Originally Posted by grace2U
From the 1646 Baptist Confession of Faith
The person designed by Christ to dispense baptism, the Scripture holds out to be a disiple; it being nowhere tied to a particular church officer, or person extraordinarily sent, the commission enjoining the administration being given to them as considered disciples, being men able to preach the Gospel
The document from which you quoted and upon which you evidently have established your view that any disciple may baptize is a spurious document written by a very small schismatic group of hyper-Calvinists who also denied the doctrine of the Trinity as formulated in the Nicene Creed. This group openly rejected the teachings of the Reformers, Puritans, etc. What I think is a more reliable document for those who adhere to a credo baptist position is the London Baptist Confession of Faith. Here is what it says concerning baptism and its administration in the church:

The London Confession of Baptist Faith, Chapter XXVI
Of the Church


VII. To each of these churches thus gathered, according to His mind declared in His Word, He hath given all that power and authority, which is in any way needful for their carrying on that order in worship and discipline, which He hath instituted for them to observe; with commands and rules for the due and right exerting, and executing of that power.[14]

14. Matt. 18:17-18; I Cor. 5:4-5; 5:13; II Cor. 2:6-8

VIII. A particular church, gathered and completely organized according to the mind of Christ, consists of officers and members; and the officers appointed by Christ to be chosen and set apart by the church (so called and gathered), for the peculiar administration of ordinances, and execution of power or duty, which He entrusts them with, or calls them to, to be continued to the end of the world, are bishops or elders, and deacons.[15]

15. Acts 20:17, 28; Phil. 1:1

IX. The way appointed by Christ for the calling of any person, fitted and gifted by the Holy Spirit, unto the office of bishop or elder in a church, is, that he be chosen thereunto by the common suffrage of the church itself;[16]and solemnly set apart by fasting and prayer, with imposition of hands of the eldership of the church, if there be any before constituted therein;[17] and of a deacon that he be chosen by the like suffrage, and set apart by prayer, and the like imposition of hands.[18]

16. Acts 14:23
17. I Tim. 4:14
18. Acts 6:3, 5-6

The London Confession of Baptist Faith, Chapter XXVIII
Of Baptism and the Lord's Supper


I. Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of positive and sovereign institution, appointed by the Lord Jesus, the only lawgiver, to be continued in His church to the end of the world.[1]

1. Matt. 28:19-20; I Cor. 11:26

II. These holy appointments are to be administered by those only who are qualified and thereunto called, according to the commission of Christ.[2]

2. Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 4:1

In His grace,


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simul iustus et peccator

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