This article was co-authored by Zachary Rainey. Rev. Zachary B. Rainey is an ordained minister with over 40 years of ministry and pastoral practice, including over 10 years as a hospice chaplain. He is a graduate of Northpoint Bible College and a member of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 85% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status.
This article has been viewed 274,654 times.
Baptism is a religious rite that symbolizes death, resurrection, and the washing away of sins. It is a method of becoming a member of a particular Christian church. People are usually baptized as babies, but you can always get baptized as an adult as long as you are prepared to profess Christ as your Savior.
Steps
Getting Baptized as an Adult
-
1Speak with an ordinary minister. Ordinary ministers are pastors, preachers, bishops, priests, and sometimes deacons who are vested with the authority to perform the sacrament. Priests have the power to perform baptisms without consulting with a bishop, and they may delegate the job to a deacon.[1]
- Technically, anyone can perform a Catholic baptism. However, this is usually only done in extreme cases – i.e. when someone is lying on his or her deathbed, and fervently wishes to become baptized and to receive salvation.[2]
-
2Clarify why you are getting baptized. Perhaps you've had a born-again experience and you want to seek salvation to affirm your faith. Perhaps you were baptized as a child, and you wish to be baptized again. Perhaps you have recently joined from another church, and you want to be baptized according to your adopted tradition. The reasoning behind your choice will determine many of the details.
- Remember that you are doing this for you. An adult baptism can deepen your relationship with God, and it can act as a lodestone for your faith. If it feels like the right choice, then perhaps it is the right choice.[3]
- If you are joining the church from a different Christian denomination, but you have already been baptized in the original denomination: you may not need to get baptized again, depending on the denominations in question. The United Methodist Church, for instance, recognizes prior baptisms from all other Christian denominations except for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Advertisement -
3Plan the ceremony. Set a date. Invite friends and family. Decide whether you want a big, fancy event, or an intimate affair. Most people hold their baptism ceremony at their local church.[4]
- You might want to stage a big event in order to solidify your growing role in the church. Baptism is a big step! On the other hand, remember that this moment is not necessarily about your friends and family. It is an act of commitment to yourself and to Christ.
- Consider supplying food to create a reception-like time of fellowship. Hire a catering company and budget how much you will spend on food. Alternately, ask a friend or family member to help with the refreshments.
-
4Immerse yourself. When people are baptized as babies, they have holy water sprinkled over them. As a child, teenager, or adult, you will kneel, sit, or lie in holy water. Specific rites may vary depending on which Church is baptizing you.
-
5Get blessed. The administrator of the ceremony (the priest or minister) will bless you "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." He or she will dunk you into the water, then pull you out again. Once you have been blessed and immersed, you have been baptized. Rejoice. You are a Christian![5]
Baptizing a Baby
-
1Speak with an ordinary minister. Ordinary ministers are pastors, preachers, bishops, priests, and sometimes deacons who are vested with the authority to perform the sacrament. Priests have the power to perform baptisms without consulting with a bishop, and they may delegate the job to a deacon.[6]
- Technically, anyone can perform a Catholic baptism. However, this is usually only done in extreme cases – i.e. when someone is lying on his or her deathbed, and fervently wishes to become baptized and to receive salvation.[7]
-
2Choose a godfather and a godmother. Pick two people that you think would make great godparents. If you are a child or a teenager, then you may really want to consider designating godparents. If you are an adult, then this step is optional. Ask family members or close friends – people that you trust.
-
3Plan the ceremony. Set a date. Invite friends and family. Decide whether you want a big, fancy event, or an intimate affair. Most people hold their baptism ceremony at their local church.[8]
- Consider supplying food to create a reception-like time of fellowship. Hire a catering company and budget how much you will spend on food. Alternately, ask a friend or family member to help with the refreshments.
-
4Bring the baby to the baptism ceremony. Set the date and plan everything out. When the special day comes, take the child to church. The priest, minister, or deacon will administer the ceremony.
-
5Submerge or sprinkle the child with holy water. When people are baptized as babies, they often have holy water sprinkled over them. As a child, teenager, or adult, you will kneel, sit, or lie in holy water. Specific rites may vary depending on which Church is baptizing you.
- Some churches will sprinkle the child with holy water and say that this is enough. Other churches insist that you must be fully immersed in order to be truly baptized. Consult with your priest or minister.[9]
-
6Get blessed. The administrator of the ceremony (the priest or minister) will bless you "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." They will dunk the child into the water, then pull them out again. Once the child has been blessed and immersed, the baptism is complete.[10]
Mentally Preparing for Baptism
-
1Confess your sins. According to the Bible, you must confess your sins before you can be officially baptized. Speak to a priest or another Christian minister.[11]
- The Bible describes John the Baptist baptizing people as such: "Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins." (Matthew 3:5, 6, NKJV)
-
2Repent of your sins. Many believe that it is not enough to merely confess your sins – you must truly repent for what you have done. Think about what it means to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior.[12]
- Ask your priest for help. If you aren't sure how to make the step from confession to repentance, ask your pastor/priest or a knowledgeable member of your church for advice.
- On Pentecost after the resurrection of Jesus, many people were amazed by the Holy Spirit. When they asked Peter what to do, he replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38, NKJV).[13]
-
3Accept Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin. The final prerequisite for baptism is that you really, truly believe. Search deep within yourself to make sure that you are ready for this decision. If you believe that you are ready, then you are ready. Express your intention to become a fully-baptized Christian.
- There are no age restrictions for baptism. In Christianity, any human being who has not yet been baptized can receive the sacrament of baptism. It is said that baptism leaves a permanent mark on your soul, such that you never need to be "re-baptized."[14]
Expert Q&A
Did you know you can get expert answers for this article?
Unlock expert answers by supporting wikiHow
-
QuestionWhy do adults get baptized?Zachary RaineyRev. Zachary B. Rainey is an ordained minister with over 40 years of ministry and pastoral practice, including over 10 years as a hospice chaplain. He is a graduate of Northpoint Bible College and a member of the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
Ordained MinisterAdults who participate in a 'believer’s baptism' may decide to be baptized in water because they desire to identify with Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection. Baptism by immersion is a picture of being buried with Christ and rising to live a new life. Baptism tells everyone, 'I no longer live for myself, I live a new life in Christ.' The Christian Scriptures exhort every follower of Jesus to 'die' from selfish sinful ways and to 'live' in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit." -
QuestionDo I have to take classes in order to be baptized?Community AnswerNo, but it would be a good idea to do so, so that you can understand the process and reasoning more.
-
QuestionWhen I was younger, I went to church and accepted Jesus as my savior, but was never baptized. Can I still do it now?Community AnswerYes of course! Getting baptized is your own choice and you can to it at any time before His coming.
References
- ↑ http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/bishops-priests-and-deacons/
- ↑ http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/a-guide-to-catholic-baptism/
- ↑ http://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/ask-roger/is-it-important-to-get-baptized-as-an-adult.html
- ↑ http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/get_wet.shtml
- ↑ http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/get_wet.shtml
- ↑ http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/bishops-priests-and-deacons/
- ↑ http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/a-guide-to-catholic-baptism/
- ↑ http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/get_wet.shtml
- ↑ http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/get_wet.shtml
- ↑ http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/get_wet.shtml
- ↑ http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/are-there-any-prerequisites-it
- ↑ http://www.equip.org/article/can-i-be-saved-without-getting-baptized/
- ↑ https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A38&version=NKJV
- ↑ http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/a-guide-to-catholic-baptism/
- ↑ "Matthew3:16"
- ↑ "John3:23"
- ↑ "Acts8:38"
- ↑ http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/907.htm
About This Article
To get baptized, start by speaking to a minister within the church you want to be a part of and finding out the specific requirements for baptism within that denomination. Once you’ve set a date for the baptism, mentally prepare for your baptism by confessing your sins to a minister and accepting Jesus Christ as your savior. On the day of the ceremony, immerse yourself in water and have the minister bless you according to the tradition of your specific church. For tips on how to have your child baptized as a baby, read on!