Question: We have been doing a Bible study where the subject of baptism was discussed. It was pointed out that before Jesus’ death and resurrection, baptism was performed in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter taught in Acts 2:38 to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins and you would receive the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10:48, Peter baptizes Cornelius and his household in the name of Jesus. Also, in Acts 8:38 Philip baptizes the Ethiopian after preaching Jesus. I think that Paul also baptized in the name of Jesus.

Our Bible study friends believe that Christians should be baptized in the name of Jesus so that they will be recognized as the bride of Christ when the rapture comes. What does Plain Truth Ministries have to say about this?

Answer: This teaching is probably an outgrowth of Oneness Pentecostal teaching, caused by a dispute within the Assemblies of God in 1916. The dispute was over the baptismal formula and the nature of God. Both inter-relate, as for the majority of Christians, who accept the biblical teaching of the historic Christian church, the name of Jesus is God – for the Godhead is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Most doctrinal deviations begin with the nature of God, and continue from that point. This teaching is an example. The Bible does not teach baptism only in the name of Jesus, and the suggestion that one must be baptized using that particular formula in order to be recognized as the bride of Christ is without biblical backing, changes the grace of the gospel into mechanical works, and assumes that God will not recognize those who are his own unless a specific magical formula has been used.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht