FROM what we have already covered, we know John the Baptist baptised with water to identify and present Jesus to the audience.
As we go along, we are seeing more people accepting the spirit and intent of the Scriptures.
We have stressed several times on this platform that we are not asking readers to join the ministry I attend, but we want everyone in their ministry or denomination to know the truth.
John himself told us how Jesus was going to baptise.
We read Matthew 3:11, “I indeed baptise you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptise you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire:”
Please keep this in your mind.
In the Great Commission, Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:” Last time we noted that water is not mentioned here.
However, we are faced with a phrase never seen in the Bible; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:
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We know that God is Triune.
Genesis 1:26, gives us a hint, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
The “us” could be referring to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 does not satisfy biblical rules of interpretation like two or three witnesses or emphatic emphasis.
Let us look at the first baptism after the Great Commission.
Let us first read Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Please note baptised in the name of Jesus Christ.
Peter was there when the Great Commission was given and he chose to ignore in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We are not told how the 3 000 were baptised in Acts 2:41, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptised: and the same day, there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
Space will not allow me to quote all verses in Acts, but the theme is baptising in the name of the Lord.
You remember we were given the name of Jesus as the church. We approach God the Father in the name of Jesus.
It is quite intriguing that as the book of Acts progresses, there is no more water baptism.
These disciples did not get Jesus’ message in His earthly ministry for three and half years.
After His resurrection, He taught them extensively for forty days but still did not get it. How do we know?
Acts tells us in Acts 1:6, “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”
They were eyeing government positions and power.
In the Kingdom of God you become great by the amount of service or a servant is higher than a master.
This is the reason why I always ask for patience when reading material like this.
Some may dismiss now only to come back months or years later while others receive there and then.
The good thing is that we all have access to the Bible.
Let us look at some fascinating occurrence. We read Acts 10:45-47, “[45] And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. [46] For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, [47] Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptised, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?”
They were baptised with the Holy Spirit and fire but Peter went ahead to baptise them with water.
Heaven had put a seal, but Peter ignored it.
We are told in Ephesians 1:13-14, “[13] In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
This is eternal seal not water.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Grace and peace be multiplied to you through knowledge.
- All Bible quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise stated.
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