Matthew 28:18-19… And Jesus approached and spoke to them, saying: “All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
How are we baptized in the name of Jesus? Is it possible to be baptized in the name of the Holy Spirit? What is behind the meaning of the Greek word (Onoma) that has been translated or used as “Name”?
Strong’s Concordance #3686 (Onoma) has another usage’s that we could use like Name, Authority or Cause. The usage of this word carries the meaning of Authorized, as in you can speak for them or you can act under their authority.
So, when we re-look at Matthew 28:19 we understand that the authority to baptize is given by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Now this may bring up many questions in your minds so the best way to examine this statement is for us to ask the one question to help us make sense of this thought. How are we baptized in the name of Jesus?
Baptized in the Name of Jesus
We find less than some 10 days after Jesus gave instructions to his disciples and ascended into heaven; we then have the pouring out of Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. We have the apostle Peter now telling everybody they need to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.
Acts 2:38-39 …Peter said to them: “Repent and let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of YOUR sins, and YOU will receive the free gift of the holy spirit. For the promise is to YOU and to YOUR children and to all those afar off, just as many as Jehovah our God may call to him.”
Why did Peter not have these people baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? We’re not these people Jews from the nations? Acts 2:5-11 Could these Jews have been baptized under the authority of John the Baptist? Or is there more at play here then what we think?
The next example we have is of the apostle Peter giving the witness to Cornelius and his family when the Holy Spirit was poured out. What information are we going to be able to extrapolate about being baptized in the name of Jesus?
Acts 10:44-48 … While Peter was yet speaking about these matters the holy spirit fell upon all those hearing the word. 45 And the faithful ones that had come with Peter who were of those circumcised were amazed, because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also upon people of the nations. 46 For they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter responded: 47 “Can anyone forbid water so that these might not be baptized who have received the holy spirit even as we have?” 48 With that he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they requested him to remain for some days.
Holy Spirit was poured out on these people even before they were baptized in the name of Jesus. Were these people baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit before Peter got there to give them the word of God? The answer would be No because baptism was for the Jew first, that’s why Jesus had come to his nation. (John 1:9-13)
Who had the Holy Spirit poured out on these Gentile people? And what was the requirement for receiving Holy Spirit and being baptized?
Acts 11:16-17 … At this I called to mind the saying of the Lord, how he used to say, ‘John, for his part, baptized with water, but YOU will be baptized in holy spirit. If, therefore, God gave the same free gift to them as he also did to us who have believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to hinder God?
So, we can see the gift of the Holy Spirit comes from God. Believing upon the Lord Jesus Christ allowed the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon them. (John 3:35)
What else is to be learned about the baptism of John the Baptist and or what is the difference of becoming baptize in the name of Jesus Christ?
Acts 19:1-6 … In the course of events, while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the inland parts and came down to Ephesus, and found some disciples; 2 and he said to them: “Did you receive holy spirit when YOU became believers?” They said to him: “Why, we have never heard whether there is a holy spirit.” 3 And he said: “In what, then, were YOU baptized?” They said: “In John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said: “John baptized with the baptism [in symbol] of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul laid his hands upon them, the holy spirit came upon them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying.
John the Baptist prepared the way for the people of God, he was calling for repentance from sin and his baptism was that of water. What else can we learn from John the Baptist?
Matthew 3:11 …I, for my part, baptize YOU with water because of YOUR repentance; but the one coming after me and is stronger than I am, whose sandals I am not fit to take off. That one will baptize YOU people with holy spirit and with fire.
Who Baptizes us with Holy Spirit?
Acts 2:33 …Therefore because he was exalted to the right hand of God and received the promised holy spirit from the Father, he has poured out this which YOU see and hear.
So, the Holy Spirit comes from God and passes through Christ Jesus to be poured out upon us believers as a form of baptism. Okay what else can we learn about the baptism of Jesus by Holy Spirit, and what is the purpose of this Baptism?
Romans 6:3-4 …Or do YOU not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore, we were buried with him through our baptism into his death, in order that, just as Christ was raised up from the dead through the glory of the Father, we also should likewise walk in a newness of life.
What does it mean to be baptized into the death of Jesus?
Galatians 3:24-29 … Consequently the Law has become our tutor leading to Christ, that we might be declared righteous due to faith. 25 But now that the faith has arrived, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 YOU are all, in fact, sons of God through YOUR faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of YOU who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor freeman, there is neither male nor female; for YOU are all one person in union with Christ Jesus. 29 Moreover, if YOU belong to Christ, YOU are really Abraham’s seed, heirs with reference to a promise.
Being baptized with the Holy Spirit was with the purpose of putting on the new personality of Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 4:23-24, Colossians 3:10) Walking in the spirit and undergoing a death dealing treatment of the flesh so that we could be made alive in the spirit and become righteous because of our faithfulness to the direction of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians15:22)
We just had numerous examples of people who were baptized in the name of Jesus. Should everybody be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ? What name should we get baptized into or under who’s authority?
1 Corinthians 1:4-15 …I always thank God for YOU in view of the undeserved kindness of God given to YOU in Christ Jesus; 5 that in everything YOU have been enriched in him, in full ability to speak and in full knowledge, 6 even as the witness about the Christ has been rendered firm among YOU, 7 so that YOU do not fall short in any gift at all, while YOU are eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also make YOU firm to the end, that YOU may be open to no accusation in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom YOU were called into a sharing with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 10 Now I exhort YOU, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that YOU should all speak in agreement, and that there should not be divisions among YOU, but that YOU may be fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought. 11 For the disclosure was made to me about YOU, my brothers, by those of [the house of] Chloe, that dissensions exist among YOU. 12 What I mean is this, that each one of YOU says: “I belong to Paul,” “But I to Apollos,” “But I to Cephas,” “But I to Christ.” 13 The Christ exists divided. Paul was not impaled for YOU, was he? Or were YOU baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I am thankful I baptized none of YOU except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that YOU were baptized in my name.
Do You understand the principle that Paul was trying to make here, Christ is not divided. If you’re going to be a part of the Christian congregation, the ecclesia of God you will be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Or, is there some other Lord that we have to answer to? Could we be re-baptized a second time without offending God? Under who’s authority have you been baptized in?
Jude 1:20-25 We’re being saved through Jesus Christ our only Lord that is who we will answer to.
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