Why Not Baptize in Jesus' Name? If His Word Tells Us To Be Baptized in Jesus Name - Part 997

This blog is written in response to questions regarding water baptism in Jesus' Name (as preached and practiced throughout the new testament) and in accordance with the apostles' doctrine.

The historical evidence shows that Matthew 28:19 was re-written by the Roman Catholic church around 385 AD. This fact is readily admitted by the Roman Catholic church, and easily confirmed through an online search.  As well, the “original revision” of Matthew 28:19 used “Holy Ghost” when referring to water baptism. Today, the RC church has replaced “Holy Ghost” with “Holy Spirit.” As far as I know, there has been no explanation by the RC church for this subsequent revision.

What I do know is that the religious of that day would have known what Jesus (and the apostles) stated about adding and/or taking away from the Word. Jesus said, “For verily I say unto you -- till heaven and earth pass, one jot* or one tittle* shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Matthew 5:18) [* iota / smallest letter] And again in Luke, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Luke 21:33) There are similar verses in the book of Revelation, etc.

Given that we have been instructed to press into Jesus and not to align ourselves with false teachings, I will leave it to you to pass “righteous judgement” upon religious organizations that “willingly change” Jesus’ words and teachings to reflect another gospel. (John 7:24)

Remember, both Jesus and the apostles warned us of false teachers – and wolves in sheep’s clothing. Indeed, Paul wrote: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9)

Paul not only warned us once about another gospel but restated the very same warning a second time immediately after the other. That is, “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received” – the apostles doctrine as stated in Acts 2:42 – “let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9)

But His Word, in which we as believers are to align our gospel teachings, did not stop with letting him be accursed. In fact, Peter wrote: “For the time [is come] that judgement MUST begin at the house of God; and if [it] first [begin] at us, what shall the end [be] of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (I Peter 4:17)

Further, what did Jesus tell the seventy apostles He had just appointed to do when people did not accept His teachings? Jesus told them, “But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, do we wipe off against you; notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come night unto you …” (Luke 10:10-16)

This is why His Word explicitly states that we -- as believers in our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ -- are to “continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42)  Jesus said, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) And in prophecy -- “So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Who is the Word? John wrote: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God … He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not … but as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God [even] to them that believe on His name …. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-18)

Yes, Jesus is the Word of God clothed in sin-prone flesh. The same Lord God who breathed into Adam in the beginning willingly took our place so that we could be saved by His grace. His mercy. His love. The Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 1:8, 11, 17-18; 21:6-7; 22:13-21) The SAME Lord God became our Saviour. (I Timothy 2:3-5 ) His name is Jesus.

The same Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ that stood and cried, saying, “If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the scripture hath said, ‘out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’ (But this spake He of the Spirit which they that believe on Him should receive; for the Holy Ghost was not yet [given] because that Jesus was not yet glorified). (John 7:37-39) 

(See also -- Deuteronomy  18:15-22; John 1:45-51; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:3-6; John 13:31; John 17:5)

If you struggle with what this means, it’s okay because in the beginning so did His disciples. For example, in John 12:16 we read, “These things understood not His disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of Him, and they had done these things unto Him.” (John 12:16)

But at the end of the day, the apostles knew who they served when they preached the gospel, and so should we.

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 1:31; Luke 2:21; John 1:29)

This is the truth that was hid from the beginning, and the reason why we seek Jesus in everything we do in word or deed (including water baptism). “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him” (Colossians 3:17)

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Jesus said, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18) In fact, I recently read somewhere that God says of Himself “I am the Lord” over 160 times in the scriptures.

He Himself who knew no sin but became sin for you and I said, “I am the Lord thy God and beside Me there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:5; Hosea 13:4) In the beginning, God. (Genesis 1:1)

This is why we cannot align our beliefs to one single scripture that was admittedly “changed by the religious culture” of that day – and ignore every other example and scriptural teaching in the scriptures on water baptism.  In fact, we need to understand water baptism based on what His Word states – connecting our doctrinal beliefs to every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God – on every question regarding the scriptures.

Since we already know from the historical record that Matthew 28:19 as stated “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” is false, we can now hold “fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” (Titus 1:9)

Beginning with Acts 1:

“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach until the day in which He was taken up, after that He – through the Holy Ghost – had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen. To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God; and being assembled together with [them] commanded that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which [saith He] ye have heard of Me. For John truly baptized with water but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.” (Acts 1:5; Matthew 3:11; Joel 2:28) Note: John’s baptism was unto repentance – see Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 3:16; John 7:39; John 20:22; Acts 2:3-4

In Acts 2, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place, and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting … and there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4) Peter, standing with the eleven apostles continued to preach. What happens? “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?” 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 2:37-38) Note that they who gladly received His Word were baptized, and the same day, there were added about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:41-42)

In Acts 8, Philip is preaching Jesus unto the eunuch. (Acts 8:26-39) The eunuch said, “See, [here is] water. What doth hinder me to be baptized?” And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. (Acts 8:38) “And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip …” (Acts 8:39)

In Acts 9, Ananias and Saul of Tarsus -- “Brother Saul, the Lord [even] Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest hath sent me, that thou mightiest receive thy sigh and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. … and straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues.” (Acts 9:10-19)

In Acts 10, Peter and certain brethren had entered into Caesarea and met Cornelius.  Peter spoke to Cornelius of John’s baptism, and “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him … to Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.” (Acts 10:36-46) “Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we. And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” (Acts 10:19-48)

In Acts 16, “And brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed [their] stripes, and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.” (Acts 16:30-33)  

In Acts 18, “And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.” (Acts 18:2-8)

In Acts 22, we read about Ananias and Saul -- “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the NAME OF THE LORD.” (Acts 22:7-17)

The following are some other verses related to baptism. Please read and ask the Lord Jesus (who is the Father, Son and now because He has ascended -- the Holy Ghost) to reveal His infinite wisdom and knowledge to you.

“ … The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:21)

 “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

“Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [Him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12)

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3-4)  

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16)

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Galatians 3:27)

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29-31)

Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)

Jesus said, “I am come in My Father's name, and ye receive Me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” (John 5:43)

“(Though Jesus Himself baptized not, but His disciples,)” (John 4:2)

And finally, JESUS “He is the Head of the body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all [things] He might have the pre-eminence.” (Colossians 1:18)

Thomas said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28) In John 14, Philip said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father and it sufficeth us.” How did Jesus respond? He said unto him, “Have I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known Me, Philip? He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father.” (John 14:1-31)

There is only one name whereby we can be saved. Be baptized in Jesus’ name today. Give Jesus His rightful pre-eminence in all the things that we do, in both word and deed. And as Peter -- full of the Holy Ghost wrote:

“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue – whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption of the world through lust, and beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 1:1-19)

Stand in the offering plate.