Baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ

Introduction

When we seek to answer the question “what must I do to be saved?” that is posed throughout the book of Acts, we will see a relationship between faith, repentance, confession, baptism, and salvation - ; ; ;

Baptism is a burial or immersion - [there was enough water for both of them to get into];

Baptism is commanded to be in water -

It is after (not before) baptism that we are “walking in newness of life” -

Peter is clear that baptism is in order to receive the forgiveness of sins - [not “because” we have already been saved; baptism is not merely an outward sign of an inward grace; baptism actually saves us]

Peter is clear that baptism saves us -

Baptism Appeals To God’s Grace

Peter describes baptism as more than a ceremonial cleansing or religious rite -

It is not just an outward, physical, fleshly event

Baptism is an appeal to God

a formal request, appeal

BDAG defines it as:

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐπερώτημα

a formal request, appeal

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐπερώτημα

a formal request, appeal

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐπερώτημα

a formal request, appeal

Kittel says an “appeal” is a request to God for forgiveness:

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume ἐρωτάω

Baptism does not confer physical cleansing but saves as a request for forgiveness

It is in baptism that we make an appeal and request before God to forgive us and extend to us His saving grace!

Prior to baptizing the apostle Paul, Ananias told Paul to “get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” -

Kittel shows an important relationship between these two texts — to “call on His name” is to make an appeal, like before a king or a judge.

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume καλέω

The middle use for “to appeal to someone” is a common legal one (cf. Paul’s appeal to Caesar in Acts 25:11–12). Less technically, cf. the appeal to God in 2 Cor. 1:23. Often, too, there is appeal to God in prayer (cf. Acts 2:21; 7:59; 9:21; 22:16; Rom. 10:12; 2 Tim. 2:22: calling on God).

Therefore, it is when we are baptized that we “call on the name of the Lord” - , ;

Baptized in the “name of” Jesus Christ

We must each call on the name of the Lord (be baptized) if we will be saved. Calling on the name of the Lord occurs when we are baptized. Our baptism is an act of obedience where we seek God’s grace and forgiveness for our sins.

Baptism is not a “human work” to save ourselves; it is when we ask God to work and save us from our sins!

Baptism Creates A Perfect Conscience

Our appeal to God in baptism is for a good conscience -

This implies that sin ruins and corrupts our conscience

We have guilt because of our sins -

Baptism washes away your sins and perfects our conscience by coming into contact with the blood of Christ -

The blood of Christ does something that no physical, outward, symbolic, and religious ritual could do.

The blood of Christ cleanses our conscience.

It makes us alive to serve the living God!

The guilt and burden of our sinful choices that weigh heavily upon our minds are washed away at baptism. We are changed for the better. We become a “new creature.” We are cleansed and made perfect. We were broken; now we are mended and whole.

A person who refuses baptism is lost in their sin; they still bear the guilt of sin.

Their sins separate them and God.

The person who is baptized for forgiveness of sins needs to understand:

They have sinned

Sin will separate them from God for eternity; eternal punishment in hell is real

God is gracious and wants to forgive them and restore them to a right relationship with God

Baptism appeals to God’s grace, seeking God’s mercy and forgiveness

They are making a commitment to God and Christ; they are changing the way they live

Baptism Gives New Life

For Peter, the event that gives life and power to baptism is the resurrection of Jesus Christ -

Christ defeated death, sin, and the devil at the resurrection.

Christ was raised in “newness of life.”

Baptism is a picture of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus -

The old self was crucified and buried - v 6

That burial was in the waters of immersion - vv 3-4

Those united in death and burial (baptism) are also given a new resurrection - v 5

After they have been raised out of their burial (not before), they are then given new life - v 4

Our new life is freed from sin and we are alive to God

When a person is baptized into Christ, they defeat spiritual death, sin, and the devil.

They are raised to walk in ‘newness of life.’

Baptism is what makes disciples. And when we become followers of Jesus, we have a new life and a new relationship with God.

In two important passages in the New Testament on the subject of baptism, the phrase “in the name of...” is used - ;

Jesus said we are baptized “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” -

Peter said “in the name of Jesus Christ” -

This is not about a formula that must be cited when a person is baptized

This is about understanding the Trinity and the three persons of the Godhead. With the definite article “the” before Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — this emphasizes that we are baptized into a relationship with THE Father, THE Son, and THE Holy Spirit.

Christ and His divine authority is recognized -

Conclusion

Baptism is the moment when our sins are washed away and we are forgiven of our sins

When we are baptized, we are initiated into the church and the family of God, becoming God’s child

We don’t believe baptism alone saves us; it is God who saves us.

But it is in the waters of baptism that we appeal to God, calling on the name of Jesus, to save us from our sins.

Will you call on His name today?