ACTS 2:37-41
37 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? 38 Then Peter said unto them, (1) Repent, and (2) be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and (3) ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 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. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
The Consistency Of THIS Gospel Message Throughout The New Testament & Early Church
The Samaritans also received the same identical message:
Acts 8:14-17
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God (1), they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. (2)) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (3)
The house of Cornelius, the first of the Gentile converts, also received the identical same message:
Acts 10:44-48
(GENTILES - Which puts to rest the lie that Jesus name baptism was only for the Jews.) 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word (3). 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 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 (2). Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
And the Gentile converts at Ephesus also received the same identical message!
Acts 19:1-7
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed (1) ? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 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. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (2). 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (3).
The Roman organization has explained away the issue of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ by saying that this mode of baptism was only necessary in the early church for the sake of the Jewish believers who needed to specifically acknowledge Jesus Christ. But if this were true, why is it then that EVERY SINGLE BODY OF PEOPLE to whom this Gospel is recorded as having been presented were recorded as having either been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, or were commanded to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ?
Acts 4:10-12
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.
According to Peter, there is NO OTHER NAME whereby mankind is able to be saved. Salvation and the name of Jesus Christ are married one to the other. One cannot be saved without the name of Christ, and it is in baptism that the name of Jesus Christ is applied to our lives for the purpose of remission of sins. Look at Paul's own testimony:
Acts 22:12-16
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Sounds like baptism in Jesus name to me. And it also appears that the purpose for that baptism is to remit sins, "wash away thy sins." Peter said at Pentecost...
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..."
Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that their ought not to be any schisms or divisions within the body of Christ, regardless of what spiritual authority or teacher you preferred or chose to follow, after all, as Paul says it, "Was I crucified for you?" Obviously they were baptized in the name of the one who had been crucified for them!
I CORINTHIANS 1:12-13
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul further makes it clear to the church at Corinth that ...
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Paul clearly states to the church at Corinth that washing and sanctification are wrought through the name of Jesus Christ and by the working of the Spirit of our God. The Lord Himself clearly stated that those who believed AND WERE BAPTIZED would be saved...
Mark 16:15-18
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Acts 10:38-43
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; 41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
The Word of God states clearly that we are baptized "into Christ." The Roman Catholic church teaches that baptism in "the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" constitutes one's being baptized into the "Holy Trinity." I for one, will not be baptized into the trinity, but into Christ Himself as this is the teaching and practice of His true church as taught by His holy apostles.
Romans 6:1-4
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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.
Galatians 3:25-28
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
The apostles, while wrestling over the matter of how much of the law was to be embraced by the Gentile believers, worded things this way...
Acts 15:17
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
The phrase, "upon whom the name of the Lord is called," clearly speaks of baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In his letter to the Romans, Paul clearly ties together obedience to the Gospel and "calling upon the name of the Lord."
Romans 10:12-21
"12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel..."
Now remember the very words used by Ananias as he commanded Saul of Tarsus to arise and be baptized...
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins,
calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 22:16
The Bible speaks very clearly on the matter of Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ.
1. There is no other name which can be used in baptism which is able to bring cleansing and remission of sins.
2. Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins is essential to salvation as it is an act of obedience, following our faith, as "faith without works, being alone, is dead (useless)." JAMES 2:19-26
3. Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ identifies us with His (The Lord's) death, burial, and resurrection.
4. Baptism in the name of Jesus Christ initiates us into the mystical, universal body of Christ.
If you have yet to be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, dear friend, I exhort you this hour to hear this simple undiluted message and obey it's call today. Churches that baptize in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins may be found in your community in the phone book under the heading of Apostolic or Pentecostal. You should call that church first and specifically ask them, "Do you baptize in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins?" If they stutter or answer, "No," keep looking. Church organizations which embrace this truth and practice baptism according to the apostles message include:
And there are others. Please consult the Internet or your local phone directory.
