Many Christians today believe that following the correct baptismal formula is a critical step in their Christian faith. In accordance with the biblical revelation, we will examine baptism in Yeshua’s name.
“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39).
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).
In accordance with Acts 2:38, baptism in the name of the Messiah Yeshua does not constitute a violation of the commandment given by the Messiah Yeshua in Matthew 28:19 because the saving name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is YESHUA HA MASHIACH. Today, many Christians are split on what is considered to be the proper baptismal formula for each individual. Baptism is performed “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” by the Roman Catholic Church and the majority of Protestant churches (Matthew. 28:19). The words “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38) is only used by a small but rising number of Christian churches that are referred to as Apostolic churches, and additional smaller number of Christians are baptized in the sacred and most Holy name of Yeshua the Messiah. Some critics incorrectly characterize this difference as a struggle between following the commandments of the Messiah Yeshua and following the commandments of the apostle Peter. Actually, there is no real disagreement between the Savior’s words and Peter’s words. They are in perfect harmony with one another. According to this article, there are various reasons why baptism in the name of Yeshua the Messiah does not disobey Yeshua’s instruction in Matthew 28:19.
Acts 2:38 records the Apostle Peter’s words when he spoke on the Day of Pentecost, “Peter said, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Yeshua the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” According to Peter, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12). Water baptism in the name of Yeshua indicates a realization by all persons being baptized that Messiah is their Savior.
Other forms of Christian baptism is also conducted in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Water baptism in this manner simply means we are identifying ourselves with God’s Holy Tri-Unity. Christians belong to the Father and believers are saved by the Son, and they are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This is similar to how believer’s should pray in Yeshua’s name (John 14:13). When believers pray in the sacred name of Yeshua, they are praying with His authority and asking God the Father to act upon their prayers because they come in the name of His Son, Yeshua. Being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit was not the original baptism for first century believers, which is revealed throughout the book of Acts. Yeshua Himself specifically tells believers to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19), which is really a command to be baptized in Yeshua’s name.
In the Book of Acts, new believers were baptized in the name of Yeshua (Acts 2:38; 8:12; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5). It is, however, essentially the same thing because Yeshua, the Father and the Holy Spirit are one (John 5:7, John 10:30, and Acts 16:7). Many believers are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit because of Messiah Yeshua’s instructions. However, as the book of Acts proves, baptizing in the name of Yeshua is also done because this is how Messiah Yeshua wanted his followers to execute the baptismal formula.
Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 that the Father has a name, the Son has a name, and the Holy Spirit has a name. The name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is Jesus or YAH-SHUA. For example, in Exodus 3:13-16, Psalm 68:4, Isaiah 12:2, 26:4 and 38:11 the name of God the Father is YAH-WEH or YAH, which is like calling a man named Jonathan or Jon. The name YAH-WEH means I AM who I AM (Ayah Ashur Ayah). The name of the Son is YASHUSHUA (YEHOSHUA), which is short for YAH-SHUA (YEHSHUA). According to John 5:43, the Lord Jesus said “I have come in MY FATHER’S NAME, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” This means that the name of the father is Jesus” (YAHSHUA/YEHSHUA). Bear in mind, the name JESUS is an English word that originated from the Greek name IESOUS which was derived from the Hebrew name YAH-SHUA. The word YAH means I AM and the word SHUA means salvation, which proves that YAHSHUA’S name means I AM SALVATION. According to John 14:26, Yeshua said “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in MY NAME, He (the Holy Spirit) will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” The Holy Spirit is called the RUACH HAKODESH in Hebrew, which means the “the spirit of the holy one.” RUACH HAKODESH is a description for the third person of the Holy Trinity. Additionally, the Holy Spirit is sent in the name of Jesus (YAH-SHUA/YEH-SHUA). Therefore, careful analysis of the name of YAH-SHUA (YESHUA) reveals the SALVATION name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The Baptismal Formula in History
The baptismal formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ (Yahshua Ha Mashiach) to the words Father, Son and Holy Spirit by Christian Church leaders in the second Century C.E. The early church always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Yeshua) until the development of the Trinitarian Formula. The use of the Trinitarian formula of any sort was not suggested in early church history. Baptism was always in the name of the Lord Jesus (Yeshua) until the time of Justin Martyr when the triune formula was used. Water baptism in Yeshua’s name is not a rejection of the Holy Trinity because a believer is being baptized into the SALVATION NAME of the Holy Trinity.
The Baptismal Formula in Sacred Names
Finally, while the baptism in Yeshua’s name appears to be the correct and historic baptismal formula before the Second Century C.E., the name or titles in which believers in Yeshua are baptized in is not as significant as the recognition that baptism is a Christian’s symbolic identification with the death, burial and resurrection of Messiah Yeshua our Lord and Savior. Baptism in Yeshua’s sacred name is not a rejection of the Holy Trinity because God the
Primary Sources: Collected Works of Eusebius. Baptized Only In Yeshua’s Name! by Lonnie Lane (Access 28 February 2013). Harper’s Bible Commentary; James L. Mays (general editor); 1988. Harper’s Bible Dictionary; Paul J. Actemeier (general editor); 1952. The Bible; Dr. Jeffrey Geoghegan; 2003. The Bible ; Jim Bell and others; 2000. The Harper Collin’s catholic Encyclopedia; Richard P. McBrien (general editor); 1989. The World’s Religions; Brandon Toropov and others; 2000.