1. No Witnesses What if a person is baptized when one is present except the person being baptized and the person doing the baptizing?

2. Must there be witnesses? Reason given for requiring witnesses – Confession before menReason given for requiring witnesses – Confession before men –Romans 10:9-10 –Romans 10:9-10 - 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. –Matthew 10:32 –Matthew 10:32 - ““Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. Reason given for requiring witnesses – Confession before menReason given for requiring witnesses – Confession before men –Romans 10:9-10 –Romans 10:9-10 - 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. –Matthew 10:32 –Matthew 10:32 - ““Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

3. Must there be witnesses? Reason given for requiring witnesses – Anyone can make the claimReason given for requiring witnesses – Anyone can make the claim –While this is true – most of us were not present at the baptism of others in this congregation –We were baptized in other places –There must be some level of trust –Being accepted in this church is NOT the same as being accepted by God Reason given for requiring witnesses – Anyone can make the claimReason given for requiring witnesses – Anyone can make the claim –While this is true – most of us were not present at the baptism of others in this congregation –We were baptized in other places –There must be some level of trust –Being accepted in this church is NOT the same as being accepted by God

4. Any Bible examples? Acts 8:27-28 -Acts 8:27-28 - 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Acts 8:38Acts 8:38 - So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Acts 8:27-28 -Acts 8:27-28 - 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Acts 8:38Acts 8:38 - So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.

5. Acts 8 We do not know:We do not know: –If there were servants or others along – If there were others, there is no mention of them being baptized –Where this man worshiped when he got home –How he could prove he was baptized Many congregations give out “baptismal certificates” that verify the date, place, and who baptized We do not know:We do not know: –If there were servants or others along – If there were others, there is no mention of them being baptized –Where this man worshiped when he got home –How he could prove he was baptized Many congregations give out “baptismal certificates” that verify the date, place, and who baptized

6. ConclusionConclusion There is no reason to require witnessesThere is no reason to require witnesses One claiming to have been baptized only harms themselvesOne claiming to have been baptized only harms themselves Baptism is between the person seeking salvation and God who forgives their sinsBaptism is between the person seeking salvation and God who forgives their sins I have baptized many when I and the person seeking baptism were the only two people around.I have baptized many when I and the person seeking baptism were the only two people around. I believe such a baptism is valid.I believe such a baptism is valid. There is no reason to require witnessesThere is no reason to require witnesses One claiming to have been baptized only harms themselvesOne claiming to have been baptized only harms themselves Baptism is between the person seeking salvation and God who forgives their sinsBaptism is between the person seeking salvation and God who forgives their sins I have baptized many when I and the person seeking baptism were the only two people around.I have baptized many when I and the person seeking baptism were the only two people around. I believe such a baptism is valid.I believe such a baptism is valid.