God we thank you for your love in giving Jesus to die on the cross to save sinners. We acknowledge that you have called N....... to receive the blessing of your covenant of grace. Grant that your servant will have streams of living water flowing from within producing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. May he truly serve you in newness of life in Christ. Amen.

The candidate shall kneel (or stand with head bowed) at the font and the minister shall call each by his Christian name and pour or sprinkle water on his head, saying:

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

The Minister may lay his hand on the head of each candidate, and pronounce this blessing.

The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, descend upon you and dwell in your heart forever. Amen.

The Aaronic blessing (Rejoice! 352) may be sung, during which time the minister and the elders give the right hand of fellowship.

Addressing each baptised person by name the minister shall say:

According to Christ's commandment, you are now received into the membership of the one, holy, universal and apostolic church, and to the fellowship of the Lord's Table, and are required to confess the faith of Christ crucified and risen, and to be his faithful witness to your life's end.

Let us pray:

Loving God, in whose church there is but one Lord, one faith and one baptism, give us all the grace to dwell in love and unity with all who have been baptised within the fellowship of the church, and to serve you in every part of our daily life.

Within this congregation we rejoice that your church will be enriched by the spiritual gifts this new member will bring. May we mutually encourage one another for the advancement of your kingdom and for the glory of your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.