Baptism in the Name of Jesus

What Is Baptism?

Baptism is not simply a tradition or a ritual. It is a sacred act of obedience commanded by Jesus Himself and carried out by the Apostles in the New Testament church. When a person is baptized, they are publicly declaring that they have died to their old life, been buried with Christ, and are rising to walk in newness of life.

Baptism is not optional for the believer. Jesus said in John 3:5, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Water baptism is part of the new birth experience.

Why Is It Done in the Name of Jesus?

This is one of the most important questions a new believer can ask. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus told His disciples to go and baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Some people stop there and use those three titles when they baptize. But look at what the Apostles actually did when they carried out that command:

Every single time baptism is recorded in the book of Acts, it was performed in the name of Jesus Christ — not in the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Why? Because Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names — they are titles describing the roles of the one God. Jesus is that name.

The Apostolic Plan of Salvation

The Apostle Peter made the plan of salvation clear on the Day of Pentecost. It has three parts, and all three are essential to the new birth experience:

What Does Baptism Mean for You?

When you go into that water, you are not just getting wet. You are making a covenant with God. The old you — your sins, your past, your burdens — goes down into the water. And you come up a new creation in Christ Jesus.

You will also have a testimony. When someone asks you why you were baptized in Jesus’ name, you will be able to tell them exactly what the Word of God says. You will not just say “because my church does it” — you will say “because the Apostles did it, the Bible commands it, and Jesus is Lord.”