Baptism in Jesus’ Name for the Remission of Sins

Baptism in Jesus’ Name: Why is this topic important?

It is the method by which we receive remission of sins.

Baptism in Jesus’ name is a crucial topic for every believer because it represents the method established by God for the remission of sins and a pathway toward spiritual transformation. The scriptures emphasize that baptism is not merely a symbolic act, but an essential step in receiving forgiveness and salvation.

In Acts 2:38, Peter’s response to the crowd’s question, “What shall we do?” underscores the importance of repentance followed by baptism in Jesus’ name, which results in the cleansing of sins and the promise of the Holy Spirit. This directive wasn’t optional; it was an integral part of the early church’s teaching and remains relevant today.

Furthermore, Mark 16:15-16 reinforces this message by highlighting Jesus’ commission to His disciples: to spread the gospel and baptize those who believe. Baptism, therefore, isn’t just a tradition; it is an obedient response to the message of Christ, leading to salvation.

Jesus gave his disciples only two tasks.  He told them to teach others about the gospel and to baptize others.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Of course, if God commands his disciples to baptize, and baptism is for the remission of sins, then what is the devil going to fight against?  It is the same today as it was in the garden.  The devil is still trying to negate the commandments of God.

Genesis 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 

³ But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 

⁴ And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

What Water Baptism Does for Us

Baptism washes away our sins and is our entrance into the family of Jesus Christ.

1. Call to Immediate Action: In Acts 22, there’s an urgency in responding to faith through baptism. Believers are encouraged not to delay, as baptism symbolizes cleansing and renewal associated with calling on Christ’s name.
2. Union with Christ: Galatians 3 highlights that through baptism, believers are spiritually united with Christ. This act signifies becoming God’s children and “putting on” the identity of Christ, reflecting a transformed life of faith.
3. Growth of the Early Church: Acts 2 portrays how those who accepted the message of Christ expressed their faith through baptism. This act of obedience led to a rapid increase in the number of believers, marking the beginning of community growth within the early church.
4. Participation in Christ’s Death and Resurrection: In Romans 6: Baptism represents being immersed into Christ’s death. It symbolizes dying to sin and being raised to a new life, sharing in the redemptive work of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.
5. Unity in the Body of Christ: 1 Corinthians 12 reveals that baptism transcends divisions like ethnicity or social status. It integrates believers into one unified body under the influence of the Holy Spirit, reinforcing equality and communal identity in Christ.
6. Spiritual Transformation: Colossians 2-3 portrays baptism as a spiritual circumcision, a cutting away of sinful nature. It represents being buried with Christ and raised through faith in God’s power. This transformation leads to forgiveness, freedom from the condemnation of the law, and a victory over spiritual powers through Christ’s triumph on the cross.

Together, these passages illustrate that baptism is not merely a ritual but a profound expression of faith, identity, and transformation in the Christian journey.

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Baptism is a Commandment, Not a Suggestion

Many organizations teach that baptism is something one does after one is saved to show the world that he or she has accepted Christ: “An outward sign of an inward change” is a common term. However, this is in contradiction to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles.  If baptism is “for the remission of sins,” then you can’t be saved without it because no one is going to heaven while they’re still in their sins.

Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Acts 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

A few words about keeping the commandments of Jesus are in order here…

Luke 6:46  And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

All Examples of Baptism Are in the Name of Jesus Christ

Very simply, all the examples we have in the New Testament plainly show that baptisms were performed in the name of Jesus.  

Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

Acts 19:5  When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Those who baptize in the titles, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost tell me one thing: that they don’t know the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!  If they did understand, then they would use that one name whereby we MUST be saved.  

Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If Jesus is the only name whereby we must be saved, then why wouldn’t people use it?  In the Old Testament, God tells us that his people shall know his name, and again in Zechariah we are told that there will be one name known throughout the world.

Isaiah 52:6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

Zechariah 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

We are told in Acts 15:26 of men who hazarded their lives for the name of Jesus.  Why would we not use the name of Jesus in baptism, our entrance into the body of Christ?

Acts 15:26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 28:19, Jesus didn’t say repeat after me.  He said to baptize in the name….  His disciples obviously understood him, and on the day of Pentecost baptized in JESUS’ name!

Baptism (by Definition) is By Total Immersion in Water

Baptism is defined in Strong’s Lexicon as “to be wholly overwhelmed by a liquid.”  Look it up.  However, rather than rely on someone’s scholarship, let’s just look at the scriptures to see how it was done…

Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 

¹⁷ And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Mark 1:9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

¹⁰ And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 

¹¹ And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Two things are interesting here.  First, Jesus came up “straightway out of the water.”  You aren’t being sprinkled with a little water to come up out of the water.  Note that he was baptized in the Jordan River.  Also note that it was after Jesus came up out of the water that the words were heard, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Acts 8:38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Note again, they both went into the water, “both Philip and the eunuch.”  Now you don’t both have to go down into the water to sprinkle someone with water.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

The Bible talks of us being “buried” with Christ in baptism.  I don’t know of anyone who was buried by sprinkling a handful of dirt on them.

Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

If it is adequate to just have a little liquid sprinkled over one’s forehead to be baptized, then why did John the Baptist have to go out into the wilderness?  Why couldn’t he have just stayed in the city with all the people and baptized them by sprinkling?  Seems illogical, but God didn’t ask our opinions.

But Doesn’t The Bible Say that We’re Not Saved By Works?

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Everyone is familiar with Ephesians 2:8-9.  I will give you another one…

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

However, what are these works?  What is the grace of God Paul is talking about?  Did Paul mean that we don’t have to obey Jesus’ commandments?  Many people misquote Apostle Paul today.  They misquoted him in his own time as well, and this is the response:

Romans 3:8 And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 

¹⁶ As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 

¹⁷ Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Paul never said that we don’t have to obey God.  In fact, Paul said that we must obey God in order to be saved.

It is always important to understand who is the speaker, and to whom the speaker is speaking.  When Paul talks about “works,” Paul is speaking about the works of the Jewish law.  If you study Jewish custom and tradition, you will understand that the Jewish people believe that they will bring about the Messiah (or the era of the Messiah) by doing good works. 

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Apostle Paul is simply telling the Jews that no amount of good works according to the law is going to save them and bring back their Messiah, but that the Messiah has, in fact, already arrived because of the grace of God.  And it is by the mercy of God that we have access to the Holy Ghost.

Titus 3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

The mercy of God is the very fact that Jesus Christ came and died on the cross for us!

Romans 5:6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Now what we do with that mercy is up to us.  If we choose we can either accept or reject it.  The choice is ours.  The way to access that mercy is by obedience to baptism.  However, baptism isn’t a “work.”  In fact, if there is anyone doing any work, it’s the minister who is performing the baptism.  The baptizee is merely submitting to baptism (just as a baby who is born is not doing any “work” to be born).

Since people like to use Apostle Paul as their main argument as to why you don’t need to get baptized, let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s testimony, in his own words to the people who were in an uproar as he was taken from the hands of the mob into the castle.

Acts 22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. 

⁷ And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 

⁸ And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. 

⁹ And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. 

¹⁰ And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do. 

¹¹ And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.

Let’s ask ourselves a couple of questions here.  Do you think Paul believed in Jesus at this point in the story?  He’d called Jesus Lord after Jesus identified himself to Paul.  So, I would say that Paul believed at this point and had confessed with his mouth that Jesus was his Lord.

However, we find that Paul was still in his sins up until Ananias preached to him.

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Read the whole story.  It’s a good one.  And an example is that one must be baptized in order to receive remission of sins.

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What about the baptism of fire, the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and the baptism of repentance?  I thought there was only one baptism.

Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Mark 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 

¹⁷ Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Scary stuff.  Baptizing in fire!  Baptizing with Holy Ghost?  How does this take place?  Is there another baptism where we are dipped into a trough burning with flames?  Or do we baptize someone in an empty pool and call it baptism of the Holy Ghost?  How does this happen?  What is this fire?  How is one baptized in the Holy Ghost?

I think the scriptures explain this well.

These all happen when we are baptized in water in Jesus’ name for the remission of sins.

Acts 2:38 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.

1 Corinthians 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 

¹³ Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 

¹⁴ If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

¹⁵ If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Deuteronomy 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 

³ And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. 

⁴ Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.