I would like here to make a case for baptism in Jesus' Name.
First I want to show that scripturally baptism has the power to save.
1Pe 3:20, Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
1Pe 3:21, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
In verse 20, it makes it clear that the baptism being spoken of in verse 21 is water baptism.
Now, I know that a case can be made that we are saved by grace through faith; as though this excluded being saved through the grace of baptism. In this post I will not argue that a person can only be saved through baptism in Jesus' Name (except in part); but that baptism in Jesus' Name has the power to save a soul;
And that therefore, if you have any doubts about your salvation, being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for the remission of sins may be something that you might want to try.
For it is written,
Deu 4:29, But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
and,
Jer 29:13, And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
It should be clear that there is a conditional promise in holy scripture, that we can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...
The condition being that we repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for the remission of sins:
Act 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.
Act 2:39, 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.
I would say, also, that if baptism does indeed save, that this salvation is in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth:
Act 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.
Act 4:11, This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12, Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Now, here I will make a case for the exclusivisity in salvation of being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for the remission of sins.
For the promise of
Acts 2:38 is a conditional promise.
Act 2:39, 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.
And it is given to as many as the Lord our God shall call.
Consider.
Rom 8:30, Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
If you are not among the called, then you were never predestinated unto salvation; and will not be justified.
Nevertheless, in
Mark 16:16, it is those who believe not who will be damned; baptism isn't mentioned (as concerning condemnation for lack of it) except as a guarantee for salvation wherein it says, "
whosoever believeth and is baptized shall be saved."
This indicates to me that, whereas in
John 3:16, if you believe only, you "should" not perish, that if you believe and are baptized, you have an absolute promise of salvation...the word "shall" is an absolute one...whereas the word "should" is rather iffy.
So, I will not here preach that you must be baptized in Jesus' Name or else you will not be saved (I will allow the word of God to do that preaching for me, in verses already quoted); but I will say that if you want absolute assurance of salvation, the next step is to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth for the remission of sins.
Then, you shall receive remission of sins (
1 John 3:9) and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Some people believe we do not have to be baptized to be saved, and say it is a work, and we are not saved by works, and some people just do not believe we have to be baptized.
But concerning baptism being a work everything we do and think is a work, which the Bible talks about the work of faith for faith itself is a work.
Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 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.
Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
1Pe 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
It is obvious that baptism is necessary for salvation, and we are baptized into Christ's death.
Repent, water baptism, receive the Holy Spirit is the salvation plan, and we cannot cut out the middle man.
We have to identify with the man Christ Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection, by repenting of our sins, being water baptized, and receiving the Holy Spirit.
2Ti 3:4 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Some people do not allow the Spirit to lead them and they enjoy sin and believe they are still right with God.
They hold unto sin and do not get rid of it and never come to the truth that they have to allow the Spirit to lead them and abstain from sin, which a Spirit led life will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
Usually the people that believe that water baptism is not necessary are the same people who say they cannot abstain from sin which they do not come to the truth.
Jesus said He came in His Father's name.
The Son inherited the name from the Father.
The Holy Spirit comes in the name of Jesus.
The name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is Jesus.
Jews, Gentiles, and Samaritans, were all baptized in Jesus' name in the book of Acts.