Articles
“In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”
“In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”
By Paul R. Blake
Several years ago, a brother was asked this question when he was teaching the adult Bible class at his home congregation. He passed it on to me, and I thought you might be interested in this study as well. Question: “Should we be baptized in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:38), or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19)?
Answer: Acts 2:38 records the Peter’s words on the day of Pentecost, “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.” This was a strong affirmation by Peter that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Being baptized in the name of Jesus indicates an understanding by the person being baptized that Christ is the Savior and that it is through Him that salvation in baptism is validated, that is, by means of Jesus’ authority and sacrifice.
Baptism is also in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19). Being baptized in this manner simply means we are identifying ourselves with Deity in recognition of Their authority and work in validating baptism. We belong to the Father Who loves us, we are saved by the Son Who died for us, and we are guided by the Holy Spirit through His revelation of the Gospel. This is similar to praying in Jesus’ name (John 14:13). When one prays in the name of Jesus, he is praying by Christ’s authority and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come in the name of His Son (at His bidding and instruction). Being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is being baptized in acknowledgement of Their authority over and in our lives and Their work and power in our salvation. Jesus said that baptism is in the name of (by the authority of, with the approval of -- Col. 3:16) “the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19).
In the Book of Acts, new believers were baptized by the apostles in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 8:12; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5). It is, however, the same thing; Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit are One (John 10:30; Acts 16:7). Something done by the authority of One is also done by the authority of All. As Jesus instructed, believers are to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but as the Divinely approved examples in the book of Acts reveal, baptizing in the name of Jesus alone was also done. While some advocate that they must have baptized in the name of all Three, it is an assumption; the text does not state this. The bottom line is that the name or names in which we are baptized is not the focus of the instruction; instead, it is critical to recognize that baptism is our participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, our Savior, and that baptism is by the authority of Deity. We are buried with Him and raised to walk with Him in newness of life (Rom. 6:4).
I do not believe that that Jesus was establishing a formula to be repeated upon the occasion of an individual’s baptism, but rather that He was commissioning His disciples to baptize by the authority and approval of all of the Godhead, Who were united in Their work to bring about the salvation of humankind. The fact that the apostles baptized in the name of Jesus in the book of Acts implies that they understood it this way, too. However, when I baptize a penitent believer, I say that it is in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, because that draws attention to all of their roles in salvation. The Father’s grace in sending Jesus to save us, Jesus obedience to the Father in offering Himself for sin on the cross, and the Holy Spirit as the Communicator of the Gospel which He revealed to the inspired New Testament writers. At the same time, it would be scriptural to baptize in the name of Jesus, as is evidenced by the apostles Divinely approved examples in the book of Acts.
What I find unacceptable are brethren who divide over this question. If anyone is dogmatic insisting it be only one way, he is ignorant of the truth and taking a stand without the authority of scripture. But, if a penitent believer with a tender conscience asks to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit or in the name of Jesus alone, I am happy to accommodate their tender conscience in this matter.
Did Jesus Really Say that Faith Only is Enough for Salvation?
Mark 16:16 - “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Did Jesus make baptism necessary for salvation? What are the conditions for salvation in this text? Believe and be baptized. The argument has been made that since Jesus didn’t restate baptism in the second part of His statement; therefore, baptism is not a necessary condition for salvation. This is neither sound nor logical reasoning. When one states two conditions of a desired result and one of the conditions has not been met, it is not necessary to restate both conditions in the negative. The loss of a single condition is sufficient to void the desired result. Consider the following illustration:
A young boy is told to behave all evening and take his bath; and if he does, he will be permitted to go to the carnival tomorrow. It is easy to understand that he needs to do both in order to go to the carnival. If he doesn’t behave, he doesn’t get to go; it doesn’t matter at that point whether he takes his bath or not. If he does not take his bath, he will not get to go; it doesn’t matter that he behaved. We understand that based on the instructions, he had to do both. Leave either condition out and the conditions for going to the carnival have not been met.
Jesus said: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16) The Divine Son of God put two conditions in that statement: believe and be baptized. Leave belief out of the statement, and it doesn’t matter whether one is baptized. Leave baptism out of Jesus statement, and it doesn’t matter whether one believes. Both conditions must be met if one wants to meet the conditions Jesus set for salvation. I recommend doing what Jesus said without modification, and avoid the illogical and erring mongerings of “faith only” doctrinaires. (prb)
Hoarding Yesterday’s Hate
By Shannon Alder
People that have trust issues need only to look in the mirror; there, they will meet the one person that betrays them the most. The more you talk about it, rehash it, rethink it, cross analyze it, debate it, respond to it, get paranoid about it, compete with it, complain about it, immortalize it, cry over it, kick it, defame it, stalk it, gossip about it, pray over it, put it down, or dissect its motives, the more it will continue to rot in your brain. It is dead. It is over. It is gone. It is done. It is time to bury it because it is smelling up your life and no one wants to be near the rotted corpse of your bad memories and decaying attitudes. Be the funeral director of your past grievances and bury them!
People that hold onto hate for so long, do so because they want to avoid dealing with their pain. They falsely believe if they forgive they are letting their enemy believe they are a doormat. What they don’t understand is hatred can’t be isolated or turned off. It manifests in their health, choices, and faith. Their values and religious beliefs make adjustments to justify their negative emotions…
Blame doesn't empower you. It keeps you stuck in a place you don't want to be because you don't want to make the temporary, but painful decision, to be responsible for the outcome of your own life's happiness.
Upcoming Sermons
8/11/24 AM - When God Changes His Mind; PM - Exceeding the Righteousness of the Pharisees
8/18/24 AM - “Who is This Son of Man?” PM - Climbing the Tower of Babel
8/25/24 AM - Have You Been Transformed or Just Baptized? PM - Boaz the Redeemer
