But if Jesus is the Word (according to John 1:1-18), and we are to study the Word to show ourselves approved, then why are there so many church organizations today trying to reduce 'water baptism' to a non-essential. Admittedly, for decades the modern day religious culture has struggled between the Roman Catholic revised version of Matthew 28:19 (baptism in the titles) and the apostles' doctrine that points specifically to Acts 2:38 (baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ). What muddies the requirement of water baptism further is that Peter, standing with the apostles, instructed "everyone to be baptized in the name of Jesus." And as a consequence, the first 3,000 people to be saved on the day of Pentecost were baptized in Jesus' name.
Today, however, the majority of church organizations are baptizing using the titles -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (which is Holy Ghost in the original revised text). Some of these baptize by full water immersion and some through sprinkling. Some baptize adults only after they have received some form of confirmation -- not necessarily repentance and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord in their life -- and others as infants in order to belong to an organized religion.
For as long as I can remember, different denominations argued that baptizing in the titles were Jesus' own instructions and as such, it was an acceptable practice to baptize in the titles. But then, as more and more believers in Jesus began seeking the truth through His Word, these discovered that every single person in the Bible was water baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Therefore, the question needs to be asked. Is religious tradition and/or religious culture sufficient reason to not align with His Word? Or, as it is in this case, eliminate water baptism from one's statement of faith?
Regardless of the response, more and more within the religious culture of this day are promoting salvation as accepting Christ as one's Saviour directly to receipt of the gifts of the Holy Ghost. The name of Jesus the Christ -- who is the promised Messiah -- is being pushed aside as prophesied in the book of Revelation.
Given that we are in the last days, we shouldn't be surprised. Acts 4:25-27 states: "Who by the mouth of Thy servant David hast said, "Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ ... For of a truth against Thy holy child Jesus, whom Thou hast anointed."
But this is not an isolated incident. How many times did the rulers and religious leaders of the day try to kill Jesus as He healed people? In fact, from His very birth Herod wanted Him stopped. And, in order to do so declared a decree that would kill all males under the age of two. "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men." (Matthew 2:16)
Other examples of the same desire to kill Jesus include: "The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto Jesus, "Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee." (Luke 13:31) "After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for He would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill Him." (John 7:1) "His disciples say unto Him, "Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee; and goest Thou thither again?" (John 11:8)
And then, of course, there is the cross, whereby Jesus shed His precious blood so that our sins could be washed clean once and for all. From the very first appearance of Jesus, the enemy of truth did everything possible to deceive believers from believing His Word. If he could not be successful with deception, he caused mass confusion among the people. Remember a certain man named Demetrius, "a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana" bringing no small gain unto the craftsmen? (Acts 19:24)
But God is NOT the author of confusion. Truth is ALWAYS truth. This is why we are exhorted continually to hold fast, remaining steadfast to the apostles' doctrine, as these taught us in the new testament. This includes water baptism by immersion.
When the people on the day of Pentecost asked Peter, standing with the apostles, what should they do? Peter said, "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 2:37-42)
Why Jesus? Because "there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:11-13) "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Colossians 3:17) Moreover, "for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27) "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?" (Romans 6:3)
For more examples, read the book of Acts so that you too will believe that baptism in the name of Jesus is the proper process for water baptism, and that this is what the apostles did in response to what Jesus commanded. Peter and John baptized and so did Paul according to Jesus' command. And for the record, this is the ONLY way water baptism was performed in the early church for the first two centuries after Jesus was crucified.
Finally, if "God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is ABOVE every name: that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," then we probably should too. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Stand in His offering plate. You won't be disappointed!
But God is NOT the author of confusion. Truth is ALWAYS truth. This is why we are exhorted continually to hold fast, remaining steadfast to the apostles' doctrine, as these taught us in the new testament. This includes water baptism by immersion.
When the people on the day of Pentecost asked Peter, standing with the apostles, what should they do? Peter said, "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 2:37-42)
Why Jesus? Because "there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:11-13) "Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Colossians 3:17) Moreover, "for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27) "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?" (Romans 6:3)
For more examples, read the book of Acts so that you too will believe that baptism in the name of Jesus is the proper process for water baptism, and that this is what the apostles did in response to what Jesus commanded. Peter and John baptized and so did Paul according to Jesus' command. And for the record, this is the ONLY way water baptism was performed in the early church for the first two centuries after Jesus was crucified.
Finally, if "God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is ABOVE every name: that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," then we probably should too. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Stand in His offering plate. You won't be disappointed!
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