THE TRUTH ABOUT WATER BAPTISM Introduction: Every one who comes to Jesus being a

ttracted by the Spirit, want to be baptized. And indeed, for full salvation is n
ecessary to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (A
cts 2:38). Jesus commanded baptism (Matthew 28:19) and said, "If ye love me, kee
p my commandments (John 14:15). However, before baptism, the candidate must have
repented completely and wholeheartedly believe that Jesus is Christ, the Son of
God (Acts 2:38, 8:37). The fact of being immersed in water in Jesus' name itsel
f will not bring remission of sins. Repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus
are required. A sinner who has no intention of turning his life of sin will not
benefit from the act of baptism. It is not until the sinner repents and believes
completely that God has forgiven, he should submit to baptism the name of Jesus
, by a duly authorized minister. However, failure to do this when he meets these
requirements, will disobey the gospel of Christ and to prevent their spiritual
development. The purpose of baptism: Baptism is an act of Obedience to God for a
person who believes in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Obedience is to receive remi
ssion of sins (Acts 2:38). In response to a clear conscience before God, baptism
now saves us through the power of resurrection of Jesus Christ (I Peter 3: 21).
Baptism is a type of wear or be clothed with Christ (Galatians 3:27). By baptis
m a believer expresses a divorce from her previous sinful life and identifies hi
mself as one who wants to live a new life for Jesus. His past life of sin is act
ually buried with Christ in baptism (Romans 6:4). The proper way of baptism: Spi
ll, Sprinkle clothe and immersion are modalities or ways of baptizing currently
practiced. Ephesians 4:5 says, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism. This would be
the one used by Jesus and His disciples. Two Biblical references reveal what is
that way. "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up the water ..." (Matthew 3:16
). Acts 8:38-39, referring to Philip baptizing the eunuch said, "... And they ca
me up out of the water ..." "He went from" and "climbed the" clearly imply that
baptism is properly administered by immersion in water. Paul, referring to bapti
sm as a burial in Christ (Romans 6:4) supports this position. Studies from the G
reek word "Baptized," which is "baptism," give us strong evidence that water imm
ersion is the proper way. "Baptized" means to dip, dive or plunge. The biblical
formula for baptism, Jesus commanded His eleven apostles in Matthew 28:19, to ba
ptize. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them ..." He s
poke to men whose mind was open to the scriptures (Luke 24:45). Obviously, His w
ords captivated the audience. They were witnesses of His death, burial and resur
rection. Soon to be witnesses of His ascension. They knew that He had the words
of eternal life which does not forget. The previously instructed them, "If ye lo
ve me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Thomas, the doubting, after seeing th
e nail marks in His hands and the wound in his side, had made the confession, "M
y Lord and my God" (John 20:28). The disciples knew that He was God manifested i
n the flesh, they loved him and did not fail in keeping this commandment. In the
great day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter two, we read for the first time
they obeyed the command to baptize. All had been filled with the Holy Spirit of
God and spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4). Peter st
ood up with the eleven and preached a message of Jesus Christ and His crucifixio
n. Jews and proselytes who met in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, be chang
ed to inquisitive mockers. Pricked in their heart for the message of Peter, they
asked what they should do to be saved. Pedro, he noted, due to the fact that Je
sus gave the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19), issued this response
, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the f
orgiveness of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God wh
ich the Apostles received). "
Peter exercised his authority from God. The other eleven Apostles remained in a
silent agreement with him. The people were receptive, "So, those who received hi
s word were baptized, and added that day about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41)
.€At first glance this seems a contradiction of what Jesus commanded in Matthew
28:19 regarding the formula for baptism (words said at the time of baptism a pe
rson). Knowing that all scripture is inspired by God (II Timothy 3:16) and there
fore there can be no contradiction in them, we analyze these two verses more car
efully. By doing this we find that Acts 2:38 is not a contradiction but it is th
e application of Matthew 28:19. First, look at what the Lord Jesus commanded, ".
.. baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Th
e command to baptize in the name (singular) of the Father and the Son and the Ho
ly Spirit. In Peter's response as to what to do, he said, "... be baptized every
one in the name of Jesus ..." For this match as both are contained in the Word
of God, have to agree, the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit must
be the name of Jesus. Scripture confirms this. "She will bear a son and call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Matth
ew 1:25 says, "... and called his name JESUS." The Son, in Matthew 28:19 conceiv
ed by the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, received the name Jesus. Jesus himself
says, "I have come in my Father's name ..." (John 5:43). Jesus inherited the na
me of His Father, as you and I inherited from our parents (Hebrews 1:4). The Hol
y Spirit comes in the same name as Jesus spoke in John 14:26, "But the Comforter
, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name ..." THE NAME of the Fat
her is Jesus, the Son's name is Jesus, and the name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus.
The Word of God again shows that it is the truth: there is no contradiction. Fa
ther, Son and Holy Ghost are titles of a God whose name is Jesus. So Peter gave
the formula given, and the other Apostles were in agreement with him. Thus, on t
he day of Pentecost about three thousand souls took the name of Jesus in baptism
. Name Peter declared in Acts 4:12 was the only name under heaven given among me
n by which we can be saved. Felipe invoked the same name to baptize the Samarita
ns in Acts 8, "... had only been baptized in the name of Jesus." Peter continued
the pattern in Acts 10:48. He commanded Cornelius and his household (all gentil
es) who had already received the Holy Spirit, be baptized in the Name of the Lor
d Jesus. The word "ordered" has special meaning here considering that was given
to an Italian army officer. For him, disobeying an order meant serious consequen
ces. In Acts 19:1-7 we read of the twelve men in Ephesus who lacked the gift of
the Holy Spirit. Knowing that they had not received the Holy Spirit, Paul immedi
ately asked them why they were baptized. As they were baptized in the baptism of
John the Baptist, a baptism of repentance, Paul explained that they had to beli
eve in Him who came after John, Jesus Christ. When they heard this, they were ba
ptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Paul laid his hands on them and recei
ved the Holy Spirit. This biblical narrative represents two important points abo
ut baptism: (1) If a person has not received the Holy Spirit, it might be becaus
e it has not yet been baptized in the Name of Jesus, (2) If a person had been pr
eviously named but not in the name of Jesus, Paul was baptized again in the Name
of Jesus. Paul was a firm believer in the name of Jesus. He met the Lord's name
in an unforgettable experience that happened in his life on the road to Damascu
s. "But as he journeyed, came to pass came near Damascus, suddenly I was surroun
ded by a light from heaven, and fell to the ground, he heard a voice saying 'Sau
l, Saul, why do you persecute me? He said: Who are you, Lord? "And I said, I am
Jesus whom you are persecuting ..." (Acts 9:3-5). Paul, formerly a persecutor of
Christians, became a Christian. He speaks of invoking the name of the Lord in h
is own baptism, in Acts 22:16. Some other references stating that the formula fo
r baptism is in the Name of the Lord Jesus are: "... baptized into Christ Jesus
..." (Romans 6:3), ".., but ye are washed, but ye are justified in the name of t
he Lord Jesus" (I Corinthians 6:11) "And whatever you do, whether in word or dee
d, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him. " (Colossians 3:17).
Broader reference books say the fact that the early church used the form "in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ" as the formula for baptism.€"The original form
of the words were 'in the name of Jesus Christ or Lord Jesus." The baptism in th
e trinity was developed 'later, "Dictionary of the Bible by Scribners, page 241,
Vol 1. "The early church always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until th
e development of the trinity." By Canney Encyclopedia, page 53. The trinity doct
rine was officially adopted by the Catholic Church in 325 AD, some 300 years aft
er the birth of the church. Conclusion: Jesus commanded baptism. The disciples a
nd the early Church obeyed his command and sent to others. The Holy Bible, given
 to us by the hand of the Lord commands it. Therefore, it is the responsibility
of each individual who seeks the complete salvation that is baptized, using the
appropriate formula and biblical way. The Bible contains the record of someone w
ho has been baptized in another way than by immersion in water (so) in the name
of the Lord Jesus (formula). Therefore, we conclude that baptize in the titles,
using the words "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit" is a
tradition instituted by men. The mandate of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 is not obeye
d by using the titles, it is only repeated. Peter and the other apostles obey Go
d on the day of Pentecost, declaring that baptism should be administered in the
Name of Jesus. Salvation comes only through the grace of God. It is only by His
grace, that we can repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission
of our sins. It is our privilege and our honor to be buried with Christ in bapt
ism in response to a good conscience toward God. By our obedience to the baptism
in the name of Jesus, we receive the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Al
l who have repented should be baptized in the name of Jesus, even if they have r
eceived the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-48). God so ordered. Every true believer wil
l seek to obey God's commands. He will not let anything stop you from doing so.