Different unscriptural opinions on the doctrine of water baptism have plagued the supposed Christendom in this day but we must know that the scriptures hold the answer to every scriptural question. In this rotulus, I will speak expressly on water baptism seeking to address two things:

  1. Is water baptism crucial to salvation?
  2. How should water baptism be administered?

And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

— 1 Corinthians 10:2

The above verse tells how all the called-out ones from Egypt were baptized unto Moses. This is an allegory of how it is critical for us, the called-out ones from the sea of the world, to be baptized to our Moses—The Lord Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 18:15 Acts 3:22).  If you have been called out of Egypt, then you ought to be baptized unto the one that has called you out.  If the church in the wilderness were baptized unto Moses, the New Testament Church must therefore be baptized unto Christ.

Consistency

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.

—John 3:5

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 2:38

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

—Titus 3:5

Jesus, Peter, and Paul who preached at different times all said the same thing concerning Salvation. They all spoke of water baptism and also the baptism of the Holy ghost. This shows consistency with God and if He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) then water baptism holds valid and should be done as it was held back in the days of the Apostles and Early Church.

Command

Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

—Acts 1:2

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

—Acts 10:48
The baptism of Cornelius and his household

A refusal to look at Holy Scriptures makes us gullible to the false doctrines prevalent today in Christendom. Water baptism is a command and as such cannot be played with. If it was a thing of “maybe“, “is not really important”, Peter would not have commanded the household of Cornelius to be water baptized. Why else would Paul and Silas, after escaping imprisonment, go through so much stress in Acts 16:33 to baptize the Jailer and his household the same night? The reason is clearly stated below:

And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

—Genesis 17:14

11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

—Colossians 2:11-12

To be a son of Abraham (Israelite) in the Old Testament, you must be circumcised. Today, we are sons of Abraham by Faith (Galatians 3), thus making us Spiritual Israel. Sonship today is a position in Christ (John 1:12) and if we don’t have the Circumcision of Christ, then we would be put to death. To approach the God of Abraham, there is a need for Circumcision.

20 those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.
21 And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

—1 Peter 3:20-21 (NLT)

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

—Galatians 3:27

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

—Romans 6:3

Water typifies the Word of God. Yes, our soul needs the Word of God, but our flesh needs literal water. The first converts in Acts 2, converts in Samaria in Acts 8, Gentiles converts in Acts 10; they all went through water baptism. Even Apostle Paul (Acts 9:18; Acts 22:16) went through it, Lydia in Acts 16 as well as those disciples who were rebaptized in Acts 19.

Comparison

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

—Romans 10:9

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 2:38

Preachers today quote/reference Romans 10:9-13 when talking about the issue of salvation or when making their “altar calls”, citing the “Thief on the Cross” to derelict baptism as an ordinance essential for salvation. The argument of these preachers about the “Thief on the Cross” is an invalid one because the New Testament’s plan of salvation started on the Day of Pentecost. The book of Acts shows a blueprint of the early Church and that is the way the Church should be; we cannot use an epistle written to an already called out to preach salvation to those who are yet to be called out. One saves the believer, the other saves the Sinner. Even the Book of Acts tells us what it means to call upon the name of The Lord.

And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

—Acts 22;16

At this juncture, let it be known that there is no need for baptismal classes nor foundation classes. Those are rudiments of men; the requirement is he that believeth. Believe what? That Jesus is The Christ, The Son of The Living God (Mark 16:16; Acts 8:36-37)

From the above, so far, we can agree that water baptism is crucial for salvation, the next point of call is in the administering.

The Name

And in his name shall the Gentiles trust.

—Matthew 12:21

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

—John 3:18

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

—Acts 4:12

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

—Colossians 3:17

The name to be employed in water baptism is the name of the one who died for our sins. That name is Jesus Christ.

Confusion

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

—Matthew 28:19

People have anchored to this scripture to enforce a Trinitarian baptismal formula, however, let’s look at the parallel verse Luke 24:47

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

—Luke 24:47

This is obviously not contradictory—as it takes the eye salve of revelation to see the truth in both scriptures. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names but titles of the One True God. You reading this piece might be a husband, father, and uncle. This doesn’t make you three distinct persons; neither does it mean you have three distinct names. You, irrespective of your titles have got a name. The same way it is with God.

The Father: God OVER us

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.

—John 5:43

The name JESUS means Jehovah-Saviour; meaning, the name Yahweh took for the purpose of salvation/redemption or Jehovah is Saviour.

The Son: God WITH us

And she shall bring forth a SON, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

—Matthew 1:21

This doesn’t need much explanation, isn’t it expressive enough? The name is Jesus; He is the Door of The Sheep (John 10:9)

The Holyghost: God IN us

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even 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.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

—John 14:16-18

A careful look at these verses points out that even the Holyghost is Jesus.  The one who dwelled WITH the disciples and shall eventually be IN them.  The name, therefore, is Jesus Christ.

This is what Peter said

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

—Acts 2:36

Jesus who is the Son has been made both Lord (Owner, Father) and Christ (The Spirit)

This is what Paul said

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

—2 Corinthians 3:17

Immersion

It is ridiculous how people pour water with a cup, sprinkle and do all sorts according to church creeds and call it baptism. The word baptism means to be immersed.

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:

—Matthew 3:16

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

—Acts 8:39

The above verses make it clear that baptism is a complete immersion of the whole body into the water. It is clear that those that were baptized in the bible days were fully immersed in water. Paul symbolized this using death and resurrection.

3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 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.

—Romans 6:3-4

If we died, then we must be properly buried in the waters of baptism. This analogy is clear; just as you won’t sprinkle sand on a corpse or pour some few grains of sand on the head of the corpse and claim that you have buried that corpse. No! the whole body of the dead must go beneath the sand and covered by the sand; the same way at baptism which is a type of death, we must be fully immersed in the water.

Conclusion

It is clearly stated in the bible that every baptism from the Day of Pentecost was done by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ. This continued until the 4th Century when The Roman Catholic Church was in full bloom and the Apostolic Prescription (Acts 2:38) was substituted for sprinkling, the use of cup, titles of father, son, and Holyghost. You may check the History.

If the first converts entered through Acts 2:38, so will the subsequent enter, till the last comes in by that same door.

 Who did hinder you from obeying The Truth, you have run well  (Galatians 5:7). Arise and be baptized, washing away thy sins of unbelief, calling upon The Name of The Lord.