by Brother L. Harrell
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" Matthew
28:19
The
apostle Paul was not present when Matthew 28:19 was spoken. Jesus
Himself spoke to Paul from heaven and instructed him to go to Damascus
where he would be told all things appointed for him to do (See Acts
22:10 below).
"And I said, What shall I do, LORD? And the Lord said unto
me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all
things which are appointed for thee to do." Acts 22:10
Concerning
Paul's baptism, he was told to call on the name of the Lord (See Acts
22:16 below):
"And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash
away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord." Acts 22:16
Paul
was not commanded to call on the names of the Lords.
There is only one Lord, and only one name given which
we must be saved. (See Mark 12:29 & Acts 4:12) Paul called on the
name of the Lord, Jesus. Remember that Jesus sent Paul here for these instructions.
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the
name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:21
Paul
is recorded following the same plan outlined by Peter in Acts 2:38 and
by Jesus in John 3:5 & Luke 24:47. When he met some believers
(some believers who have repented), he baptized them in Jesus' name, as
commanded in Matthew 28:19, and laid hands, praying for the gift of the
Holy Ghost, which is evidenced by speaking in tongues as the Spirit
gave utterance. Apostle Paul understood the instructions of
Matthew 28:19, as did the other Apostles that were present when it was
spoken.
"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the
Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy
Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."
Acts 19:5-6
As
the other apostles, Paul baptized believers in the name of the Lord
Jesus. See Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16 & Acts 10:48 to see how the
other Apostles baptized believers.
When commanded in Matthew 28:19 (Listed above), the Apostles
knew the "name" of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. His
name is Jesus. (See Matthew 1:21, John 5:43, John 14:9, John 14:17,
John 14:26, John 17:11 & John 10:30)
"Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures, 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." Luke
24:45-47
Matthew 28:19 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:"
Is Jesus the
Father, Son & Holy Ghost?
Deuteronomy
6:4 says:
"Hear,
O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"
If Jesus is
Lord, and the Father is Lord, then Jesus is the Father (there is one
Lord).
Romans
8:9-10 says:
"But
ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,
he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is
dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of
righteousness."
If the Spirit
of God / Spirit of Christ is the Holy Ghost, then Jesus is the Holy
Ghost (there is one Spirit).
It is
evident that Jesus is the Father, Son & Holy Ghost. Therefore,
the name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost is Jesus. This is
confirmed in Colossians 2:9:
"For in him dwelleth
all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Colossians 2:9
The multitude asked what shall we do?
"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." (Acts 2:38)
This
is what you must do. |