Christian Fun and Interests

Baptism in Jesus' Name

The usual Trinitarian formula used for baptism is found in Matthew 28:19. The setting is the Great Commission. These are some of the last words that Jesus told His disciples before He ascended. It reads:

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The first thing I would like to point out here is that name is singular. This is significant. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit all have one name. Now I do not intend to try and explain this passage away. These are the words of Jesus. But we must ask ourselves, what does this mean? We must not take this one passage in isolation and ignore everything else that the Bible has to say about baptism. We must let scripture interpret scripture and look at all that the Bible says on any given subject.

Next I would like to point out now that this is not the only account of the Great Commission. There is a reason why we have four gospels. God inspired each writer to write the same truth from different points of view. John did not record the Great Commission, but we will look at what the others said. When we look at Mark’s account we read:

Mark 16:15 Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues

So we see that Mark records the command to go and baptize, but does not speak of a name in connection with baptism. However, we do see a mention of Jesus�?name in the very next verse. More importantly we need to look at how the apostles obeyed these commands which we will see in the book of Acts. But now lets look at Luke’s account:

Luke 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.

So here we read a command to preach repentance and remission of sins, in His name (which is fulfilled in Acts 2). If we look at the preceding verse we see that the pronoun His refers to Christ. So repentance and remission of sins are to be preached in Jesus�?name! Where do we receive the remission of sins? Well, let’s look at what Jesus�?disciples did with this command:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'

So we have three different accounts of what Jesus�?commanded His apostles at the Great Commission. Now we look at how they obeyed Jesus�?words. We should take note that Jesus died after the Passover, was buried for 3 days and was then on the earth for 40 days after the resurrection (Acts 1:3). From the Passover until Pentecost is 50 days (Pente- means 50). So only about a week transpired between Jesus commission and Peter’s sermon on Pentecost. Surely they didn’t forget His command that fast. It is also interesting that Matthew, who later wrote Matt. 28:19 was present as well (Acts 1:13). We would expect him to stand up and stop Peter if he was preaching the wrong thing! ("Hey Pete, don’t you know that Jesus said . . . ") But we don’t see that. So we need to reconcile these two facts:

Jesus said this:

They did this:

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized, everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ . . .

Now who would be in the best position to understand the meaning of Jesus�?words? Us, almost 2,000 years later, or His own disciples who He spoke them to. Throughout the book of Acts as we will see they routinely baptized people in Jesus�?name. And when we read the Epistles to the churches, we will find out that they too were baptized in Jesus�?name. So it is obvious that Jesus�?disciples understood the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost to be Jesus! NOWHERE in scripture do we find anyone being baptized using these words, only in Jesus�?name.

Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (Jesus �?vs. 10)

Although this verse may not be talking exclusively about baptism, we see that Jesus is the name by which we are saved, and that there is no other!

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

Acts 8:16 For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been 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.

Acts 22:16 'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'

So Peter, John and the rest of the disciples baptized in the Jesus�?name throughout Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. And Paul re-baptized the believers in Ephesus in Jesus' name (19:1-5). Now let’s look at some of the other churches:

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

The reason that we are baptized in Jesus�?name is that we are being baptized into Jesus. We are taking on his name, similar to the way a woman takes on her husband's name. We are saying that we belong to Jesus and we are identifying with Him in His death and burial. Even if God were a trinity, Jesus is the one who died for us and He is the one who the Christians at Rome were buried with.

1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

If we follow Paul’s train of thought, his obvious implication is "No, Christ was the one crucified for you and so you were baptized in the name of Christ" So the believers at Corinth as well as those in Rome were baptized in Jesus�?name.

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

In addition to those in Rome, Corinth and Ephesus (as well as Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria), we see that the Christians in Colosse and those in the region of Galatia were all baptized in Jesus�?name. They would not have connected baptism so exclusively with Christ had they routinely baptized using the words "Father, Son and Holy Spirit." As I said before, the only way that we see anyone being baptized is in Jesus' name. When Jesus�?was on this earth, He baptized His disciples (John 4:1,2) and then commissioned them to go and baptize others in His name, or in His place.1 When Jesus baptized someone, He didn’t have to say "in Jesus name." He was Jesus. But when we stand in his stead, we do it in his name. Scripture tells us that whatever we do in word or deed should be done in Jesus�?name (Col. 3:17). Baptism is an act of both word and deed.

Finally, I would like to demonstrate where history shows us that the Catholic Church changed the way that people were baptized. From there on people continued to follow this tradition, probably because it fit so well with their Trinitarian doctrine:

BRITANICA ENCYCLOPEDIA

The baptismal formula was changed from the name of Jesus Christ to the words Father, Son & Holy Ghost by the Catholic Church in the Second Century. �?11^th Edit., Vol. 3, ppg. 365-366.

CANNEY ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION

The early church always baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until development of the Trinity Doctrine in the Second Century.

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA

Here the Catholics acknowledged that baptism was changed by the Catholic Church. �?Vol. 2, pg. 263.

HASTINGS ENCYCLOPEDIA OF RELIGION

Christian baptism was administered using the words, "in the name of Jesus." �?Vol. 2, pg. 377. Baptism was always in the name of Lord Jesus until time of Justin Martyr when Triune formula used. �?Vol. 2, pg. 389. NAME was an ancient synonym for "person." Payment was always made in the name of some person referring to ownership. Therefore one being baptized in Jesus�?name became His personal property. "Ye are Christ’s." �?Vol. 2, pg. 377 on Acts 2:38.2

What did the early church do? How did they baptize? When they found out about Jesus they were all baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 19: 3,4)

How did the apostles baptize? Go to Luke 24:46-47 Thus it is written and thus it was necessary for Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached IN HIS NAME to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send you the promise of my Father upon you:

Luke tells them to go to all the nations preaching repentance and remission of sins in his NAME. And He would send the promise of the Father upon them. This promise is the Holy Ghost. It speaks nothing about the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, only the name of Jesus Christ. Many people don't realize that Jesus himself tells us that we must use his name in the baptism. That scripture should prove it to them.

Now, PLEASE go to Acts 2:38 to see that Peter spoke these very words when he was asked how they might be saved. Peter did not say to be baptized in the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost! He said in the name of JESUS Christ!

Acts 2: 37-38; And they said to Peter, and the rest of the apostles , "Men and brethren what must we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized on the NAME of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins , and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

He preached baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and that repentance brings about remission of sins. Peter confirms the commandment given by Jesus in Luke 24: 46-47. He also adds that baptism in his NAME will bring about the gift of the Holy Ghost. Do you see why Peter didn't baptize in the titles, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? Jesus himself gave this commandment, and, Peter obeyed his commandment in Luke 24. Why do most of the churches use the titles in the baptism instead of the NAME? It's the NAME that has the power. Now go to Acts 10:43-44.

Acts 10: 43-44; (Peter is speaking to those in the house of Cornelius the gentile.) To him gave all the prophets witness that through his NAME whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins. While Peter was still speaking to them the Holy Spirit fell on them who HEARD the word. Right here we see that God himself confirmed the words that Peter spoke in Acts 2:38, that the Holy Ghost would be given through his NAME. Then in ACTS 10: 48; Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the LORD. What is the name of the Lord? It's Jesus isn't it? Here is three instances in God's word for the remission of sins by his NAME, as well as, the gift of the Holy Ghost being given in his NAME. These three scriptures follow each other in their sequence. If this doesn't tell us how to be baptized in no uncertain terms, What does?

It would be short sighted to say that ONLY water baptism can save someone....(we know we have to take the whole book) Biblically speaking, the only people who were baptized were those that put their faith in Christ and repented of their sins and OBEYED. There was no such thing as a waiting period putting baptism off for a later time. To the early church it was very important to salvation. The "whats, whys, and hows" were not something to be questioned or argued. They simply obeyed!

The early church did not use the titles, Father Son and Holy Ghost. This came about many years after the death of the early church fathers. In Matthew 28: 16,18,19; Then the eleven disciples went away into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, all power is given unto ME in heaven and in earth. Go, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, Son, and The Holy Ghost. Please note that Jesus said ALL power is given to me in heaven and earth. We know that Father, Son and Holy Ghost are titles only. But what is the NAME? The name is Jesus the Christ. All power in heaven and earth has been given unto him. THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN WHEREBY MAN IS TO BE SAVED EXCEPT THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. Why do people

refuse to use the NAME in baptism?

Acts: 2:41 3000 people were baptized IN HIS NAME. ( Because Peter had commanded them to in Acts 2: 38

Acts 19:2-6 He said unto them have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? They answered, "We haven't even heard of the Holy Ghost. And He said to them, unto them unto what were you baptized? They said, unto John's baptism. Then Paul said, "John surely baptized unto repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him who would come after him, that is, Jesus Christ. Then when they heard this, they were baptized in the NAME of Jesus Christ. And when Paul laid his hands on them they received the Holy Ghost. Even though these people were baptized by John the same way that Jesus received his baptism, they knew the necessity of being baptized in the NAME of Jesus Christ. When Peter spoke in Cornilius's house he said that even the prophets gave witness that it is by the NAME our sins are remitted.

Acts 4:11,12 This is the stone that was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner, Neither is there salvation in any other NAME under heaven given among men where by we must be saved.

There are many other places in the scripture where it strongly implies that the early church was baptized in the NAME of Jesus. When they said they were baptized in the NAME of the Lord, we must ask; what is the name of the Lord? It is Jesus isn't it? Doesn't it seem strange to you that the churches of this day refuse to use his name in baptism yet the apostles who walked with him and got their instructions directly from him, used his NAME in their baptisms by the commandment of Jesus in Luke 24: 46-47? These same churches who refuse his name in their baptisms will give THANKS in his name, they pray for healing in his name, they CAST OUT DEVILS in his name, they ASK OF THE FATHER in his name, yet, they refuse to have their sins remitted and receive the Holy Ghost in his name!

We cannot receive the Holy Ghost except by the NAME of Jesus. The only NAME given under heaven whereby we must be saved. Many good people do not really understand the oneness of God. The creator God IS love. It is hard for flesh to comprehend the fullness of the Godhead!

Jesus and the Father are ONE. God has all power and He is infinite love. How can God not be one? He said ALL POWER was given to JESUS...so how can there be ANY OTHER POWER in the Godhead if Jesus has it all? How? He is one and the same!

John 20 :31 But these things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God; and believing you might have life through his NAME.

Jesus died to take away the sins of the world. If one is not baptized in his name, they are still in their sins. To not have one's sins remitted defeats the whole purpose of why Jesus came into the world. Baptism is part of the gospel!

Acts 2:37 - Acts 2:41 (KJV) 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
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.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Seems those that heard and obeyed Peter were added to the church.........

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