In The Name of Christ
In the great commission, Jesus said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in (into) the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen” (Mt. 28:18-20).
The word “in” (Greek: eis) means into a relationship, referring to the result of baptism. The same word is used in Romans 6:3, “as many of us were baptized into (eis) Christ Jesus were baptized into (eis) His death.” Baptism results in a relationship with Christ and His death. Paul used the example of the Israelites passing through the Red Sea and said they were “all baptized into (eis) Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Cor. 10:2). They were committed to the leadership of Moses after passing through the sea.
The same word is used in Acts 19:5, “When they heard this, they were baptized in (eis: into) the name of the Lord Jesus.” Their baptism resulted in the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), and being in fellowship with Christ, because it put them into (eis) Christ (Rom. 6:3).
In Acts 2:38, believers were told to “repent and be baptized in (epi) the name of Jesus Christ for (eis) the remission of sins. “In the name of Jesus Christ” refers to the authority by which they were being baptized. When the lame man asked Peter for alms, “Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In (Greek: en) the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). In explaining the miracle, Peter said “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk” (3:12). In the next chapter he was asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (4:7). It was in/on the name, by the authority, of Christ that he had acted.
When the apostles taught people and baptized them by the authority of Christ, they were being baptized into a relationship with the Godhead—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus authorized them to do and those who are baptized are taught to do the same.
The word “in” (Greek: eis) means into a relationship, referring to the result of baptism. The same word is used in Romans 6:3, “as many of us were baptized into (eis) Christ Jesus were baptized into (eis) His death.” Baptism results in a relationship with Christ and His death. Paul used the example of the Israelites passing through the Red Sea and said they were “all baptized into (eis) Moses in the cloud and in the sea” (1 Cor. 10:2). They were committed to the leadership of Moses after passing through the sea.
The same word is used in Acts 19:5, “When they heard this, they were baptized in (eis: into) the name of the Lord Jesus.” Their baptism resulted in the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), and being in fellowship with Christ, because it put them into (eis) Christ (Rom. 6:3).
In Acts 2:38, believers were told to “repent and be baptized in (epi) the name of Jesus Christ for (eis) the remission of sins. “In the name of Jesus Christ” refers to the authority by which they were being baptized. When the lame man asked Peter for alms, “Peter said, Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In (Greek: en) the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). In explaining the miracle, Peter said “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk” (3:12). In the next chapter he was asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (4:7). It was in/on the name, by the authority, of Christ that he had acted.
When the apostles taught people and baptized them by the authority of Christ, they were being baptized into a relationship with the Godhead—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus authorized them to do and those who are baptized are taught to do the same.