The Error is Baptism in Jesus name only for salvation

[Inquisitor]

Part One:

Within some branches of some Pentecostalism and others, a movement has emerged that rejects the traditional doctrine of the Trinity. This anti-Trinity movement, often referred to as Oneness Pentecostalism, has splintered into various denominations, fellowships, and independent churches.


A central point of contention in this movement is the formula used in Christian baptism. While mainstream Christianity follows Jesus’ instruction in Matthew 28:19 to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” those in the anti-Trinity camp reject this practice. Instead, they insist baptism should be performed “in the name of Jesus only,” arguing that the Trinitarian formula is unbiblical and, in some cases, even claiming it is an anti-Christ concept.


This perspective significantly deviates from historic Christian orthodoxy, which has affirmed the Trinity as a foundational truth since the early creeds of the Church. It’s important for believers to understand where these differences come from and to engage in thoughtful, biblically grounded discussion on matters of doctrine and practice.

Understanding these movements helps us appreciate the diversity within Pentecostalism while also reaffirming the core doctrines that unite the broader body of Christ.

The “Jesus Only” View of Baptism: A Revival of an Ancient Heresy

Adherents point to Acts 2:38, where Peter declares on the day of Pentecost: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…” They interpret this as a divine revelation that reveals the “true” meaning behind Matthew 28:19. According to their belief, the phrase in Matthew is essentially a riddle—one that is “unlocked” by the revelation that “Jesus” is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This teaching is a modern expression of an ancient heresy known as Modalism, or Sabellianism—named after Sabellius, a third-century teacher. Modalism denies the distinct persons of the Trinity, claiming instead that God reveals Himself in different “modes” or roles: Father in creation, Son in redemption, and Spirit in regeneration. Oneness advocates often present this as a unique, end-time revelation from God. Yet, ironically, the belief itself is not new—it revives a doctrine the early church refuted nearly 1,800 years ago.

While sincere in their convictions, this rejection of the Trinity stands in direct opposition to historic Christian orthodoxy, which affirms the co-equal and co-eternal nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Nicene Creed (A.D. 325), a foundational statement of Christian faith, was developed in part to combat such distortions of God’s nature.

The language of Scripture and the testimony of the early church both affirm a Triune God—not three gods, but one God in three persons. Understanding these theological distinctions isn’t just academic; it’s vital to preserving the integrity of the gospel and the fullness of who God has revealed Himself to be.

Baptized in the name of Jesus:

• Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…”
• Acts 8:16 – “…for He [the Holy Spirit] had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
• Acts 10:48 – “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”
• Acts 19:5 – “On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
• Romans 6:3 – “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”
• Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
• Colossians 2:12 (implied) – “…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God…”

One Verse of the trinitarian baptism in Matthew:

1. Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

There are seven versus that clearly state to baptize in the name of Jesus.

But only one verse in Matthew states a baptism in the trinity.

I would not have a problem with a church that baptized in the name of Jesus only.

Nor would I have an issue with a church that used a trinitarian version of baptism.

What matters is the, "name of Jesus". The name of Jesus is the gospel itself.

So I would reword Matthew 28:19 as; in the title of the Father and in the name of Jesus
and the title of the Holy Spirit.

No one can be saved that believes in the Father.

No one can be saved that believes in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been
given among men by which we must be saved.

 

[mailmandan]

Churches of Christ believe in the remission of sins when a person believes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, repents and is baptized.

The churches of Christ error by reversing the scriptural order of repent and believe/faith (Matthew 21:32; Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21) then "add" the work of water baptism to salvation through belief/faith in contradiction to scripture. (John 1:12; 3:15,16,18; Acts 10:43-47; 13:38-39; 15:7-9; 16:31; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Ephesians 2:8,9 etc..).

If this is wrong then I most certainly am wrong. But there are many passages in the Bible that attest to this

You're wrong.

Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, 1st Peter 3:21, John 3:5, Matthew 28:19-20, Romans 6:3-4, Acts 22:16, Gal. 3:27, Titus 3:5 and many more.

These verses, merely "on the surface" appear to teach that we are saved by water baptism. There are a handful of alleged prooftexts which are often cited to prove that the Bible makes baptism absolutely necessary for salvation, yet after a careful examination of each of these texts in context will show that none of them prove that baptism is absolutely required for salvation, although they do prove that baptism was an assumed initiatory response to the gospel of salvation.

In other words, these texts only prove that baptism is regularly associated with conversion and salvation, rather than absolutely required for salvation. Born of water and the Spirit. See John 4:10,14; 7:37-39; 15:3; Ephesians 5:26. Make disciples and baptize them. Spirit baptism is the reality and water baptism is the picture of the reality. Baptism pictures the washing away of sins. We are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Spiritual washing/purification of the soul is accomplished by the Holy Spirit through living water and the Word at the moment of salvation.

It's a lack of belief that causes condemnation, and not the lack of baptism. (Mark 16:16(b); John 3:18) Repentance (faith implied or assumed) is unto the remission of sins (Luke 24:47; Acts 3:19; 5:31; 11:17,18; 20:21) and baptism is parenthetical in Acts 2:38. Not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

You and others on this forum believe in faith alone regeneration theology which they cannot present even one verse that supports their assertion that faith alone is the point of the remission of sins.

The Bible makes it clear in many passages of scripture that man is saved through belief/faith - "apart from additions or modifications." (John 1:12; 3:15,16,18,36; 5:24; 6:29,40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 13:38-39; 15:7-9; 16:31; 26:18; Romans 1:16; 3:24-28; 4:5-6; 5:1-2; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 2:16; 3:6-14, 26; Ephesians 2:8,9; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:39; 1 John 5:13 etc..).

Now you don't need to add the word "alone" next to "belief/faith" in each of these passages of scripture in order to figure out that the words, belief/faith - "stand alone in connection with receiving eternal life/salvation." Hence, FAITH ALONE. Do these many passages of scripture say belief/faith "plus something else?" Plus, baptism? Plus, works? NO. So, then it's faith (rightly understood) in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

*Not to be confused with an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" - barren of works. (James 2:14-24)

It is important to highlight that those of this ilk are not asserting that faith is needed (the churches of Christ believe this) but they insist that you must believe it is faith alone that saves. If not then you are labeled a "works-salvationist".

It is faith in Jesus Christ alone that saves which means we are trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and not in works. (Romans 4:5-6) You are (at best) trusting in Jesus Christ (for the most part) for salvation but you are also (in addition to that) trusting in works for salvation (at least in part). The churches of Christ believe that faith (their version of faith) is needed--mental assent belief "conjoined" with works which equates to salvation, through faith AND works. The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith, not works. (Ephesians 2:8,9) There will be no boasting except in Christ. (Galatians 6:14)

 

[Inquisitor]

Saying the Bible is unreliable, the text has been changed or casting doubt on a verse by claiming it wasn’t in all the manuscripts, and many other such prejudices is a popular effort to get around a scripture that you can't explain and doesn’t fit your doctrine. Some also try to discredit the whole book of James because of his verses on “faith only.” I once read that Martin Luther ( a proponent of salvation by “faith only”) completely removed ( tore it out) the book of James from his Bible; As if that would destroy what God has said or make it any less true. Men also try to get around Mark 16:16 by saying it wasn’t in all the manuscripts. Another unpopular scripture with some people.

Let’s remember that God said His word is eternal. Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35. There is nothing man can do to change it or destroy it. More importantly, it will be present at the Judgement and we will stand before God and be judged BY THE THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOKS. Rev. 20:12.

Mark 16:16

Here is what AI had to say about Mark 16:16

Mark 16:16 is widely rejected as part of the original text by textual scholars across the theological spectrum due to the earliest and most reliable manuscripts omitting the passage. While the verse, which links belief and baptism to salvation, is often included in printed Bibles with a disclaimer, scholarly consensus is that it was a later addition and not spoken by Jesus or Mark.

Why it's rejected as original text:

• Manuscript evidence:
  The most significant reason for rejecting Mark 16:16 is that it, along with the verses that follow (verses 9-20), is not found in the earliest and most reliable ancient Greek manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark.
• Scholarly consensus:
  Most scholars and Christian denominations acknowledge that the final section of Mark, including verse 16, was a later addition to the original text and does not belong to the original work.
• Disclaimers in Bible translations:
  Even Bibles that print the passage often do so with a disclaimer and place the verses in brackets to indicate their uncertain or non-original status, such as the English Standard Version (ESV).

What this means theologically:

• Theology of baptism:
  The verse "He that believes and is baptized will be saved" is often understood to suggest that baptism is a mandatory component of salvation. However, due to the lack of its authenticity, it does not carry the same weight in theological discussion as passages found in the earliest texts.
  
  
• Focus on the original message:
  Rejecting the later verses allows for a greater focus on the message of the original Gospel of Mark, which ends at verse 8.
  

In essence, the theological spectrum generally accepts that Mark 16:16 is a non-canonical addition to the text, not a reflection of the authentic teaching of Jesus or the Gospel of Mark itself.

 

[mailmandan]

Mark 16:16 - He who believes and is baptized will be saved (general cases without making a qualification for the unusual case of someone who believes but is not baptized) but he who does not believe will be condemned.

The omission of baptized with "does not believe" shows that Jesus does not make baptism absolutely necessary for salvation. Condemnation rests on unbelief and not on a lack of baptism. *NOWHERE does the Bible say, "baptized or condemned."

If water baptism is absolutely required for salvation, then we would expect Jesus to mention it in the following verses. (3:15,16,18; 5:24; 6:29,40,47; 11:25,26) Yet what is the ONE requirement that Jesus mentions NINE different times in each of these complete statements *BELIEVES. *What happened to baptism? *Hermeneutics.

John 3:18 - He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who (is not water baptized? - NO) does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (been water baptized? - NO) because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

[mailmandan]

It seems you are implying that the Living Waters of our Lord is powerless?

John 7:37
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

Jesus is not telling people to drink His blood!

CS1, are you thirsty? Ask Jesus for His water. There is salvation in the water.

Many here would rather die in a dry desert then humble themselves to the Living Waters of our Lord.

Do you understand the difference between living water and water baptism? Do you also understand Who is the source of living water?

Jeremiah 2:13 - “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Jeremiah 17:3 - O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. "Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, The fountain of living water."

John 4:10 - Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:14 - but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37 - On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

 

[Ceph]

What's a person who reads the bible and beleives in a country like Iran supposed to do about water baptism?

 

[Sipsey]

That was your first mistake, you should have stayed and learned the truth.

These personal anecdotal stories you present as evidence of your faith alone regeneration theology is rather lame.

And so is Sipsey's.

We are not the one judging another’s salvation. Baptism has been a vital component of our conversion after our repentance. Our faith is in the sacrifice, and the promises of our Lord and Savior. We simply focus on the finished work of Christ vs a formula that certain religions adhere to.

There are those who say one is still lost, even if they get water baptized, but don’t believe that water washes away one’s sins, and must join a certain church and believe as they do. Jesus said we can do nothing without Him. He is the “author and finisher of our faith” and I am “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

 

[GWH]

We are not the one judging another’s salvation. Baptism has been a vital component of our conversion after our repentance. Our faith is in the sacrifice, and the promises of our Lord and Savior. We simply focus on the finished work of Christ vs a formula that certain religions adhere to.

There are those who say one is still lost, even if they get water baptized, but don’t believe that water washes away one’s sins, and must join a certain church and believe as they do. Jesus said we can do nothing without Him. He is the “author and finisher of our faith” and I am “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

I have not followed this discussion blow by blow or ping for pong, but I would like to point out that any discerning that is done
regarding someone's salvation should be based on the Gospel creed, which I propose to be the following:

The kerygma/God's requirement for salvation should be every Christian’s creed, and only belief in this crucial truth should be viewed as a test for orthodoxy or heresy. As Paul wrote in Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Conversely, judgments concerning a person’s spiritual orientation or ultimate destiny should not be made on the basis of didachaic or secondary doctrines. (If any judgment is made, it should begin with a self-examination per Matt. 7:1&5, 2Cor. 13:5-8).

A major reason many Christians throughout history have not manifested the love and unity of God’s Spirit (Eph. 4:3) as well as they should is because of failure to realize this truth. If they did, it would free them to speak honestly and fellowship without becoming unduly upset about relatively minor issues. They would receive God’s blessing as peacemakers, who draw inclusive circles around people based on the kerygma rather than denominational lines between them due to didachaic differences. Jesus prayed for spiritual unity (cf. John 17:20-23, “May they be one…”). Thus, unity regarding the Gospel is more important than accuracy regarding doctrinal details.

The normative way of stating the kerygma/GRFS in the NT is “Accept Christ Jesus as Lord” (as in 2Cor. 4:5 & Col. 2:6). The main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement can be explained or elaborated as follows:

1. There is a/one all-loving and just Lord or Creator God (Deut. 6:4, John 3:16, 2Thes. 1:6), who is both able (2Tim. 1:12) and willing (1Tim. 2:3-4, Ezek. 33:11) to provide all morally accountable human beings salvation or heaven—a wonderful life full of love, joy and peace forever.
2. Human beings are selfish or sinful (Rom. 3:23, 2Tim. 3:2-4, Col. 3:5), miserable (Gal. 5:19-21), and hopeless (Eph. 2:12) or hell-bound at the judgment (Matt. 23:33 & 25:46) when they reject God’s salvation (John 3:18, Rom. 2:5-11).
3. Jesus is God’s Messiah/Christ and incarnate Son, the way that God has chosen (John 3:16, Acts 16:30-31, Phil. 2:9-11) of providing salvation by means of his atoning death on the cross for the payment of the penalty for the sins of humanity (Rom. 3:22-25 & 5:9-11), followed by his resurrection to reign in heaven (1Cor. 15:14-28).
4. Thus, every person who hears the NT Gospel needs to repent and accept God’s grace or justification in Jesus as Christ/Messiah the Lord or Supreme Commander (Luke 2:11, John 14:6, Acts 16:31), which means trying to obey His commandment to love one another (Matt. 22:37-40, John 13:35, Rom. 13:9)—forever (Matt. 10:22, Psa. 113:2).
5. Then God’s Holy Spirit will establish a saving relationship with all who truly accept/love Him (Rev. 3:20) that will eventually achieve heaven after Christ returns at God’s resurrection of all saved souls when everyone cooperates fully with His will (John 14:6, 17&26, Rom. 8:6-17, Gal. 6:7-9, Eph. 1:13-14, Heb. 10:36, 12:1, Jam. 1:2-4).

 

[TrustandObey]

Baptism has been a vital component of our conversion after our repentance.

What does this mean?

 

[TrustandObey]

Do you understand the difference between living water and water baptism? Do you also understand Who is the source of living water?

Jeremiah 2:13 - “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Jeremiah 17:3 - O Lord, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. "Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, The fountain of living water."

John 4:10 - Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 4:14 - but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37 - On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

I suspect that Lamar's comment was a parody.

 

[Sipsey]

What does this mean?

That a traditional water baptism followed my repentance and declaration that Jesus was my Lord and Savior. I was in 7th grade in Chicago and my Pastor insisted I attend a series of counseling sessions with him to clarify and affirm that I was sincere and understood the implications of being a follower of the Christ Jesus.

I viewed baptism then as I do now- That it is an act of obedience and a public declaration of the transformation from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive.

 

[TrustandObey]

We are not the one judging another’s salvation. Baptism has been a vital component of our conversion after our repentance. Our faith is in the sacrifice, and the promises of our Lord and Savior. We simply focus on the finished work of Christ vs a formula that certain religions adhere to.

There are those who say one is still lost, even if they get water baptized, but don’t believe that water washes away one’s sins, and must join a certain church and believe as they do. Jesus said we can do nothing without Him. He is the “author and finisher of our faith” and I am “confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

I have been involved with many of the Faith Alone Regeneration Theology groups and they are certainly about judging another person's salvation. A person can proclaim that Jesus is Lord and sincerely repent but if they don't accept their faith alone (rightly understood) regeneration theology then they are attempting to save themselves and hence are lost.

Don't believe me, ask mailmandan.

 

[TrustandObey]

That a traditional water baptism followed my repentance and declaration that Jesus was my Lord and Savior. I was in 7th grade in Chicago and my Pastor insisted I attend a series of counseling sessions with him to clarify and affirm that I was sincere and understood the implications of being a follower of the Christ Jesus.

I viewed baptism then as I do now- That it is an act of obedience and a public declaration of the transformation from being spiritually dead to spiritually alive.

But to be clear, baptism is "vital"?

I am assuming you chose that word on purpose.

 

[TrustandObey]

What's a person who reads the bible and beleives in a country like Iran supposed to do about water baptism?

The same thing he is "supposed" to do if he was in Norway.

 

[mailmandan]

I have been involved with many of the Faith Alone Regeneration Theology groups and they are certainly about judging another person's salvation. A person can proclaim that Jesus is Lord and sincerely repent but if they don't accept their faith alone (rightly understood) regeneration theology then they are attempting to save themselves and hence are lost.

Don't believe me, ask mailmandan.

I've been judged as condemned by multiple works-salvationists over the years on various Christian forum sites. They have also falsely accused me of teaching salvation by "faith alone" per James 2:24 which is an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains alone/barren of works. That is not genuine faith but a bare profession of faith. Not to be confused with faith that trusts in Jesus Christ alone for salvation (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9) which they cannot seem to grasp. Salvation is by grace through faith and is not by works. To believe anything else is to miss salvation and not because I said so but because scripture says so.

 

[TrustandObey]

Mark 16:16

Here is what AI had to say about Mark 16:16

Mark 16:16 is widely rejected as part of the original text by textual scholars across the theological spectrum due to the earliest and most reliable manuscripts omitting the passage. While the verse, which links belief and baptism to salvation, is often included in printed Bibles with a disclaimer, scholarly consensus is that it was a later addition and not spoken by Jesus or Mark.

Why it's rejected as original text:

• Manuscript evidence:
  The most significant reason for rejecting Mark 16:16 is that it, along with the verses that follow (verses 9-20), is not found in the earliest and most reliable ancient Greek manuscripts of the Gospel of Mark.
• Scholarly consensus:
  Most scholars and Christian denominations acknowledge that the final section of Mark, including verse 16, was a later addition to the original text and does not belong to the original work.
• Disclaimers in Bible translations:
  Even Bibles that print the passage often do so with a disclaimer and place the verses in brackets to indicate their uncertain or non-original status, such as the English Standard Version (ESV).

What this means theologically:

• Theology of baptism:
  The verse "He that believes and is baptized will be saved" is often understood to suggest that baptism is a mandatory component of salvation. However, due to the lack of its authenticity, it does not carry the same weight in theological discussion as passages found in the earliest texts.
  
  
• Focus on the original message:
  Rejecting the later verses allows for a greater focus on the message of the original Gospel of Mark, which ends at verse 8.

In essence, the theological spectrum generally accepts that Mark 16:16 is a non-canonical addition to the text, not a reflection of the authentic teaching of Jesus or the Gospel of Mark itself.

It truly pains me to see to what extent people are willing to go in order to erase the true purpose of baptism.

Casting shadows on the very Word of God is okay to protect a certain theology???

I have never seen a Bible that has the Gospel of Mark ending with "because they were afraid".

Yet to protect a theology many will submit their own intellect to such foolishness.

There are many things besides the ending of Mark that is missing from the "earliest" manuscripts.

Codex Vaticanus is missing the entire books of 1st & 2nd Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Revelation.

Codex Sinaiticus is missing all of John 7:53-8:11 and other verses in the New Testament.

Both are missing large sections of the Old Testament.

Both include Books from the Catholic Apocrypha.

Codex Sinaiticus also has non-canon New Testament books such as Shepherd of Hermas & the Epistle of Barnabas.

There are parts of the Bible that I have issues with but I would never stoop to claim that the Word of God has been corrupted.

 

[TrustandObey]

They have also falsely accused me of teaching salvation by "faith alone" per James 2:24 which is an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains alone/barren of works.

James 2:24 does not define faith as "an empty profession" but simply a faith barren of works. What works are not mentioned but works nevertheless. You are most certainly guilty of pushing faith minus works as the sole means to salvation. You have expressed this many times and have never denied being part of the Faith Alone Regeneration Theology groups.

 

[Sipsey]

But to be clear, baptism is "vital"?

I am assuming you chose that word on purpose.

If at all possible, I believe one should joyously submit to being baptized in water. I also adhere to another Biblical principle.

One must seek the whole council of God, and study, not merely read.

For “He has also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

 

[mailmandan]

James 2:24 does not define faith as "an empty profession" but simply a faith barren of works. What works are not mentioned but works nevertheless. You are most certainly guilty of pushing faith minus works as the sole means to salvation. You have expressed this many times and have never denied being part of the Faith Alone Regeneration Theology groups.

You need to read James 2:24 in context. In James 2:14 we read of one who says/claims (key word) he has faith but has no works (to evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So, when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith.

*So, James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple!

James is not using the word "justified" to mean "accounted as righteous" but is shown to be righteous. James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3)

I teach salvation through faith apart from the merit of works (Paul - Romans 4:5'6) yet genuine faith does not remain alone/apart from the presence of works. (James 2:14) Get your minus accusation straight.

It is through faith "in Jesus Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 4:5-6; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-24) *Perfect Harmony* Are you seeing it yet?

 

[CS1]

Baptized in the name of Jesus:

• Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…”
• Acts 8:16 – “…for He [the Holy Spirit] had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
• Acts 10:48 – “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.”
• Acts 19:5 – “On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
• Romans 6:3 – “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”
• Galatians 3:27 – “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”
• Colossians 2:12 (implied) – “…having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God…”

One Verse of the trinitarian baptism in Matthew:

1. Matthew 28:19 – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

There are seven versus that clearly state to baptize in the name of Jesus.

But only one verse in Matthew states a baptism in the trinity.

I would not have a problem with a church that baptized in the name of Jesus only.

Nor would I have an issue with a church that used a trinitarian version of baptism.

What matters is the, "name of Jesus". The name of Jesus is the gospel itself.

So I would reword Matthew 28:19 as; in the title of the Father and in the name of Jesus
and the title of the Holy Spirit.

No one can be saved that believes in the Father.

No one can be saved that believes in the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:12
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been
given among men by which we must be saved.

again, the context of In the name of is By the Authority of one who sent or delivering


which as you say:

• Lord Jesus
• Jesus of Nazareth
• Jesus Christ
• Christ
• Name of the Lord

those are said in your verses you provided