Article • Water Baptism
Forgiveness Is Proclaimed in Christ’s Name, Not Applied Through Water
Luke 24:47 — why the remission of sins is preached in Jesus’ name and received by faith, not applied through baptismal water.
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Luke 24:47 (KJV)
Luke 24:47 strikes directly against every claim that baptismal water cleanses sin, completes forgiveness, or applies the blood of Christ to a believer. The risen Lord commanded that “repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” He did not say forgiveness would be completed through water baptism. Remission is preached in His name and received by faith in Him — it is not applied by water.
Jesus had already declared the true basis of forgiveness on the night He was betrayed: “this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28). Remission of sins is bound to His shed blood, not to baptismal water. John the Baptist pointed to Him and cried, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). And the apostle John wrote that Jesus Christ “is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The Lamb taketh away sin; the blood maketh propitiation. Water does neither.
The apostles preached this same gospel. Peter declared of Christ, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43). Paul preached, “through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38–39). Forgiveness is preached in His name, and justification comes to all that believe. And when the council at Jerusalem testified how God had saved the Gentiles, they said He was “purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9) — not by baptismal water.
The house of Cornelius settles the order beyond dispute. While Peter was still preaching, “the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word” (Acts 10:44). They believed, they received the remission of sins Peter had just proclaimed, and they were sealed with the Spirit — and only afterward did Peter command “them to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48). Forgiveness and the indwelling Spirit came first, by faith. The water followed as obedience, not as the cause.
Water baptism is commanded by the Lord and is a precious act of obedience, but it is not the atonement, it is not the cleanser of sin, and it is not the applicator of Christ’s blood. Christ alone made atonement. His blood alone provides forgiveness. Faith receives what Jesus has already and fully accomplished.
Salvation is only through a personal relationship with God the Father by grace through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. At the moment of saving faith, the believer is instantly and permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit — who regenerates, seals, leads, guides, empowers, and sanctifies in their walk with God.