Jesus is the only name under heaven who can save. His name means God saves. Anyone who believes in the Son has the Father also, but denying Jesus Christ means that person does not have the Father. The disciples were told to baptise in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In Acts they baptised in the name of Jesus because only His name is necessary for salvation.
The statements you present align with the teachings of Scripture and theological reflections about the significance of Jesus' name, its connection to salvation, and its unique authority. Let’s break it down:
1. Jesus Is the Only Name Under Heaven That Can Save
- Scripture:
- "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
- Explanation:
Jesus' name, meaning "God saves" (derived from the Hebrew Yeshua), reveals His identity and mission. Salvation comes solely through Jesus because He is the mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5), the fulfillment of God's plan for redemption.
2. Believing in the Son Is Believing in the Father
- Scripture:
- "Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also" (1 John 2:23).
- "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
- Explanation:
Jesus reveals the Father perfectly. To believe in Him is to embrace the Father, for He and the Father are one in essence (John 10:30). Denying Christ severs this relationship because rejecting Jesus is rejecting God’s self-revelation and the way to Him.
3. Baptism in the Name of Jesus
- Scripture:
- "Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 2:38).
- Explanation:
The apostles baptized in the name of Jesus because His name carries the full authority of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism in Jesus’ name does not exclude the Father or the Spirit but reflects the centrality of Jesus in the work of salvation. His name encapsulates the fullness of God's saving power.
4. The Authority and Necessity of Jesus' Name
- Scripture:
- "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).
- Explanation:
The name of Jesus is above all names because of His obedience to the Father and His redemptive work on the cross. His name represents the fullness of God's authority and the reality of salvation.
Conclusion
The disciples' practice of baptizing in Jesus' name aligns with the understanding that Jesus is the embodiment of God's saving work. The name of Jesus uniquely represents the salvific work accomplished on behalf of humanity. Belief in Him, signified through baptism and proclaimed through His name, opens the way to eternal life and fellowship with the Father and His Spirit.