Apostolic Friends Forum - In Jesus Name!

In New Testament baptism, both the baptized and the baptizer call upon the name of the Lord. In order for the baptism to be valid NT baptism, both elements are required. At baptism, we both call upon His name and have the name of Christ invoked upon us.

In order for baptism to have any meaning, it must be preceded and accompanied by faith; the baptismal candidate must both believe in their heart and confess with their mouth. NT salvation and NT water baptism require the believer to call on the name of the Lord.

(Acts 2:21) “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

(Acts 22:16) “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

At baptism, not only does the candidate call upon the name of the Lord, but the name of the Lord is called upon the person being baptized. In NT water baptism, both the baptized and the baptizer call upon the name of the Lord.

(James 2:7) “Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?”

Young’s Literal Translation (James 2:7) “do they not themselves speak evil of the good name that was called upon you?”

AMP (James 2:7) “Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called [the name of Christ invoked in baptism]?”

(Acts 15:17) “That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.”

Acts 15:17 “ . . . also all the Gentiles upon whom my Name has been pronounced,” (The New Testament: An Expanded Translation by Kenneth S. Wuest)

In the early apostolic church, the name of Jesus was “pronounced” upon converts at their baptism.

(Acts 2:38) “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

(Acts 8:16) “(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)”

(Acts 10:48) “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.”

(Acts 19:5) “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Valid NT water baptism requires that the believer call upon the name of the Lord, and that the name of the Lord be called over the one being baptized.