The Name of Jesus and the Forgiveness of Sin
Forgiveness is given by Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
Baptism is such a controversial flashpoint in modern Christianity. It was not a point of contention for the Apostles or the first church. Why?
Because they all knew that Jesus himself insisted on His baptism.
Maybe it was because Jesus commanded everyone to be baptized in Mark and his parting words, known as the Great Commission, commanded everyone to be baptized.
The Apostles obeyed this commission by baptizing everyone in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. I suggest they knew Father, son, and Holy ghost were not names but rather designations which are revealed by the person, name, and ministry of Jesus Christ.
It also could be that everywhere the Apostles went, they baptized every one in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John “THE BAPTIST,” the Prophet and Prophetic movement just before Jesus Christ was known as one who baptized with water, Jesus was going to BAPTIZE with Holy Ghost and Fire.
So why is baptism rejected as having any dynamic spiritual power by many traditions today? Because tradition has inserted itself into the conversation and you will notice it does not matter what Jesus said, commanded, or required of Himself.
”Baptism is an outward show of an inward work.”
This is not a scripture, but rather words used directly to contradict what the scripture says.
They have been trained to love and believe some scriptures that are isolated from the rest. This training causes them to elevate some scriptures that are removed from the context of what Jesus, the Apostles, and Paul said, did, and wrote.
This practice of cleaving a few isolated scriptures from the context of the rest of the scripture is the effort to invalidate baptism is wrong. The scripture gives value to baptism as more than a public show, but rather attributes the forgiveness of sin from the baptism in water in the Name of Jesus Christ.
Paul celebrated his baptism and his instruction when he was saved.
Toward the end of Paul’s life and ministry, listen as he relates what he was told, and you see this kind of value/virtue/power attributed to baptism by Paul connected specifically to the person and name of Jesus Christ.
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. “ Acts 22:16
What is the name of the Lord? Jesus? Yes. The Name of the Lord Jesus Christ was called out over Paul in baptism, and it was attributed to forgive sins.
It sounds JUST LIKE Acts 10, what the first Gentile Christians commanded.
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43
Look what was done for the Gentiles a few verses later,
“And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” 48
Sounds JUST like the original plan of salvation post-Resurrection. This is the first time after the Great Commission that the believers were told what to do in relationship to be saved after being responsible for rejecting and crucifying Jesus.
What did the Apostles say When the apostles were obeying the great commission?
“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?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.” Acts 2:37 & 38
Baptism was not controversial for Jesus, the Apostles, Paul, or the early church.
Everyone was baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ because they preached that forgiveness of sins happened in the baptism in water in the name of Jesus Christ.
Paul explains it in many different texts you will find in your Bible.
Romans 6
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.
What name were they baptized?
“Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:13
We know they were baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.
“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 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.” Galatians 3:27 & 28
How? We are all baptized into Jesus Christ!
Baptism is more than an outward show of an inward work.
In fact, based on scripture, we receive the forgiveness and remission of sins when we are baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ.
If this is what the Bible says, why do preachers, teachers and Christians worldwide disagree and disobey Jesus and the Apostles? Because of false teaching and teachers. If one is teaching something directly opposing the scripture, what they are teaching is false and, therefore false teachers.
Given a choice, who will you believe?
The scripture or tradition or denominationalism?
IF they are wrong on baptism, what else are they wrong about? Things that are said with such fervency and conviction contradict Jesus and the Word of God.
The only way most people will ever know the truth is to be hungry enough to study and read the Bible for themselves. One will have to see that what is wrapped up in ecclesiastical robes too often is not true if the scripture is true.
The solution. Believe all of the New Testament Scriptures and not just a few select ones that agree with our team/brand/superstars doctrine.
And by all means, don’t dismiss the actual words and commands of Jesus while only believing certain parts of one person's writing and ignoring what that person did, preached, and commanded as recorded in the book of Acts.
What did Paul believe about Baptism?
Look what Paul did.
He rebaptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why is it so important?
“Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
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.
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Paul, the Apostle, believed in baptism, specifically in the Name of Jesus Christ.
I believe we should all be like Paul.
We should be like Jesus and the rest of the Apostles.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
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?
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.
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.” Acts 2:36-39
Baptism is important. Listen to Jesus speak of His own need to be baptized.
Jesus demonstrates the power, promise, and spiritual significance of Baptism.
“ But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
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:
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:14-18
You know what this sounds like? Water and Spirit?
“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.” John 3:5
Everywhere the Apostles went in the book of Acts, there was the Baptism of water in the Name of the Lord Jesus and a separate and distinct baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Read Acts 2,8, 10 & 19
In conclusion,
Baptism is immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission/forgiveness of sins.