What Is the Importance of Christian Baptism?
1) Direct Answer
Christian baptism is a command of the Lord and the Bible way of identifying with Jesus Christ. It is for the remission of sins, it publicly buries the old life and raises the believer to walk in newness of life, and it brings the believer under the promise of the Holy Ghost. It must be by immersion in water in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- Command and salvation: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16).
- The Name to use: Jesus said baptize “in the name” (singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19). The Scripture shows that Name to be Jesus Christ: “repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38); “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 8:16); “he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48); “they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5); “arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16). There is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved (Acts 4:12).
- Identification with His death, burial, resurrection: “As many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death… buried with him by baptism… raised… to walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3–5). “As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). “Buried with him in baptism” (Colossians 2:12).
- The meaning, not mere ritual: “Baptism doth also now save us—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:21).
- Mode is immersion: Jesus came “up out of the water” (Mark 1:10). John baptized where there was “much water” (John 3:23). The eunuch “went down both into the water” and “came up out of the water” (Acts 8:38–39).
- Unity of the ordinance: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- Now notice, the Bible uses one Name. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are titles of the one God; the revealed Name that carries all that God is to us is the Lord Jesus Christ. The apostles understood the Lord’s command and always baptized in that Name. You see, if the Scripture never shows anyone baptized in titles, why should we?
- It’s not three Gods, and it’s not three baptisms. One God revealed Himself as Father above us, Son with us, and Holy Spirit in us—and the one saving Name that declares that revelation is Jesus Christ.
- Baptism does not work as a bare ceremony. The water itself cannot cleanse the soul. But faith obeys the Word, and obedience brings us under the Blood’s promise: “Repent, and be baptized… and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). That’s the Bible order.
- Because baptism is burial, it must be immersion. You don’t sprinkle a burial. You go under and come up, testifying that the old life is gone and the life of Jesus is your new walk.
- If someone was baptized without the revelation of the Name, the Scripture pattern shows that when truth comes, you can be baptized correctly (see Acts 19:1–6).
4) Reinforcing Statement
Do it God’s Bible way: repent, be baptized by immersion in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and expect the promise of the Holy Ghost. That’s the straight path of Scripture and the testimony of a clear conscience before God.
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What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
Christianity versus Idolatry
61-1217 §60
...terview recently, up here at the Sacred Heart, he said to me... (Or this church up the road, I forget what it is. I think it's called Sacred Heart.) He come to me about the baptism of Mary Elizabeth Frazier who had backslid and turned to be a Catholic. He said, "Did you baptize her?" I said, "Yes." Said, "How did you baptize her?" I said, "In Christian baptism." He said, "What way do you mean?" I said, "There's only one Christian baptism." He said, "What do you mean, by immersing?" I said, "Yes, sir." He said, "You...
Church Ages, part 3: The Ephesian Church Age
60-1205 §60
Now, show me something different. Show me where one person was ever baptized any other way than in the name of Jesus, see, outside of the Catholic church. So, if you're baptized that way, you're not in the Christian church; you're in the Catholic church, 'cause you're baptized... Their own "Sunday Visitor," the catechism said... The question, "Will any Protestants be saved?" Said, "Many of them, because they have our baptism and many things like that." Said, "They claim about the Bible; and the Bible said, 'Baptize...
Without money or without price
59-0802 §10
I would also encourage all those who has not been baptized in Christian baptism, to remain this morning and think it over. And be ready for the baptismal service which will follow in about forty-five minutes now, I suppose. That will be here at the church. We are very prone to encourage people to be baptized in Christian baptism, knowing that it is essential unto salvation. For it was written by our Lord, His last commission, His last commission to the church ... or, as He commissioned the church last, He said, "Go...
A True Sign that's overlooked
61-1112 §79
"Thus saith the Lord, 'The baptism using the title of Father, Son, Holy Ghost is false.' Thus saith the Lord." I command every one of you, on here or on tape, that hasn't been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, be baptized again in the name of Jesus Christ. Paul in Acts 5:9 ... or, 19:5, said, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" They said, "We know not whether there be any Holy Ghost." Said, "Then to what was you baptized?" They said, "We've been baptized." But not in Christian baptism. Father...
Questions and Answers, part 1
54-0103M §14
See, I think that baptism... Oh, I do say it's essential; I wouldn't want to say it isn't essential. But it is essential because every commandment of God is essential. Don't you think so? It's essential that we must be baptized. Jesus give this statement in St. Matthew ... or, St. Mark 16, He said, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel; he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." And when He was talking to Nicodemus, He said, "Except a man be born of water and Spirit he will in nowise enter," see. It...