"... and were baptized of [John the baptizer] in Jordan, confessing their sins. "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire." ... Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him ... But John forbade Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?" ... And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him ..." (Matthew 3:11-16)
"Then said he [John the baptizer] to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" ... Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, "Master, what shall we do?" ... John answered, saying unto them all, "I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." ... Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened ..." (Luke 3:7-21)
"And all the people that heard [him], and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." (Luke 7:29-30)
"And they asked [John the baptizer], and said unto him, "Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?" John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water: but there stands One among you, whom ye know not; He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose." These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. ... "And I knew him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, "Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost." (John 1:-25-28, 33)
"But Jesus answered and said [to His disciples], "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They say unto Him, "We are able." And He saith unto them, "Ye shall drink indeed of My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on My right hand, and on My left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of My Father." (Matthew 20:23-24)
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? 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 6:3-4)
These scriptures, in part, take us from the beginning of the New Testament, wherein the prophets declared that the dayspring from on high would visit His people to the point wherein Peter (standing with the eleven) on the day of Pentecost informs the first 3,000 souls saved that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)
At the same time, when the people were pricked in their hearts, and asked "what must we do?" then Peter said to 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. 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. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:38-41)
By this time, the disciples (now apostles) have received the Holy Ghost that will lead and guide them into all truth. The mystery of the Godhead, as stated in I Timothy 3:16, is apparent. That is, "to wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (II Corinthians 5:19) As well, as we understand from Acts 20:28, they [we] have been instructed to "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts 20:28)
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism -- One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, "When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.)" (Ephesians 4:5-10)
"The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second [man is] the Lord from heaven." (I Corinthians 15:47)
So, why then, if Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, do we have a modern day religious culture so bent on preaching a great commission that was not adhered to by the apostles -- or should I instead say, elevating one isolated scripture over every other example of water baptism in the New Testament -- and to the detriment and peril of many believers. (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; John 10:30; John 1:10-11; Matthew 1:21-23; Isaiah 9:6)
This is a good question, particularly since, as the scriptures state, God is not the Author of confusion. (I Corinthians 14:33) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (II Timothy 3:16)
"... but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." (Romans 16:26) And, for clarity, allow me to add II Peter 3:15-16: "And account [that] the long-suffering of our Lord [is] salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." (II Peter 3:15-16) But I digress.
In the gospels, the great commission (as it is called today within religious circles), is written three times (in the gospels of Mark, Luke and Matthew). In the first, Jesus tells His disciples -- "Go to all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believes and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. ... IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils and speak with new tongues." (Mark 16:15-18)
"Thus it is written, and behooved Christ to suffer and rise from the dead the third day. And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached IN HIS NAME. beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:46-47)
And again, in Matthew's writings, Jesus said, "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them IN THE NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19)
Comparing these three scriptures, let's examine the wording cited, because again, God is not the Author of confusion, but of peace; believers assembling in one accord. In these passages, note that Luke and Mark use the verb preach and Matthew -- teach (to instruct). Matthew alludes to nations; Mark to all the world; and Luke -- "beginning in Jerusalem." In terms of baptism, Matthew and Mark use baptize, and Luke instead gives the definition of baptism -- being repentance and remission of sins (as per Acts 2:38).
According to Mark, the risen (resurrected) Jesus says to baptize "IN MY NAME." (Mark 16:15-16)
Luke cites Jesus as saying "to baptize IN HIS NAME" -- which we understand from the previous verse to mean in "Christ's" Name. "Then opened He [the risen Jesus] their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, and said unto them, "Thus it is written, and thus it behoved 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 among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things." (Luke 24:45-47)
Also, as the angel proclaimed, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, "God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into One Spirit." (I Corinthians 12:13)
"... (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.)" (Acts 8:16)
So why does Matthew cite Jesus as commanding water baptism in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19)
Because Matthew knew that the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost is JESUS. The ONLY NAME whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) Further, Matthew was in attendance with the eleven on the day of Pentecost, when Peter (standing with the eleven) told the first 3,000 souls saved to repent and be baptized every one of you in the Name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 2:36-41) Did Matthew disagree with Peter? Not a chance, for as the scriptures clearly declare, these were all in one accord. (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:1, 46; Acts 4:24)
So, how do we reconcile Matthew 28:19 with the other scriptures? First, we should recognize that in every water baptism recorded in the New Testament after the cross, water baptism was performed in the Name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 10:44-48) That water baptism is an answer of a good conscience toward God. (I Peter 3:21-22) That we are buried into His death when we go into the water, and likened unto His resurrection when we come out of the water. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?" (Romans 6:3-4) And that we are clothed in His garment of righteousness. "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27)
"... (for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus.)" (Acts 8:16)
And as we know, those who "gladly received the Word" were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 2:41)
It is for these reasons, and many more that water baptism in any other name could not fulfill the commandments that the Lord Jesus (through the Holy Ghost) gave to the apostles whom He had chosen. (Acts 1:2-3, 8)
These include: I baptize you in My name; I baptize you in His name; I baptize you in Christ's name; I baptize you in the Father's name; I baptize you in the Son's name; I baptize you in the Holy Ghost's name; or even, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Why? Because not one of these provides remission of sins. Again, what did the angel declare, when ushering in the New Testament? "And ye shall call His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ..." (Matthew 1:21-23) "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
Therefore, the Name that the apostles understood to be THE NAME -- from the Lord Jesus Himself -- was indeed His Name JESUS. Remember, Jesus said, "I and My Father are One." (John 10:30) In another place, Jesus said, "If ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father, and know Him." (John 14:6-12) This is why Jesus could also say -- "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me" -- and in Matthew 28:18, "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth" -- because Jesus is God manifest in the flesh -- the fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him -- and it was His precious, holy blood that was shed on the cross for you and I. (Colossians 2:9; Acts 20:28; Isaiah 9:6; Revelation 1:8; II John 1:9)
And he said unto them, "Unto what then were ye baptized?" And they said, "Unto John’s baptism." Then said Paul, "John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on Him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." When they heard this, they were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 19:3-5)
These include: I baptize you in My name; I baptize you in His name; I baptize you in Christ's name; I baptize you in the Father's name; I baptize you in the Son's name; I baptize you in the Holy Ghost's name; or even, I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Why? Because not one of these provides remission of sins. Again, what did the angel declare, when ushering in the New Testament? "And ye shall call His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ..." (Matthew 1:21-23) "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)
"Ye are My witnesses," saith the Lord, "and My servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe Me, and understand that I [AM] He: before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no Saviour." (Isaiah 43:10-11)
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)
"After the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ..." (Titus 3:4-7)
Yes, Jesus is the Great I AM, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. But there is still more. When Jesus gave Peter the keys to the kingdom, Peter preached the good news gospel message on the day of Pentecost, after tarrying in Jerusalem. (Acts 1:1-2, 13; Acts 2:14, 1-47; Matthew 16:19; Revelation 1:8; I Timothy 3:16; II Corinthians 5:19; )
That is, "Repent and be baptized every one of you IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) And that simple gospel message has not changed throughout history. As a consequence, "they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42)
Final observations for this day? First, in Acts 18:8, Crispus who was the chief ruler of the synagogue believed on the Lord with all his house, and many of the Corinthians hearing too, believed and were baptized. We know Paul taught baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 19:1-7) because the Ephesus believers who had been baptized unto John's baptism of repentance were re-baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus after hearing Paul's teaching on this matter.
Second, apostle Paul clarified The Name in I Corinthians 1: " Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
That is, "Repent and be baptized every one of you IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) And that simple gospel message has not changed throughout history. As a consequence, "they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42)
Second, apostle Paul clarified The Name in I Corinthians 1: " Now I beseech you, brethren, by the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, "I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (I Corinthians 1:11-18)
Let those with eyes to see, see, and ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
Let those with eyes to see, see, and ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
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