Baptism in Jesus' Name
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:36-41
What the Bible Says About Baptism
When we talk about baptism, we need to look at it from a Biblical viewpoint, not just tradition or personal belief. It's easy to say, "Well, this is how I was raised" or "This is what my church believes." But when it comes to something as important as baptism, we must follow what the Bible teaches.
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8).
"We ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
Regardless of what others believe, God’s Word should always be our guide:
"Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).
What is Baptism?
The word “baptism” comes from the Greek word Baptizo, which means “to immerse.” Biblically, baptism involves a person repenting of their sins and being immersed in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
Before Jesus' resurrection, John the Baptist was baptizing people with a baptism of repentance. After Jesus' resurrection, the Apostles began baptizing in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.
In Acts 19:1-6, we see the Apostle Paul meet some people who had been baptized by John. Paul explained to them that they needed to be rebaptized in Jesus' name, and when they obeyed, they received the Holy Ghost.
The Name of Jesus in Baptism
You may wonder, what about being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? This question comes from Matthew 28:19, where Jesus instructs His disciples to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
But notice that Jesus says “the name,” not “the names.” So, what is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?
Father is a title.
Son is a title.
Holy Ghost is a title.
The name is Jesus. Throughout the New Testament, baptisms were always performed in Jesus’ name:
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38).
"...only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 8:16).
"...he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:48).
Why Baptism in Jesus’ Name is Essential
It’s part of the new birth:
"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5).
It’s tied to salvation:
"Baptism doth also now save us" (1 Peter 3:21).
It’s for the washing away of sins:
"Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16).
It’s a burial of our old self:
"We are buried with him by baptism into death" (Romans 6:4).
It’s how we take on the name of Christ:
"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27).
We use Jesus’ name for healing, casting out devils, praying, and blessing food—so why wouldn’t we use it in baptism?
Conclusion
Baptism is more than a tradition; it’s a command from God. It’s part of the new birth, a cleansing from sin, and it identifies us with Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear—baptism should be done in the name of Jesus.
If you haven’t been baptized in Jesus’ name, consider the examples in Scripture and the teachings of the early church. It’s never too late to follow the Biblical example!