Q.  In this part of the country there are some who are not ordained ministers who will baptize into the Name of Yahweh and Yahshua. I feel uncomfortable about this and want your opinion.

A.  To arrive at the proper answer to your question, we must examine the Bible’s examples and precepts.  The pattern is clear that only those called to the ministry did the baptizing.  Paul, an Apostle, says he baptized Crispus and Gaius and Stephanus and his family, 1Corinthians 1:14-16.  Peter, an Apostle, likely baptized on Pentecost when about 3,000 were immersed.  Phillip was a deacon (Acts 6:5) and he baptized both men and women, Acts 8:12, but did not lay hands on them.
            When the Apostles in Jerusalem became aware of these events, they sent Peter and John to Samaria to lay hands upon these newly baptized converts.  Significantly, the deacons, such as Phillip, were not qualified to lay hands upon them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.  That was left to the Apostles like John and Peter.
            Simon Magus was enthralled that the Holy Spirit was given by the Apostles, but not by the Deacon Philip:
            “And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money,”  Acts 8:18.  We learn that the gift of the Holy Spirit is given by the laying on of hands.  Each of those called into the Body of Messiah is given a gift to edify and strengthen the body of Messiah as shown in 1Corinthians 12, and is passed on by the succession of Elders.
            Not only is one baptized into Yahshua’s saving Name, but one also becomes an active part of His body.  He or she becomes a living stone to be fit into the living temple, the Assembly, which houses Yahweh’s Spirit:
            “You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Yahweh by Yahshua the Messiah.” (1Pet. 2:5)
            Those ordained into the ministry represent a body of believers who already compose a spiritual house and the ministers are to help guide those who will be added to the “living stones” to make up that spiritual house of worship.
            “Neglect not the gift that is in you, which was given you by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” (1Tim. 4:14)

 
                   
         
     
                   
               
                         
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