Saturday, August 30, 2014

In what name are we baptized?

Baptism is an important theme in the bible, but there are some competing theories on how it should be done.  The first is rooted in Matthew 28:19:

"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit..."

From this we see that we are to baptize "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  But is this all that the bible has to say about it?  What about Acts 19:5

"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

So, then, we are suppose to be baptized "In the name of Jesus."  Which is it?  Father, Son, Holy Spirit, or Jesus?  Here is some food for thought.  Think about at Jesus' baptism.  What happened?  Well, we don't know much other than that he was baptized by John the baptist, and then the aftermath.  But, why was he baptized?  Why were the Jews baptizing?  Was it because Jesus was a sinner in need of redeption?  Absolutely not.  Then why on earth was there a baptism before Christ?  It is rooted in Jewish tradition.  Baptism was a ceremonial cleansing.  It wasn't the "grace giving" event that we see it as now.  It was merely a precursor.  This is actually mentioned in Acts.  You can't miss it if you read the two verses prior to the 5th one above.  Acts 19:2-5

"He said to them, “Did you receive the holy Spirit when you became believers?” They answered him, “We have never even heard that there is a holy Spirit.” He said, “How were you baptized?” They replied, “With the baptism of John.” Paul then said, “John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

Aaah.  So the "in the name of Jesus" here doesn't actually mean "in the name of".  Being baptized in the name of John, meant that you received the baptism that John gave.  And, being baptized in the name of Jesus meant that you received the baptism that Jesus gave us.  Which points back to Matthew 29:18, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  The baptism of John was not the event where you receive the Holy Spirit.  The baptism [in the name] of Jesus, on the other hand, is an event in which we are filled with the Holy Spirit.  We are given the grace of God and we become children of the Father, and thus we are given his Holy name.

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