Address to the Congregation:

Beloved congregation in the Lord Jesus Christ: The principal parts of the doctrine of holy baptism are these three:

First: That we with our children are conceived and born in sin, and therefore are children of wrath, so that we cannot enter into the kingdom of God, except we are born again. This, the dipping in or sprinkling with water teaches us, whereby the impurity of our souls is signified, that we may be admonished to loathe ourselves, humble ourselves before God, and seek for our purification and salvation apart from ourselves.

Second: Holy baptism witnesses and seals unto us the washing away of our sins through Jesus Christ. Therefore we are baptized into the Name of God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. For when we are baptized into the Name of the Father, God the Father witnesses and seals unto us that He makes an eternal covenant of grace with us and adopts us for His children and heirs, and therefore will provide us with every good thing and avert all evil or turn it to our profit. And when we are baptized into the Name of the Son, the Son seals unto us that He washes us in His blood from all our sins, incorporating us into the fellowship of His death and resurrection, so that we are freed from our sins and accounted righteous before God. Likewise, when we are baptized in the Name of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit assures us by this holy sacrament that He will dwell in us, and sanctify us to be members of Christ, imparting to us that which we have in Christ, namely, the washing away of our sins and the daily renewing of our lives, till we shall finally be presented without spot among the assembly of the elect in life eternal.

Third: Whereas in all covenants there are contained two parts, therefore are we by God, through baptism, admonished of and obliged unto new obedience, namely, that we cleave to this one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that we trust in Him, and love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength; that we forsake the world, crucify our old nature, and walk in a godly life. And if we sometimes through weakness fall into sins, we must not therefore despair of God's mercy, nor continue in sin, since baptism is a seal and indubitable testimony that wee have an eternal covenant with God.

And although the children of Christian, notwithstanding their inability to understand these things, must be baptized by virtue of the covenant, yet it is not lawful to baptize adults, unless they first feel their sins and make confession of the their repentance and of their faith in Christ. For this cause did not only John the Baptist, according to the command of God, preach the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins, and baptize those who confessed their sins (Mark 1.4,5 and Luke 3.3), but also our Lord Jesus Christ commanded His apostles "to make disciples of all the nations, and to baptize them into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28.19), adding thereunto this promise: "He that believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16.16). According to this rule the apostles, as appears from the book of Acts, baptized not other adults but such as made confession of their repentance and faith. Therefore it is not lawful now to baptize any other adults than those who have learned and understand, from the preaching of the holy gospel, the mysteries of holy baptism, and are able to give an account thereof and of their faith by the profession of their mouths.

That we, therefore, may administer this holy ordinance of God to His glory, to our comfort, and to the edification of the church, let us call upon His holy Name:

O Almighty, eternal God, you who have according to Your severe judgment punished the unbelieving and unrepentant world with the flood, and has according to Your great mercy saved and protected believing Noah and his family; You who have drowned the obstinate Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea and led Your people Israel through the midst of the sea upon dry ground - by which baptism was signified - we beseech You that You will be pleased of Your infinite mercy, graciously to look upon these Your children and incorporate them by Your Holy Spirit into Your Son Jesus Christ, that they may be buried with Him through baptism into death and be raised with Him in newness of life; that they, daily following Him, may joyfully bear their cross, cleaving unto Him in true faith, firm Hope, and ardent love; that they, being comforted in You, may leave this life, which is nothing but a constant death, and at the last day may appear without terror before the judgment seat of Christ Your Son, through Him, our Lord Jesus Christ, who with You and the Holy Spirit, one only God, lives and reigns forever. AMEN.

Address to the Person to be Baptized

[Persons' name], since, then you desire to receive holy baptism, that it may be to you a seal of your incorporation in the Church of God - that it may now appear that you not only accept the Christian religion, in which you have been instructed by us, and of which you have made profession before us, but also that you intend to direct your life in accordance therewith, you are to answer these questions sincerely before God and His church:

First: Do you believe in the only true God, distinct in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who of nothing has made heaven and earth and all that is in them, and still upholds and governs them, so that nothing comes to pass, either in heaven or on earth, without His divine will?

Answer by the Person to be Baptized

I do.

Address to the Person to be Baptized

Second: Do you believe that you are conceived and born in sin and therefore a child of wrath, by nature wholly incapable of doing any good and prone to all evil; and that you, in thought, word, and deed, have frequently transgressed the commandments of the Lord; and do you sincerely repent of these your sins?

Answer by the Person to be Baptized

I do.

Address to the Person to be Baptized

Third: Do you believe that Jesus Christ, who is both true and eternal God and very man, who assumed His human nature from the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary, is given you of God as a Savior; and that you by this faith receive remission of sins in His blood, and that you by the power of the Holy Spirit became a member of Jesus Christ and of His Church?

Answer by the Person to be Baptized

I do.

Address to the Person to be Baptized

Fourth: Do you assent to all the articles of the Christ religion, as they are taught her in this Christian church from the Word of God, and do you purpose to continue steadfastly in the same doctrine to the end of your life; and do you also reject all heresies and errors conflicting with this doctrine, and promise that you will persevere in the fellowship of this Christian church, not only in the hearing of the divine Word, but also in the use of the holy supper?

Answer by the Person to be Baptized

I do.

Address to the Person to be Baptized

Fifth: Do you firmly resolve always to lead a Christian life, to forsake the world and its evil lusts, as is becoming to the members of Christ and of His Church, and to submit cheerfully to all Christian admonitions?

Answer by the Person to be Baptized

I do.

Address to the Person to be Baptized

The good and great God mercifully grant you His grace and blessing in this your holy purpose, through our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.

Then the minister of God's Word, in baptizing, shall say:

[Person's name], I baptize you into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving

Almighty God and merciful Father, we thank and praise You that You have forgiven us and our children all our sins, through the blood of Your beloved Son Jesus Christ, and received us through Your Holy Spirit as members of Your only begotten Son, and so adopted us to be Your children, and sealed and confirmed the same unto us by holy baptism.

We beseech You also, through Him, Your beloved Son, that You will always govern this brother (sister) by Your Holy Spirit, that he (she) may lead a Christian and godly life, and grow and increase in the Lord Jesus Christ, in order that he (she) may acknowledge Your fatherly goodness and mercy, which You have shown to him (her) and to us all, and live in all righteousness under our only Teacher, King, and High Priest, Jesus Christ; and manfully fight against and overcome sin, the devil, and his whole dominion, to the end that he (she) may eternally praise and magnify You, and Your Son Jesus Christ, together with the Holy Spirit, the one only true God. AMEN.