Q: How do you get baptized if nearly every denomination baptizes in the name of the Trinity formula?
A: That is a good question. Scripture is clear, that we are to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:37-39
37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”
You can be baptized by any Believer that has the Spirit of God and into the name of Jesus. If you cannot find anyone willing to baptize in the name of Jesus Christ and they insist on you being baptized into the Trinity, then your priority is to make sure that you are baptized in the Spirit of God which is the important one and you can do this without the aid of another person.
Scripture records a group who had the Spirit but had not heard of water baptism. Upon hearing they were baptized. So if the the outcome is the Spirit of God and you can receive the Spirit even when not being baptized in water, then you should make sure that you receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts 10:44-48
“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. 45 And all the circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the Gentiles also. 46 For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, 47 “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?” 48 And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay on for a few days,”
Jesus also said that God will give his spirit to all who ask.
Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
So here is my advice:
Trust in the water baptism if you have already been baptized even if it was spoken as in the name of the Trinity. Being baptized in Jesus name does not mean that certain words need to be spoken. It just means in the authority of Jesus Christ and if this what you believed you were being baptized, then you have already made that outward and public commitment to serve God and his Christ. If not, and the understanding was to be baptized into the Trinity and building your faith on the creedal understanding of the group that baptized you, then yes you should seek to be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ.
First thing, you need to make sure you have the spirit of God by asking him for the spirit as Jesus described in Luke 11:13. After that, you will be able to baptize others in water in the name of Jesus Christ. And you could get them to baptize you. Remember this though, Jesus is a transliteration of the name ‘Yeshua’ or similar pronunciation. So as you can see, it is not really the exact correct utterance that is important, but that you do all things in the name of Jesus Christ including your baptism.
Think of it like this. Jesus said, that a cup of water given in his name shall not lose its reward.
Mark 9:41
Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
Did he mean that we have to say, “In the name of Jesus I give you this glass of water”, or did he mean that you give it because of your faith in God and his Christ. Surely it is the latter, so to do all in his name does not mean you have to utter his name every single time for it to count, rather it is in his authority or because of him.
