Legacy · Q&A
Baptism in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Question:
Is their any evidence in the bible of a specific person being baptized in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit? I have been studying the bible and can not find evidence of a specific person. Could you please help me in understanding ? Thank you,
Sincerely, Michelle
Answer:
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for writing. The technical answer to your question is no. There isn't an instance in the Bible where someone was baptized in "the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Ghost," as Jesus alluded to in Mat. 28:19. However I would like to answer your real question in as short of order as possible. In terms of water baptism, it really doesn't matter about the name issue, because water baptism was never meant to be continued in the first place. Water baptism was an ordinance given by God to John the Baptist for the purpose of introducing Jesus and His baptism to Israel (Mk. 1:6-8; Jn. 1:26-33). Jesus could not baptize anyone with the holy Ghost while He was still on earth, because the Spirit Baptism is the work of His Heavenly Priesthood, which is to say it is the experience that takes one's sins away (Jn. 16:7; Jn. 7:37-39; Heb. 8:4; Acts 1:4,5). Jesus' Priesthood could not begin until He ascended back to Heaven, where the merits of His sacrifice (offering) were accepted by the Father (Heb. 8:1,2; Heb. 9:12,24-26). It was then that He sat down at the right hand of the Father, and began working in the office of High Priest, which office has always been for the purpose of making intercession to God for the remission of sins of those who have brought the required offering (Heb. 9:7). Refer to our gospel tract called "The Token."
After Jesus ascended to Heaven, having given His final instructions to His followers, which was to wait in Jerusalem for the baptism of the holy Ghost; seven days later the 120 people who had followed His instructions were all baptized with the holy Ghost with the heavenly evidence of speaking with other tongues (Acts 2:1-4). This experience that these people received was and is the experience of the remission of sins, or new birth if you will (I Cor. 6:11). Because Jesus came only to the Jews, and because the old covenant was in effect as long as Jesus was on earth, and because God did not immediately reveal the understanding of the fulfillment of the law, water baptism continued after Pentecost, even though there was really no more need for it. It was a work of the law because it was given by God during the time of the old testament dispensation (Mat. 5:17; Jn. 3:14,15). God first manifested what I'm talking about here, when Peter preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his household in Acts 10. These were the first Gentiles to have the Gospel preached unto them, and right after Peter began preaching to them, they were all baptized with the holy Ghost by Jesus (Acts 10:44). Peter and the Jews who came with him realized that Jesus had filled these Gentiles with His Spirit only because they heard them speak with other tongues (Acts 10:45,46).
Peter was puzzled by what had taken place, because he knew that everyone who had received the holy Ghost had first been baptized in water, even as he stated in Acts 2:38. So he went ahead and baptized them in water since he didn't know what else to do (Acts 10:47,48). Jesus did not reveal to Peter why He had beaten him to the punch, so to speak, but there was a reason. The reason was because the Gentiles had never been under the law. The law (old covenant) was given to lead the Jews to Christ (Gal. 3:24,25). But since Jesus had already come and fulfilled the law, there was no reason for the gentiles to be under any of the law. This is the message that Paul was given by God, because God raised up Paul to be the Apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 15:15,16). And even though Paul baptized in water early in his ministry, we see in the scriptures that he eventually ceased doing so, having understood that water baptism had been fulfilled with the rest of the works of the law (I Cor. 1:14-17). So that's where we end up here, knowing that one must repent and believe on Jesus unto receiving Jesus' baptism, which is always evidenced by speaking with other tongues. Water baptism is not a factor, regardless what name it's done in. No doubt Jesus was referring to His own baptism in Mat. 28:19, even as He was in Mk. 16:16 where He stated that baptism is what saves us. This also lines up with what
Peter said in I Pet. 3:21, where he specifically stated that the baptism that saves us is not the one that "washes away the filth of the flesh," but rather the one that came as a result of "the resurrection of Jesus Christ." You might like to see our online Bible Study titled "The Worship of God in Spirit and Truth" for further understanding on this subject. Nice to hear from you. Write back anytime with whatever questions may be on your mind.
Sincerely,
Lary
Comment From Joe's Site:
I've had a quick look at the 'byonespirit' site and I'm a little disturbed at the teaching on the Godhead. What do others think?
Steve (Leicester UK)
Comment From Joe's Site:
From Joe,
I had not read that part on the site. I will have to look at the full context, but considering the view on tongues being necessary for salvation, it may only really be one more problem added to a host of others.
Comment From Joe's Site:
From Joe,
So it appears that your assessment is right and there is a clear rejection of trinitarian theology.
Answer:
Hi Steve and Joe,
I just dropped in and noticed your observations about my website. Let me just say at the moment that yes, Joe, the true understanding about the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost is just another of a great host of problems for Christianity and all of it's man-made doctrines and traditions. And yes Joe, you did accurately perceive that the truth on this subject is a complete rejection of "trinitarian theology," as well as the other erroneous school of thought on this subject known as "Jesus Only." The beauty of all this is that you now have the opportunity to seek God with an honest, humble heart, being completely willing to hear what HE has to say about these matters, rather than just accept what Christianity has handed down to you. This is the only pathway to the true blessing of God, which is only available to those who love His acceptance and honor more than one another's acceptance and honor (Jn. 5:44). Check out our article on "Continuing In The Word Of God." As far as what you are deeming to be my errors in doctrine, by all means manifest that it is error, but do so by consistency of scriptural evidence and not by rhetoric of Christianity's traditions. And I also am leaving the link to the gospel tract that you have referred to and quoted from, in case anyone would be interested in reading it in it's entirety: "The True Oneness of God"
Thanks Guys,
Lary



