Baptism: Step by Step

Baptism by immersion in the name of Jesus is an essential part of salvation according to the New Testament covenant.  There is no substitution.  In Acts 2:38, we are commanded to (1) Repent, (2) Be Baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of our sins, and (3) Be Filled with the Holy Ghost.  This series of necessary steps was given in response to the question, "What shall we do to be saved?"

Scriptural References:

Essentiality of Baptism
Acts 2:38   Luke 24:47   Matt. 3:13-16   Heb. 2:3-4   Acts 10:44-48   Acts 8:12   Matt. 28:29   Acts 19:1-5   Acts 22:16

Baptism as Part of Salvation
Acts 2:38   Rom. 6:3-5   2 Cor. 5:17-18   Acts 22:16   Matt. 3:16   1 Cor. 6:9-11

Jesus Name or Not at All
Matt. 28:19   John 16:7   Luke 1:27-33    John 14:26  Matt. 1:23-25    John 8:44   Is. 9:6   John 7:12   John 5:43  2 Thess. 2:3   John 4:24   2 Cor. 11:14   John 1:1   Acts 2:38   John 1:14   Acts 8:14-17   2 Cor. 4:6   Acts 10:46-48  John 14:16-18   Hebrews 9:22

Step One: Baptism is Essential
***In response to the Jews’ inquiry about how they could be saved after having crucified their Messiah, Peter said: 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.” 

*** Jesus lead by example, reinforcing the fact that baptism is necessary: Matthew 3:13-16

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 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 fulfill 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.” 

***Peter commanded believers to be baptized: Acts 10:48

“And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

***Jesus, when giving the great commission, instructed believers to teach all nations and baptize them: Matthew 28:19 and Luke 24:47

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” 

*** We can’t escape damnation unless we are conscientious and follow the plan of salvation: Hebrews 2:3-4

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

***Note: #1 It was spoken by the Lord: where? 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.”

***Note: #2 It was confirmed by the hearers. Who were they? The Apostles, most notably Peter in 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.” 

***Note: #3 God confirmed with signs and wonders as it was confirmed by being practiced: where and when?

Acts 8:12
“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”

Acts 10:44-48
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 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 19:1-5
“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, 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.”

Acts 22:16 What’s His name?
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Step Two: Baptism is Part of Salvation


***Salvation is initially a 3-step process that mimics the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ: 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.”

***PART ONE: Repentance = Death of Christ

The British army says ‘Repent’ to mean ‘About Face,’ commanding a turn of 180 degrees.

Repent means to completely turn from your old ways, to die out to the flesh, and to give up on old habits and the old sinful man that is displeasing to God.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”

*** PART TWO: Baptism = Burial with Christ

Baptism, by nature, means submersion: Matthew 3:16.

Jesus, when baptized, “came up straightway out of the water,” meaning he must have been put downinto the water.

Romans 6:3-5 Notice the name! We die to our sinful nature!
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”

If our old man dies, he must be buried!

Some quick tips on burial:

* We don’t bury a person’s body by sprinkling dirt on it. It has to be completely covered over to keep the old from corrupting the new life around it.

* We don’t bury a person unless he or she is dead. Spiritually, we must die to our old ways before we can be baptized. This is why infant baptism is not Biblical, nor is it mandated in scripture. There is no precedent of it ever occurring in the Word of God!

* The person must be in a state of repentance.

***PART THREE: Holy Ghost Infilling = Resurrection of Christ

Ultimately, baptism washes away our sins and our sinful nature, creating a clean and undefiled temple in which God will dwell:

Acts 22:16
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 

Step Three: Baptism is in Jesus' Name


*** Baptism must be in Jesus' name to be effective: Matt. 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."

* Notice, 'name' is singular, meaning one rather than several

* What is the name?

* Father, son, and holy ghost are titles or offices God holds just like he holds the offices of Jehovah Jireh (my provider) or Jehovah Shalom (my peace)

* They are not separate deities, personalities, or personas

*** You don't sign a check at the store with your titles: mom, sister, wife, etc.

* The bank simply won't cash them because there is no authority in a title!

* It must have the authority of a name!

* Could salvation be any less important than writing a check for a pair of new heels?

***So, what is the name of the son?

* Luke 1:27-33 "To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

* Matthew 1:23-25 Joseph understood Emmanuel to mean Jesus, which literally meant 'God with us.' Jesus is God in fleshly form. "23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS."

* So, the name of the son is JESUS.

***What is the name of the father?

* Isaiah 9:6 reveals that the child and the everlasting father are one and the same: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

* John 5:43 "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."

* The fleshly robe of the divine God came in God's name!

* We are part spirit, part flesh but no less one being. Jesus was flesh outside but His spirit was no less than God Almighty!

* Consider, if you were invisible but you wanted to show someone where you were or what you were doing, you might put on a coat or a robe to show yourself. God did the same!

* John 4:24 says that God is spirit! A spirit cannot be seen so he robed himself in a fleshly shell!

* John 1:1,14 "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

* 2 Cor. 4:6 "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

* God is shown forth in the being of Jesus. He put the flesh part over the glory so that we could see its works! Through Jesus, we understand the nature of God!

***What is the name of the Holy Ghost?

* Jesus spoke in John 14:16-18 "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

* The flesh instructs his followers that he will send a manifestation of himself to be IN you, which is the Holy Ghost. As he states here, the Holy Ghost already dwells with them in the face of Jesus Christ! * Note, by the time the Holy Ghost is poured out, the days of the fleshly manifestation will be ended. Essentially, there isn't a fleshly body up there directing a separate spirit to come into your heart.

* This is symbolic of us: We can't receive the spirit of God unless our fleshly days have been ended through repentance!

* The flesh of Jesus had a beginning of days and an ending of days.

* John 16:7 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you."

* John 14:26 "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

* What name will the Holy Ghost come in? Jesus' name!

***So, if Jesus is come in his father's (the divinity's name) name, to baptize someone in the name of the father would be to pronounce Jesus over them.

***And, if the Holy Ghost (the spiritual infilling that is God living in us) is sent in Jesus' own name, then to baptize someone in the name of the Holy Ghost would be to pronounce Jesus over them.

***Few would argue that the son of Mary was named Jesus so we find that Acts 2:38 is actually the fulfillment of Matthew 28:19!

Why should we not use the titles in baptism?

* These titles could also be applied to Satan.

* Satan is called a father in John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."

* Satan, as he has infilled the anti-Christ, is called a son in 2 Thess. 2:3 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition."

* He is likewise a spirit with angelic properties. First, he began his existence as an angel; he continues to use the guise of angelic light, as we find in 2 Cor. 11:14 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."

***This is why we use the apostles' mode of baptism! Their method of baptizing in Jesus' name revealed their revelation of who He is and their understanding of His words in Matthew 28:19.
* 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 8:14-17 "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."

* Acts 10:46-48 "For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 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."

* Once again, 'name' is singular--with good reason!

Step Four: Baptism Applies the Blood Through His Name

Baptism applies the blood—via the Name—to your heart!

***The blood washes away sin and the name is applied at baptism: Hebrews 9:22

“And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”

If you want your sins forgiven and washed away, the blood is waiting!