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Baptism in the Name of our Lord
Jesus Christ
Pastor E. Valverde, Sr.
The doctrine of baptism is a subject of
capital importance, and has been considered as such during the centuries
since the church was founded by our Lord Jesus Christ. He himself gave
prominence to this sacrament commanding: "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned,"
and "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Mark 16:16 and
Matt. 28:19) In addition, He himself confirmed the importance of water
baptism by going to the Jordan River to be baptized by John, saying:
"Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all
righteousness." (Matt. 3:15)
Many religious leaders in this present time teach that
water baptism is not of great importance, thus, contradicting the same Lord
they profess to obey and serve. They repeat the same error the Pharisees and
scribes committed by rejecting the counsel of God in refusing to be baptized
by John. (Luke 7:30) This brief tract is not directed to those of a contrary
spirit, but to the sincere Christian who with a pure and simple heart
desires to obey the Word of God, both in what the Lord orders directly and
what He authorizes by instrumentality of his Apostles: "He that
receiveth you receiveth me." (Matt. 10:40) We add, our purpose in
insisting on the subject of baptism is salvation and not to obtain members
for a certain denomination or religious organization. That whomever
desiresmay receive from God the fullness of his salvation. Now that we are
clear on these basic truths, let us consider the following questions:
What is the reason for baptism? The Lord said that
"he who believeth and is baptized, shall be saved." (Mark 16:16)
On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit spoke through Peter saying:
"Repent and be baptized every one of you for the forgiveness of
sins..." (Acts 2:38) Paul, speaking of Christ's sacrifice expounds that
the Lord gave himself for his Church "that he might SANCTIFY and
CLEANSE it with the washing of water by the word." (Eph. 5:26) Peter,
speaking regarding Noah's salvation by water in the ark, states: "the
like figure whereunto even baptism doth also NOW SAVE US..." (1 Pet.
3:21)
How is baptism administered? Paul explains to us that
baptism is like unto the figure of one, who having died, is buried, for he
states: "know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized in Jesus
Christ were baptized into his DEATH? Therefore we are buried with him by
baptism into DEATH..." (Rom. 6:3-4) He states once again that we are
"buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with
him..." (Col. 2:12) According to these scriptures, baptism is a
symbolic burial in which the believer, already dead to the world (repented),
is buried in water and emerges to walk a new life in Christ. Therefore,
baptism should be administered by immersion, submerging the repentant
sinner's body completely in the water, according to the example the Lord
himself gave us when he went to the Jordan River to be baptized: "And
Jesus, when he was baptized, WENT UP straightway OUT OF THE WATER..."
(Matt. 3:16) In the same manner, when Phillip baptized the Ethiopian eunuch,
the scripture says that: "They both went down INTO the water, both
Phillip and the eunuch: and he baptized him. And when they were COME UP OUT
OF THE WATER..." (Acts 8:38-39)
What name should be invoked in baptism? The Lord commanded
his disciples to baptize "all nations in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matt. 28:19) When the apostles obeyed
the Master's command, they baptized thousands and thousands of believers in
the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They did not disobey the Lord's
commandment as many have foolishly dared to say, but instead understood that
the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is JESUS our
Lord, and that He is One. They understood the Lord's statement: "He who
hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9) They understood that
"God was manifest in the flesh." (1 Tim. 3:16) They understood
that Jesus was Israel's Messiah and that he could not be another, but God
himself, for there is only one God. (Dent. 6:4 and Isa. 44:6) They
understood that only the Lord God can save, and were given revelation to
understand that Jesus is the same Jehovah God because the Name which is
given unto men whereby they might be saved is JESUS. (Acts 4:12) It is the
Name that is above every name, of which was prophesied: "that whosoever
calleth upon the Name of the Lord, shall be delivered." (Phil. 2:9,
Joel 2:32) The following biblical verses give witness that the original
believers in the church were all baptized invoking the Name of Jesus Christ,
and never the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost: Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48,
19:5, and 22:16; Rom. 6:3 and Gal. 3:27. The baptism invoking the pronouns
Father, Son and Holy Ghost was not used in the apostolic era nor in the
first century of the Church, but was a latter interpretation which surfaced
among other erroneous doctrines. They are the twisted results of the
apostasy (falling away), which were accepted and confirmed by the Nicean
Council in the year 325 A.D.
For whom is the baptism by immerison invoking the Name of
Jesus Christ? Read the answer for yourself. IT IS FOR THE JEWS. (Acts 2:36
and 38) IT IS FOR THE SAMARITANS. (Acts 8:14 and
16) IT IS FOR THE GENTILES. (Acts
10:45-48) IT IS FOR BELIEVERS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN BAPTIZED WITH OTHER
BAPTISMS. (Acts 19:1-5) "For the promise is unto you, and unto your
children, and to all that are afar off, EVEN AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD
SHALL CALL." (Acts 2:39)
LAST WORD
Esteemed brother and friend, if you love
the Lord and are one of those interested in being sure of the salvation of
your soul, we invite you in the love of Christ to think carefully concerning
this seriously important doctrinal subject. Consider that it does not deal
with a denominational argument, but with a command very specifically given
by our Lord who said: "He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be
saved."
NOTE: If the
matter contained in this brief tract has enlightened you or has awakened in
your heart the desire to know more about this fundamental doctrine in the
process of salvation, we invite you to visit your brethren at the address
below or write to the Editor.
:
"Maranatha" Publications P.O.
Box 5086 Salinas, CA 93915
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