"In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts, of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the Name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion." (Isaiah 18:7; Isaiah 45:14)
"For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the Name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent." (Zephaniah 3:9)
"... that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour ..." (II Peter 3:2)
The Word of the Lord endures forever. (I Peter 1:25)
The last two posts focused primarily on how the Lord God confirms His Word (each scripture with at least one other corresponding scripture in another place, and/or by His oath. To understand, we considered a number of scriptures from both the Old and the New Testaments -- both the scripture(s) in context, and by comparison. Today, a specific scriptural example shall be highlighted.
Before beginning, let's reiterate some of the key points. First, there is a confirming verse for every scripture written. Second, the scriptures are the Word of God and thus, without error. We see this in Matthew 4:4 - when Jesus answered and said, "It is written - man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Third, Jesus shared in one of His parables that the seed is the Word of God. "Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God." (Luke 8:11) Fourth, by rejecting the Word of God, we are "making the Word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." (Mark 7:12; Luke 4:4) Fifth, as Jesus said, "Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it." (Luke 11:28)
We know from the gospel of John that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not." (John 1:10-11) His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins ... Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23) God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) But I digress.
The example for today is Matthew 28:19, wherein Jesus continues to say (after telling the eleven that "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth" to "go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
Baptizing them in the Name!
The corresponding verses for Matthew 28:19 are these:
Jesus said unto them, "Go ye into 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." (Mark 16:15-16)
Jesus speaking again (just before He is taken up) says, "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in part of Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
Witnesses unto Jesus in all parts of the earth. And that water baptism is part of salvation. If we continue to consider the corresponding verses for these, we need to look further into John 3:36 and I Peter 3:21. In the beginning, Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus (a man of the Pharisees and a ruler of the Jews), saying, "Ye must be born again!" After these things, Jesus and His disciples come into the land of Judaea. John the baptizer is baptizing in AEnon near to Salim (because there was much water there).
Then arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. John has already told them he is not the Christ, but sent before Him. Referring to Jesus, John said, "He must increase but I must decrease. He that comes from above is above all; he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth, he that comes from heaven is above all." (John 3:31)
Continuing, John confirms that he that hath received His testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. "For He whom God hath sent speaks the words of God; for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loves the Son and hath given ALL things into His hand ... he that believes on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides in him." (John 3:30-36)
I Peter 3:21 (also about water baptism) states, "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."
Interestingly, not one of these corresponding scriptures tells us "how" to be water baptized. Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 28:19 --"in the Name!" But what name?
If we jump over to Acts 2:36-41, we see that Peter (standing with the eleven) on the day of Pentecost is ready to tell us the Name. Indeed, when asked what the people must do to be saved, Peter (still in one accord with the other apostles and the 120 from the upper room) said, "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 2:36-41)
So, what was the Name?
JESUS, for He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21-23) Is this the only scriptural cross reference? The answer is no for every single person water baptized in the new testament (after the cross) was water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. We see this happening in Acts 19:1-5; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 8:14-16; Acts 9:17-18; Acts 8:12; Acts 8:35-38; Romans 6:3-4.
Jesus said, "I and My Father are One!"(John 10:30)
Jesus said, "If ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father and know Him." (John 14:6-12)
Jesus said, "Ye neither know Me, nor My Father; if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also." (John 8:19)
Jesus said, "If ye do not believe that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)
This is why Jesus could say, "Before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:45-59)
This is also why Jesus could say -- I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am the Bread of life. I am the living water, wherein if ye drink, ye shall never thirst again. And now, as the risen Jesus (no longer constrained by human flesh) He THROUGH the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen; whom He had said to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the power from on high -- the Comforter who could not come until Jesus had ascended. (Acts 1:2-3, 4-5, 8)
Just like the angel of the Lord who said, "And ye shall call His name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins" -- this same Jesus whom we crucified (now both Lord and Christ) is still inviting us to Come to the most elaborate wedding feast ever. (Acts 2:36) The King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Revelation 1:8)
My question -- with so many new testament scriptures on the subject of water baptism, why did those responsible for inserting corresponding scriptures not include the verses specific to water baptism? Do they not believe that Acts 2 represents the beginning of the new testament church? (Acts 1:22) Do they not believe that the apostles had the authority (particularly Peter) to reveal to those who would listen that Jesus is God manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory -- according to I Timothy 3:16?
Nevertheless, when we are water baptized in the precious, holy name of the Lord Jesus, we become clothed in His righteousness -- putting on His garment -- and like the scripture states, then ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
Stand in the offering plate.
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