Moses was commanded to make all things according to the pattern, and that being necessary, how much more should we do all things that pertain to the salvation of souls and obedience to the Word of God according to the pattern, by following the example of the apostles who were taught from the lips of Jesus Himself, and also being taught by the Holy Spirit what the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is.
By Oscar Vouga
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WATER BAPTISM
Water baptism is being buried with Jesus in the likeness of His death, and rising to walk in newness of life. (Rom. 6:3-5.) It is the expression of a believing heart, testifyng belief that the gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation. It is the first step that a person who has repented (thus being crucified. with Jesus) must take, for by baptism we express faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Philip went to Samaria to preach, we read in Acts 8:12, that, “. . . When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Again, in verses 36-39 we find Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch, who was baptized because he believed with all his heart. Baptism is of no value without faith, or believing with the heart, and must be preceded by repentance. We are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, (Col. 2:12), and are therefore no longer living the same old life, but the new life which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is the one ordinance which marks the transition from the old into the new life, when performed scripturally.
Being buried in the likeness of the death of Jesus, it can only be performed by a single immersion in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, which is the only recorded practice of the apostles of our Lord in the Bible—God’s Word.
IN THE NAME
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commanded His disciples saying, “Go ye therefore, (because all power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth, verse 18) and teach all nations, (Jews and Gentiles) . . . that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47), baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” These same apostles were also commanded not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promised Holy Ghost (Acts 1:4). One reason for waiting is that, “. . . When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth . . .” John 16:13. And, “. . . He shall teach you all things, and bring all things, to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26.
The Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles are the only inspired books that we have which give an accurate account of how the apostles obeyed Matthew 28:19, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. To reject this account would be to accuse either the apostles of disobeying our Lord, or the Holy Spirit of failing to bring all things to their remembrance, and no sincere child of God would dare do either; so we will look at the records, and follow them as they followed Christ, by baptizing IN THE NAME of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is the only formula that we have given to us as used by the apostles.
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