The Historical Evidence

Evidence in history for Jesus name only. The following is a true record of a Baptism which took place in Rome A.D. 100 and was reproduced in Time magazine, December 5, 1955. "The deacon raised his hand, and Publius Decius stepped through the baptistry door. Standing waist-deep in the pool was Marcus Vasca the woodseller. He was smiling as Publius waded into the pool beside him. ‘Credis?’ he asked. ‘Credo,’ responded Publius. ‘I believe that my salvation comes from Jesus the Christ, Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate. With Him I died that with Him I may have Eternal Life.’ Then he felt strong arms supporting him as he let himself fall backward into the pool, and heard Marcus’ voice in his ear, ‘I baptize you in the Name of the Lord Jesus’, as the cold water closed over him." Now I have heard every reason possible not to baptize in Jesus name from the thief on the cross, (Baptism is into the death, burial, and rising of Christ. - Romans 6:4) to it was meant for only Jews, (Then why did Cornelius an Italian gentile get baptized into Jesus name in Acts 10:36-48?) to the disciples were disobedient to Mathew 28:19. (The father's name was Jesus, - John 5:43 and the son was Jesus, Mathew 1:21 and the Holy Spirit came in Jesus name. - John 14:26) But then why did the gifts, signs, and miracles follow on disobedient believers (As promised by Jesus to his followers in Luke 24:45-47 and Mark 16:15-20, then given in Acts 2 onward?) They would not of. We should not continue in sin that grace may abound, wrote Paul in the book of Galatians. Do you know of any Christian who intentionally walked in sin and healed someone? I do not. In fact, Peter rebuked Simon Magus though baptized into Jesus name, but wishing to purchase the gift that Peter had in Acts 8. Now somebody said that we are saved by grace. And we are. Ephesians 2:8-10 states were are saved by grace through faith, and created unto good works in Christ Jesus. We are ordained to walk in them. All have sinned and fallen short of perfection and nobody can work their way into heaven. And Jesus died for all of our sins, Hebrew 9:15- 22. It is our faith and obedience that clears our conscience making us right in God's view. Read 1 Pet 3:21 and Col 2:1012. By grace we have the opportunity to obey God. It is like when I call and you answer, and nothing more. But what is grace? God's unearned favor reflected in one's life. The advocates of the sinner's prayer fail to see that in itself is a work. It is a relatively new creation in Christianity, within the last 150 years. Now Jesus commanded baptism in his name in Luke 24:45-47 and to disobey it means lack of faith, Mark 16:16. Faith without works or fruits is dead and useless says James 2:19-26. And in Hebrews 11:1-40 every example of faith did works showing it! 2 King 5:1-15 speaks of the Syrian Naaman, who was sent to be cleansed of his disease to Israel. He was told to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River by the man of God. At first he was angry and refused. He expected the man of God to call upon his God, and remove the Leprosy. And there are many that want to say, just like the devils, that they believe in God in their hearts in James 2:19. But they are not saved, nor anyone who buys into that vain deceit. Now every person in the bible whether Paul in Acts 22:16, or the Eunuch Acts 8:26-40, who were baptized; did so by immersion, in Jesus name. Acts 22:16 which commands us to call upon the Lord Jesus, and washing away our sins without waiting like many Catholics did. Who previously practiced baptism immediately upon belief in early Pre-Nicene times. And such as Constantine who was baptized on his deathbed. If your at least honest with yourself, there you will admit that there is not one baptism in the titles in the word of God. If it is our guide and compass, then one must conclude that since all baptisms were in Jesus name, that has to be the bible way to do it. I could use Colossians 3:17 as my closing scripture which says do all words and deeds in the name of Jesus. Again Paul who baptized others in Jesus name (Recorded in Acts 16:15/33, 18:8, and 19:1-5) was himself baptized that way. This was completed by Ananias as recorded in Acts 22:16 and 9:18. He said, "For as many of you that have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ," in Galatians 3:27. Jesus himself was baptized by John in the Jordan records both Mathew 3:12-17 and Mark 1:9. He walked 70 miles to do it. I don't believe anybody walks that great distance just for a show. Never did he speak in an unknown tongue or pray a sinner's prayer. (Again he being sinless did not need baptism, which is for a new

start and remission of sins. But he was baptized, as our great High Priest, to be like us in all points, yet without sin, Hebrews 4:15.) He never said to just believe in him without any resulting action to anyone. There was a fictitious novel written by Thecla, a 2nd century presbyter in Asia minor. Who wrote that baptism was in the name of Jesus. This proves the practice alive and well still. Furthermore, the Early Catholic fathers all thought that baptism saved you by the washing and regeneration. Post apostolic fathers all taught that baptism "confers forgiveness of sins" from Barnabas to Iraneus the Bishop of Lyons, and even the book The Shepard of Hermas records this. Tertullian clearly believed this also. Pope Stephen declared baptism in Jesus name to be valid in the 3rd century. Bishop Ursinus in Treatise of Baptism declared it correct as only Heretics needed rebaptism. Those baptized into Jesus needed not to be rebaptized, but only to be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Even though the church which baptized them had other false doctrinal views. The Justinian code of 529 AD declared the death penalty for anti-trinity baptisms and all those rebaptized into Jesus name. Thomas Edwards (in 1646 AD) said, that true baptism was only in Jesus name, and it was heresy to baptize into the titles father, son, and Holy Spirit. And I say if we can heal, pray and do miracles in the name of Jesus, why not baptize into it (Mathew 7:2027)?