Baptism is a very important step in salvation. It is absolutely essential for candidates to be baptized by immersion in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins in order to be saved. The Bible clearly states, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." (Mark 16:16)

The proper "mode" or method of baptism is important, too. The word baptism comes from a Greek word, baptizo, which means "to dip, plunge, immerse, or be overwhelmed." It is clear from this definition that the word baptism means "immersion." Only by immersion can one be identified with Jesus Christ in burial. (Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12)

Why must candidates be baptized in the name of Jesus? Because we are obeying Jesus Christ's commandment in the Great Commission, which said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. . . ." (Mark 16:15,16) Notice also Jesus' words, "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) Notice this word "Name" is singular. What is the name? There is only one name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) That name is Jesus.

Jesus is the NAME of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The terms Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not names, but are only titles. There is only one name: Jesus! How wonderful to know He was God manifested in flesh and clothed in humanity. How wonderful that this God-man became personally acquainted with our grief and sorrows. He experienced, first-hand, our frail human emotions, and He understands our problems. He sacrificed His life so that men everywhere might know they have a chance of eternal life.

In every instance in which a convert was baptized in the Book of Acts, we find he was baptized in the name of Jesus. In Acts 8:16, ". . . Only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." Acts 10:48, "And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord." Acts 19:5, "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Even at Ephesus, when Paul arrived on the scene and found disciples of John, he asked, "Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed?" They had not even heard of the Holy Ghost, but when they heard, they gladly received his words and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus! (Acts 19:1-6) John's converts were converted to Christ and baptized in Jesus name!

This doctrine of water baptism in Jesus' name is fully documented throughout the Scriptures. If the Apostles never performed a baptism using any other formula, then surely it would be presumptuous and sinful for any mortal to deliberately formulate his ways and means for baptizing his candidates.