There is nothing so honoring to Christ than for a person to repent of his sins and to be baptized in the name of Jesus. To take on the name of Jesus in baptism is the most significant thing a person will ever do. I can’t think of anything that ranks with it. There is no use of the name of Jesus that is so impactful as its use in water baptism.
The previous post explained that baptism in Jesus’ name is how the precious blood of Christ is applied to our lives. Therefore, on a spiritual plane, the devil will resist it with all his evil might. Literally, he is against baptism in Jesus’ name because he is against the blood of Jesus which cleanses us from our sins. I don’t mean this harshly, but, anyone who would refuse to be baptized in Jesus’ name is blinded by the devil (2Corinthians 4:3-4). And anyone who has been baptized in Jesus’ name and does not attend a Church where that precious truth is taught and loved is either not a lover of the truth (2Thessalonians 2:10) or is grossly negligent (Hebrews 2:1-3). How can a person trust his soul to someone who has no regard for Christ’s commissioned truth that involves His name and His blood?
Ministers who do not baptize in Jesus’ name should know better and could know better (Proverbs 14:8,15,25). It is one of the easiest subjects in the Bible to understand. They will be profoundly ashamed when they meet their Maker (2Timothy 2:15). The Scriptures only teach one baptism (Ephesians 4:5). And even a superficial study of Christian baptism reveals that baptism is to be administered in Jesus’ name. A person has to be prejudiced against using the name of Jesus to fail to recognize this fact. I would question his motives when the Scriptures are so clear.
The name of Jesus is mentioned about a thousand times in the New Testament. Paul said that the name of Jesus is above every name (Philippians 2:9-10) and that whatever we do in word or deed, we are to do all of it in the name of Jesus (Colossians 3:17). Peter declared that God visited the Gentiles with salvation in order to take out of them a people for His name (Acts 15:14). Nothing is so honoring to the name of Jesus than obeying the Scriptural command to be baptized in it.
Peter also said that the name of Jesus is the only saving name under heaven and that there is a required, salvific use of it (Acts 4:12). He revealed that use on the Day of Pentecost when he stated that baptism in Jesus’ name is for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Nothing is so salvific as that. Therefore, baptism in Jesus’ name not only honors the name of Jesus but it honors His sacrifice on the cross by making it personally efficacious to the convert. All the Christian baptisms in the New Testament were in the name of Jesus.
If you have not been baptized in Jesus’ name, I hope you will be. The devil may fight you on it, and religious tradition may oppose you, but the Word of God commands you and supports you. And, I hope you will be faithful to your local Church and minister that love it and preach it faithfully. You will be eternally glad you did. And you will be honoring the name of Jesus.