THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH
ON WATER BAPTISM

Question
If I know of someone who came to believe in Christ while he is critically ill on
the hospital bed, can I find someone (like a preacher, or a esteemed member of a
church) to baptise him with water?

Answer
Since baptism is a sacrament, it must be administered by an ordained minister.
The following are selected sections of the Westminster Confession of Faith
pertaining to baptism.

Chapter XXVII: Of the Sacraments
4. There be only two sacraments ordained by Christ our Lord in the gospel,
that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord; neither of which
may be dispensed by any but by a minister of the word, lawfully
ordained.

Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 11:20, 23; I Cor. 4:1; Heb. 5:4.

Chapter XXVIII: Of Baptism
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
newness of life: which sacrament is, by Christ’s own appointment, to be
continued in this church until the end of the world.

1. Matt. 28:19.
2. I Cor. 12:13.
3. Rom. 4:11; with Col. 2:11-12.
4. Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:5.
5. Tit. 3:5.
6. Mark 1:4.
7. Rom. 6:3-4.
8. Matt. 28:19-20.

2. The outward element to be used in this sacrament is water, wherewith the
party is to be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost, by a minister of the gospel, lawfully called thereunto.

9. Matt. 3:11; John 1:33; Matt. 28:19-20.

3. Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; but baptism is
rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person.

10. Heb. 9:10, 19-22; Acts 2:41; Acts 16:33; Mark 7:4

4. Not only those that do actually profess faith in and obedience unto
Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be
baptized.

11. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 8:37-38.
12. Gen. 17:7, 9; with Gal. 3:9, 14; and Col. 2:11-12; and Acts 2:38-39;
and Rom. 4:11-12; I Cor. 7:14; Matt. 28:19; Mark 10:13-16; Luke
18:15.

5. Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance, yet
grace and salvation are not so inseparably annexed unto it, as that no
person can be regenerated or saved without it, or that all are baptized
are undoubtedly regenerated.

13. Luke 7:30; with Exod. 4:24-26.
14. Rom. 4:11; Acts 10:2, 4, 22, 31, 45, 47.
15. Acts 8:13, 23.

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.

16. John 3:5, 8.
17. Gal. 3:27; Tit. 3:5; Eph. 5:25-26; Acts 2:38, 41.

7. The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered to any
person.

18. Tit. 3:5.

It must be noted that water baptism does not save. It is done in obedience to the
Lord’s commandment that those who believe in him should be baptised with
water as a sincere confession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the case of the thief
dying on the cross beside Jesus, even though he was not baptised with water, Jesus declared
that he will be with Him in paradise today (Luke 23:43).

In the event that a person who is dying on a hospital bed believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, the
Christian may want to contact a pastor to administer water baptism on account of His confes-
sion of Christ. Water baptism, being a sacrament, must not be administered by one who is not
lawfully ordained to be a minister of the Word.


NO EGOS IN MINISTRY

Recently, I came to know of the ill-behaviour of an aged striker (38 years old) who at one
point of time, was known to be one of the best, if not the best player in the world. During a
match in which his team played excellently and was winning, he took umbrage at the
manager calling him to go on the pitch towards the end of the match. He chose instead to
walk down the tunnel and left the stadium in a challenge to the manager’s decision.
The club took swift action against this player. He was told to train alone and barred from
playing the next match. The message of the club is clear. No player is bigger than the club.
There must be no egos in the team.

If this is true about the football club, what more the church! How often has pride destroyed
the peace and unity of the church. How we so forget that only Christ is the Head of the
church.

The Corinthian Christians did not understand this and so, were divided into various factions
fighting for power and prominence. Their egos led them to abuse the gift of tongues and
turned the worship service into a chaotic and cacophonic display. Paul had to rebuke them for
their ill-behaviour. “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye
children, but in understanding be men.” (1 Cor. 14:20) The brethren are but labourers
together with Christ (1 Cor. 3:9). Hence, they are to stop showing off their gift of tongues, but
put it to proper use to edify others. Everything in the worship service must be done decently
in the order which God has set in His precious Word (1 Cor. 14:40). All things must be well
if the Corinthian Church would submit to one another in the truth of the Scriptures.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem
other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on
the things of others.” (Phil. 2:3-4) There must be no egos in the service of the Lord.

Yours affectionately,
Pastor Clement Chew