When is Baptism Not a Baptism?

May 19, 2026

When is baptism not a baptism? Put another way, are there necessary ingredients of baptism that make it valid in the eyes of God? Do things like the reason one is baptized, or the way in which one is baptized have a bearing on its effectiveness?

When Paul came to Ephesus in Acts chapter 19, he found a group of twelve men who had been baptized and yet, they were not baptized. These men had indeed been immersed in water (which is what the word “baptized” means), but there was something deficient about their immersion. We know this is the case because at the end of the story, Paul had them baptized in the name of Jesus. What was the problem with their first baptism? And what makes baptism a true baptism?

First of all, it has to have the right meaning. They had been baptized into John’s baptism. Paul had to explain to them that John’s baptism was no longer valid. Paul said to them, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus” (Acts 19:4 NASB95). Their baptism needed to be in the name of Jesus, that is, to become a possession of Jesus—to belong to Him. Baptism into the name of Jesus is to die with Christ, be buried with Him, be raised to newness of life, and receive the Holy Spirit. The baptism of John could not accomplish any of these things. What do we learn? If baptism has the wrong meaning, it is not the baptism commanded by Christ.

And we see from the above verse that for a baptism to be a baptism, belief in Jesus must be present. There are many scriptures that make this clear. For example, Paul writes, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27). Note the vital connection between faith and baptism.  Or as Paul writes in Colossians, “having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). Note that it is only through faith that a person can be raised up with Christ in baptism. The conclusion? If baptism is not a response of faith, it is not the baptism commanded by Christ.      

What does this mean for us today? Is it possible for our baptism to have the wrong meaning? One might be baptized as a formality, to check a box, join a certain denomination, or satisfy family members. One might be baptized as an expression of the salvation they have already obtained. None of these actions have the same meaning as the baptism taught in the New Testament.

What about the practice of sprinkling infants? Does this fit the definition of biblical baptism? Is such a ceremony performed because of the baby’s faith in the gospel message? If not, is it truly a baptism into Christ?

I humbly ask each of us to search the scriptures and answer this question: Did your baptism have the right meaning?  Was it born out of your faith in the good news about Jesus? If not, what holds you back? The Lord invites you to come to Him to find forgiveness, newness of life, and union with Him in the waters of baptism.

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

What Happens in Baptism?

May 5, 2026

Last week, we saw that baptism is a response of faith in Christ that is intimately tied to our salvation. This week, we will see a number of very profound things that happen at the moment of baptism.

First, baptism is the point in time at which, through faith, a person comes into Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3 NASB95. See also Galatians 3:26-27) Notice that baptism is “into Christ.” It is of utmost importance that we be “in Christ” because it is only in Him that we find spiritual blessings from God—blessings like forgiveness and redemption (Ephesians 1:7).  Baptism is the God-ordained response of faith that transfers a person into Jesus where these glorious blessings are found.

Second, baptism is the moment at which, through faith in Christ, we die to our old selves and become a new creation.  “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4) In baptism, we die with Jesus, are buried with Him, and are raised up again. This is beautifully symbolized in the act of baptism. But baptism is not merely symbolic. By the power of God, these profound spiritual changes are actually happening to the one being baptized.

Third, baptism is the moment at which, through faith, we are freed from the power of sin. Paul continues, “Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; for he who has died is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6-7) Sin is a powerful force that reigns over people. Baptism is the moment that we die with Jesus so that we can be freed from sin’s horrible grasp.

Fourth, baptism is the moment at which, through faith in Christ, our sins are forgiven. “Now why do you delay, Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16). These words were spoken to Saul of Tarsus (who became the apostle Paul). Saul had seen a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus, and in that moment, he was powerfully convicted of the truth.  Saul was so struck by His encounter with Jesus that he didn’t eat or drink for 3 days. Yet, despite his newfound belief in Jesus, Saul was still in his sins. It was only through baptism that his sins could be washed away.

Finally, baptism is the moment at which, through faith in Christ, one receives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As Peter told the crowd in Acts chapter 2, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). If we do not have the Spirit, we are not children of God (Romans 8:9). When does the Spirit come? At baptism. In that moment we become forgiven children of God.

And there is more we could discuss. For example, baptism is the point in time at which we die to the law so that we can live to Christ (Romans 7:4). It is also the moment at which we are added to Jesus’ church (Acts 2:41). But the question for each of us is, have you been baptized into Jesus? If not, why do you delay?

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

Baptized In the Name of Jesus?

July 17, 2015

Recently, someone asked me what the proper thing to say at baptism is: “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” or “in the name of Jesus”? Both phrases are used in the New Testament. First, let’s examine what the phrases mean, and then deal with the question.

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) uses the phrase “baptizing them into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The New Testament was originally written in Greek. The Greek word, eis, that I have rendered “into,” is probably translated as “in” in your Bible, although the ESV and NIV give a footnote citing “into.” The phrase, “eis to onoma/into the name,” was used in the Greek business word to indicate entry into an account bearing the name of its owner. Cottrell commenting on this phrase writes:

Its use in Matthew 28:19 indicates that the purpose of baptism is to unite us with the Triune God in an ownership relation; we become his property in a special, intimate way. (Baptism: A Biblical Study, p. 17)

The same kind of construction is also used in Acts 8:16 and Acts 19:5, where it is “baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus” with the same ownership kind of meaning.

The phrase, “baptized in the name (en to onomati) of Jesus Christ,” is used in Acts 10:48. The Greek word “en” is often translated as “in.” This phrase can mean while naming or calling on the name and in some cases, at the command of, by the authority of someone. The standard Greek lexicon (BAGD, p. 572) suggests in these verses the idea is to be baptized while naming the name of Jesus Christ. Baptism is a calling upon Jesus. Ananias says to Paul, “And now why do you delay? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16, NASB). Most people confess Jesus prior to their baptism, and so call on His name. If the meaning is by the authority of someone, then it means that someone is baptized by the authority of Jesus (that is at his command).

Each of these phrases reveals aspects of baptism. Baptism is an appeal. Baptism is the place where we enter into a new relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—we become His. Baptism is done at the command of Jesus. These two phrases do not contradict each other. They reveal aspects of baptism.

But what should we say at baptism? The truth is that nowhere in the New Testament are we instructed to say certain words while baptizing someone to make the baptism valid. The baptizer could be silent, although most of us choose to say something that reveals the meaning of baptism. It is the purpose and meaning of baptism that is important and not the formula of words spoken. Both phrases are biblical. It is only the familiarity of traditional usage that makes one phrase seem more appropriate than the other. But we need to understand that Matthew 28:19 and Acts 10:48 are not proscribing a spoken formula. The phrases do not contradict one another; they both reveal aspects of baptism.

BDAG = A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago (University of Chicago Press, 2000)

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Posted by Russell Holden