Lighthouse Pentecostal Church:
Bible Studies
"Baptism In Jesus' Name"
The question of "Do I need to be baptized"? Is a very important question, but before we cover the need of baptism. let us consider how to be baptized. First lets look at the word Baptism, Baptism comes from the Greek word baptismos which means to cover wholly. In order to be covered wholly you have to be submerged. This excludes sprinkling you can not
be covered wholly with a sprinkling.
I know this is a very popular belief in some religions, but it is not Biblical. Before we go any further lets look at the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is very simple, the Gospel is his Death, Burial, and Resurrection. Like Christ we also must go through a Death, Burial, And a
Resurrection. Our Repentance is symbolic of Death, because we Die out to that sinful life style. Now once a Death occurs there has to be a Burial. Baptism is representative of a burial (look at Romans 6:1-6). Now that we have Died out to sin, been Buried by Baptism, we become ready for a Resurrection. The Holy Ghost is symbolic of our Resurrection, but we will not go into detail on this subject on this page (for more info on the Holy Ghost go to that page).
Now that we have established that you must be covered (submerged) by the water during baptism. I know there are some going to disagree to this so answer this question. Have you ever gone to a funeral where someone was buried, and they just took a handful of dirt and through it on the grave? I didn't think so. Below are some scriptures on Baptism. After you have read them we will go into; "Do I have to be Baptized to be saved"? And, "How do I need to be Baptized"?
Matthew 28:19 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost:"
Mark 16:15-16 "And he said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."
John 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."
Luke 24:47 "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in HIS NAME among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."
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, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 2:41 "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."
Acts 9:18 "and immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."(Pauls Baptism).
Acts 10:47-48 "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."
Acts 18:8 "And crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized."
Acts 19:3-5 "And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, unto Johns baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with baptism of repentence, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, Christ Jesus. When they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."
Acts 22:16 " And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.?
Galatians 3:27 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Ephesians 4:5 "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
Do you have to be baptized to be saved? Yes, look at John 3:5 and Mark 16:16.
Does it matter how I am baptized? Yes it matters you have to be submerged, completely covered.
Does it matter in whose name I am baptized? Yes, there is but one way to be baptized and that is in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38 gives you in detail how to be saved. 1)Repent, 2)Be Baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, 3)and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Still think that any baptism will do? What about the Ephesians Church in Acts 19 they were re-baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. That is how much it matters.
Look at Acts 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." If it is not in the name of Jesus it is null and void. I know there are some of you going, what about Matthew 28:19? Okay, lets break it down into 3 areas. 1. The verse before and after that are speaking of only one
person Jesus. 2."In the name of...." this is a singular statement, it says name not names. 3. "And of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." the and of is very important. This carries the same name all the way through the verse. For example in the name of the Father, which is the name of the Son, which is the name of the Holy Ghost. That one Name is Jesus Christ!!
If you need additional information on this subject,
or would be interested in a Home Bible Study,
please contact us at 882.3933.
We would love to meet and/or talk with you!
~Pastor Jason Scheel