|
|
Unto What Then Were Ye Baptized?
By R. E. Searle
 Back to index
 Baptism
has been a part of the Christian Church since John the Baptist came to
forerun the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. John was baptizing in the
River Jordan for repentance (Matthew 3) and his Message was to prepare the
hearts of the people to receive Jesus Christ as Lord (Isaiah 40: 3). Jesus
Himself was baptized by John (Matthew 3: 13-15) and He is our example.
Many who confess Jesus Christ today as saviour and Lord have been baptized in
their churches in the titles of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, on the authority
of the Word of God (Matthew 28: 19): "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit."
These same persons, who acknowledge every Word of God to be true, deny or put
aside Acts 2: 38: "Then Peter said unto 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 Spirit," because the teaching of their church, not
having the revelation of Acts 2: 38, considers the words of Peter as secondary
to that of our Lord.
Jesus Himself said in Matthew 4: 4,"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God". Therefore the question
arises are the words spoken by Peter in Acts 2: 38 contrary to what Jesus said
in Matthew 28: 19?
God's Word is not contrary within itself, yet according to men's understanding
it would appear that the infallible Word of God has two opposing
statements.
Please consider these thoughts. There must be an answer because the Word of God
is Truth (John 17: 17) and this truth must be a revelation to you personally
if you are to know the Lord Jesus Christ and be known of Him. His coming for
His Church is very near.
The reason sincere people are misled and in some cases confused, is that the
theology of the organised churches, has replaced the revelation of God's Word
by the Holy Spirit.
What is the NAME of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? Many who
will be reading this have already been baptized in a denominational church, by
sprinkling or immersion according to Matthew 28: 19, and yet they do not know
that Name. Others will be considering baptism in water and you should know that
Name before you are baptized.
Father is not a name, Son is not a name; Holy Spirit is not a name.
Would it not be strange to sign a cheque on your bank account with the word
father, son or grandfather? You know that such a cheque would have no authority;
then why be baptized in the titles of Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
You may say, "Jesus said to be baptized this way and that's good enough for me."
It is true Jesus gave that commandment, and in verse 20 of Matthew 28 confirmed
that if this commandment was taught and observed He would be with us
always.
Was it not the same Jesus who met Paul on the road to Damascus as the Pillar of
Fire, or as the Holy. Spirit, filling Peter and 119 other men and women in the
upper room on the day of Pentecost? (Acts 2: 1-4). Jesus also said in John 14:
16-18, "And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter,
that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world
cannot receive, because it seeth Him not. neither knoweth Him. but ye know Him,
for He dwelleth with you. and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you." It was our Lord Jesus Christ; who had risen from the dead
after being crucified, who spoke through Peter in Acts 2: 14-36, and the words
spoken brought conviction on the hearers who had crucified Jesus, causing them
to cry out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?(Acts 2: 37). Then in verse 38.
the Lord Jesus, still speaking through Peter. said: "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 Spirit."
When Jesus said in Matthew 28: 19 to be baptized in the name of the Father and
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, He was speaking of the truth of the Revelation
of Himself and of His name, and every born again Holy Spirit filled child of God
will know their Heavenly Father's name, and be baptized in water in that name.
Jesus manifested the Father's name. (John 17: 6).
The name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is the Lord Jesus
Christ and the only way that a Christian believer should be baptized is in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not by sprinkling but by immersion as Jesus was
baptized, by one who has been filled with the Holy Spirit, having this
revelation.
If you have been baptized in the titles, then you should be re-baptized in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Every Christian must be baptized according to
Acts 2: 38, it is God's provided way to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Colossians 3: 17 says, "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him." Surely baptism
is a word of confession and deed.
There is no reference in the Word of God to a trinity of persons being God.
Trinity doctrine is contrary to Scripture and is error. John 4: 24, "God is a
Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." In
Mark 12:29. "Hear, O lsrael; the Lord our God is one Lord." Also Ephesians 4:
5-6, "One Lord, one faith. one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all and in you all."
The trinity doctrine and baptism in the titles of Father. Son and Holy Spirit,
which is the basis of the first denominational church and other organised
churches, came to be accepted as church doctrine about 325 A.D. at the Nicea
Council, and it is suggested you confirm this in the records of this Council
meeting at your library.
The Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ is the rock upon which the Church,
being the Body of Christ, is built (Matthew 16: 16-18). However, by the
reasoning of men, the doctrine of a trinity of persons and baptism in the
titles, was substituted for the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ and
originated the denominational system as it is to this day.
God is a Spirit (John 4: 24) but has a threefold manifestation, or is revealed
in three offices: as the Father Creator of all things, revealed or manifested
in the body of flesh and blood, of Jesus the Son our Saviour and as the Holy
Spirit to reveal to you the revelation of Himself through His Word even now as
you read.
God is a Spirit who came to redeem, to reconcile to Himself those who were
lost, by coming in the body of flesh and blood of His Son (Hebrews 10: 5). The
Son, as the body, was born of a virgin, as it was necessary to by-pass the
original sin in the Garden of Eden, and she was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit
(Luke 1: 35). Did Jesus the Son have two fathers?
The trinity and oneness doctrine are both in error. The Word of God reveals the
revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ, and every Christian must confess that Jesus
is the Son of God (1 John 4: 15).
Jesus the Son was the body or tabernacle of flesh and blood in which the Father,
a Spirit, dwelt or was revealed. This does not make Jesus the Son a second part
of a trinity of persons, but a manifestation of God (John 1: 1 and 14). The
body of flesh and blood was our sacrifice, that through this blood we, may
boldly come into His Presence (Hebrews 10: 19), and be in Him. 1 John 5: 20.
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding,
that we may know Him that is true. And we are in Him that is true, even in His
Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."
The Bible says clearly that God was made flesh and dwelt among us and Jesus the
Son said in John 14: 7, speaking to His disciples, "If you had known Me, ye
should have known My Father also; and from henceforth ye know Him, and have
seen Him."
If they had known Jesus! Did they know Him? Of course they knew Him, but they
only knew Him as a man, not having the revelation of God a Spirit being revealed
in flesh and blood. As Jesus said, "If ye had known Me, ye should have known My
Father also"; and not only known the Father but would have seen the Father. It
is this revelation that God a Spirit came in the body of flesh and blood of the
Son, that Christ's Church is built upon, and every born again son and daughter
must have this revelation to be with the Lord at His coming.
John 14: 16-20 confirms the same truth when Jesus was speaking about the
Comforter, which was the manifestation of God to and in the believers, after
the body of flesh and blood of the Son had passed through Calvary to redeem us.
The Comforter at that time had not come, but Jesus said they knew Him! Why?
Because Jesus was the Holy Spirit; the Comforter revealed in flesh and blood;
but after Calvary He would come to them and be in them.
This article is not intended to cover everything that could be said concerning
the Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ and His name as referred in the
Scriptures, but rather to awaken your attention to the error of the trinity
doctrine and baptism in trinity titles, that you may. search the Word of God
and see that these things be so. (Acts 17: 11).
God promised in His Word, that before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ for
His Church, He would send a Prophet in the Spirit and Power of Elias to restore
the born again children of God back to the Word, and the truth in this tract
and other truths have been confirmed by the Lord through the ministry of
William Branham. (Malachi 4: 5-6).
May the Lord God Almighty reveal to you the Revelation of Jesus Christ Himself
and His name, the Lord Jesus Christ. John 17: 3 says, And this is life eternal,
that they might know Thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast
sent."
Jesus further said in Matthew 24: 44, "Therefore be ye also ready: for in such
an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh," and if you have not been
baptized in Christian baptism according to the Word of God and you desire to
be ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, may you prayerfully wait
upon the Lord and be baptized according to Acts 2: 38.
May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you.
Tracts of above article, are available by contacting:
office@gostape.co.nz
Back to index
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
