>>15882448Know that there are three steps to baptism that, according to the New Testament and Jesus Himself, MUST be met in order for the baptism to be valid and in order to receive the full effect of God's sanctifying grace.
>you MUST be baptized with water. No other substance will do. Ideally the purest water possible. You must be anointed on the head with water or else submerged in water. >the minister MUST invoke the Holy Trinity during the baptism. It would be said aloud like so: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". Absolutely no other wording or phrasing is to be used, such as referring to the Son as "the redeemer". Omitting parts of this form will result in an invalid baptism. These two are referred to as the proper "matter" and "form".
>finally, proper intention is needed from the minister and from the person being baptized. You don't necessarily require perfect theological knowledge of it all, but you do need to express a firm intention to "be baptized". Likewise, your minister must express an intention to baptize. I'm letting you know because there are a lot of denominations that simply don't know what the they are doing and offer baptisms that are invalid to the Lord. I urge you do deeply investigate your church and find out if they follow the proper form and matter. If they don't, do not proceed under any circumstances. Go and find a church that follows them and get baptized there (pssst.....you can always go to the Catholic Church :) )
