What does Gods word have to say in regards to the doctrine of water baptism? Is water baptism essential to salvation or is it not essential as some teach in the land today? The holy Bible is an inspired book written by man, but inspired of God, and there are many different teachings found within its pages, but there is only one truth concerning each teaching. Looking into the religious realm of the confessing Christian world will reveal that there are different teachings being proclaimed on this subject of water baptism. There are actually three different teachings that says water baptism is either done by emersion under water, or by sprinkling, or by pouring. Since the apostle Paul tells us these words in 2 Thessalonians 5:21 that says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” then we must look into Gods word on this subject and let Gods word be true and count all men as liars until proven out by the word of God. And you will find among the many denominational churches in the land today that there is three different ways a person is to be baptized whether it be in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, or in the name of Jesus only, and also in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Which way is in perfect accord with Gods word? Keep in mind that we must do things Gods way in accord with his word or not to do it all. Doing things contrary to what Gods word says is leaning on one’s own understanding, which will get you absolutely nowhere with God whatsoever. So let us do as Paul says and prove all things and hold fast to that which is good.
Let us find out how one is to be baptized in water whether it be by total emersion under water, or by sprinkling, or by pouring. Jesus himself, which is our perfect example to follow was baptized by John the Baptist as stated in Matthew 3:13 that says, “Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.” Then in Matthew 3:16 it says, “ And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.” Notice it says here that Jesus went straightway out of the water, which clearly reveals he came up out of the water as he was plunged under the water, which proves he was baptized by immersion; not by sprinkling or having water poured on him. Why then are some baptizing with water by sprinkling it on you and some pouring water on you from a pitcher or some other container? Sprinkling and pouring is not being done nowhere in scripture proving that converts were always being taken to the river where there was much water to be immersed under the water. So Gods word reveals that water baptism must be done by immersion under water or else its a teaching or a commandment of men and not from Gods word. And we can see that as a person is being baptized either by immersion or sprinkling or by pouring the minister will either say these words that says, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, or they will say, “I baptize you in the name of Jesus only, or they will say, “I baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Which way does Gods word reveal it? Keep in mind we must do it Gods way or waste our time by doing it man’s way, which will profit us nothing. Why are the greatest majority of ministers baptizing their converts using the tile form of the “Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost?” Is this what Gods word reveals concerning this? Let us then do as Paul tells us and prove all things and hold fast to that which is good.
The greatest majority of ministers baptize their converts whether it be done by immersion, or by sprinkling, or by pouring using the title form of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost believing that the scripture of Matthew 28:19 is where the truth of the matter is found. This scripture says, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” What people are failing to understand is this scripture is not referring to water baptism, but is reference to the Spirit baptism into the body of Christ, which is the church. Let me first try and prove to you that this scripture is not referring to water baptism, and then I will show you from Gods holy word that it is reference to the Spirit baptism into Christ. Its the word “baptizing” that is throwing people off from the truth of the matter. Just because the word “baptizing” is used here this does not prove that its referring to water baptism so here again we must do as Paul said, which is to prove all things and hold fast to that which is good. Let us look into Gods word to find out how the early disciples baptized believers and we must allow what Gods word says and reveals to be the final truth of the matter. Now there are four places found in the book of Acts where the disciples baptized believers so let us examine each one for the truth of the matter. The first place is found written in Acts 2:38 that says these very words saying, “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 Ghost.” Now if water baptism was to be done in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, then why did not Peter, that Christ gave the keys to the kingdom, tell those Jews to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost? Why do we find Peter telling those Jews to be baptized in the name of Jesus
Christ? Is this a contradiction found in Gods word? If so, then it cannot be Gods word, because Gods cannot tell a lie nor can he fail. Peter having the keys to the kingdom knew that there was a name connected when it comes to being baptized, and he knew that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is not a name. By revelation he knew that the only name given under heaven whereby we can be saved was Jesus Christ, as he stated in Acts 4:12 that says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” You know well as I do that Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is not a name, but Jesus Christ is. So Peter told those Jews on Pentecost to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, which is the revealed truth of the matter.
The next place we find believers were being baptized as stated in chapter eight of the book of Acts. When the apostles had heard that Samaria had received the word of God they sent Peter and John to them. These believers here had not as yet received the Holy Ghost, but notice what Acts 8:16 states saying, “(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)” Notice that these believers were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and not in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost thus again proving that water baptism is done in Christ’s name. And the next place is found in Acts chapter ten where we find the Gentiles has received the Holy Ghost even before they were baptized and we find Peter saying these words in Acts 10:47 saying, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” And then in Acts 10:48 we find Peter stating these words saying, “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” Here again we see that baptism must be done in the name of the Lord and not Father, Son, and Holy Ghost simply because this is not a name. The last place we find where believers were being baptized in found in Acts chapter nineteen when the apostle Paul went to Ephesus and found some disciples that knew only of the baptism of John the Baptist. Paul asked these believers if they had received the Holy Ghost since they believed and they told Paul that they have never heard about the Holy Ghost. Paul then said these words to them stated in Acts 19:3 saying, “And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.” And then we find Paul saying in Acts 19:4-5 these words that says, “Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Notice again they were not told to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Ghost like almost all preachers are telling their many converts today. Here is another scripture that really reveals the truth even more about this subject of water baptism in what Luke tells us in Luke chapter twenty four. These words Jesus had spoken to his disciple before he ascended back into heaven, as stated in Luke 24:46-47 that says, “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Notice that Luke says that “repentance and remission of sins” should be preached in “his name” which is in perfect harmony with what Peter said in Acts 2:38. Repentance and remission of sins is to be preached in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, because Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is not a name. Each place found in the book of Acts on baptism is reference to water baptism in Christ name, but Matthew 28:19 is not reference to water baptism like most think and believe. So let me try and prove to you what Jesus is actually revealing in this verse of scripture. I said earlier that this scripture is reference to the Spirit baptism into Christ and so let us look at what Gods word says about it.
To understand this scripture let us look at what Matthew reveals about this as stated in Matthew 3:11 that says, “I indeed baptize 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 baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” The question is, “How does Jesus baptize with the Holy Ghost?” What Jesus tells us in Matthew 28:19 is the answer to this question. Let me show you how Christ baptizes with the Holy Ghost proving that Matthew 28:19 is not referring to water baptism. Notice that Jesus told his disciples to “teach all nations.” Just what is it that he is commanding them to teach? Let Matthew 28:20 answer this question that says, “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Jesus is telling them to teach the truth that he taught them. Then Jesus said “baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” If you will allow Gods word to teach you, you are at the same time allowing Gods word to baptize you. Keep in mind that Christ is the revealed word of God, so if you obey Gods word, that revealed word will baptize you into Christ in a daily process making you an entirely a new creature in Christ. This is how Christ (the word of God) will baptize you with (or along with) the Holy Ghost, as Matthew 3:11 states. Its the word of God (which is Christ) being revealed by the Spirit that will in time baptize the believer into Christ Jesus; not into a body of water. Paul tells us these words in I Corinthians 12:13 these words saying, “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Its not the disciples that’s baptizing the believers into Christ, but rather its the truth (Christ) in them that does the baptizing as the Spirit reveals truth through them. So to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is to be baptized into Jesus Christ, which is the spiritual body of Christ that is the one true church. All the references in Acts concerning believers being baptized is reference of being baptized in a body of water in the name of Jesus Christ, but Matthew 28:19 is reference to the Spirit baptism into the body of Christ. This baptism into Christ is a progressive work and can be called the “Baptism of the Holy Ghost.” This baptism of the Holy Ghost is not some great emotional experience evidenced by the speaking in tongues, like the many Pentecostal and Charismatic groups are teaching today. This baptism is accomplished by the Spirit as he leads us into the many truths revealed in Gods word that will in time immerse you into Christ making a new creature of you. Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:17 these words saying, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Its the cleansing and creating power of Gods word revealed by the Spirit that will conform the obedient believer to the image of Christ, as Paul tells us in Romans 8:29 that says, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Can you honestly look into the realm of the confessing Christian world today and see multiplied millions that has been conformed to Christ’s image? If so, then why are they all yet confessing to be sinners still committing sin and rebellion against God? They say they are born again, but John tells us these words in I John 3:9 that says, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” And why does John tell us these words in I John 5:18 that says, “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” Friend if you are concerned about your spiritual condition in the sight of God and what eternity holds for you after you keep your appointment with death, then you better begin to do what the apostle Paul says in II Corinthians 13:5 that says, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” And let me also remind you what Revelation 3:22 states saying, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Amen and amen