Acts 2:38 is more powerful than many think!

Just like to know what others think...

Why do most who believe in the trinity...think that to baptize in the name of Jesus Christ is heresy? Why do many explain away Acts 2:38 instead of just doing and believing what it says?

I mean every place in the book of Acts it mentions only the Lord or Jesus Christ. Now we know God has made Jesus Lord and Christ according to Acts 2:36.

”‹
Acts 2:38 (KJV)
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 8:12 (KJV)
But 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.

Acts 8:16 (KJV)
(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Acts 10:48 (KJV)
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Acts 19:5 (KJV)
When they heard [this], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 28:19 is the only place where Jesus tells his disciples to go into all the world and baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Now the book of Acts is where the Apostles receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost upon clear instructions from the Lord that they were to tarry until and then they were to go with the message of the kingdom of God.

Now the very first message Peter preached when they got convicted they asked him what they to do...and he told them to repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Could it be that this scripture is more powerful if obeyed than we think. Now Jesus was not this specific in Matthew 28:19-20.

Notice in Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 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.

Acts 2:38-41 (KJV)
38 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.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 4:12 (KJV)
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV)
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 3:17 (KJV)
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 2:9-12 (KJV)
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Now the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby we must be saved. Now since Matthew 28:19 says name and not names...then why couldn't this name be "Jesus" because the name of Jesus came from the Father by the Holy Ghost. It looks like that if you had to use the formula in Matthew 28 instead of Jesus Christ then somewhere after Pentecost the Apostles would have mentioned it in their letters.

Now if the name of Jesus is the only name that saves then why is it considered heresy to only use the name of Jesus Christ in Baptism like it appears in the book of Acts after Pentecost.

Now I don't agree with the UPCI when they say that one must speak in tongues to be save because we are saved by faith in Jesus through his shed blood for our sins.

Any thoughts are appreciated...

Blessings to all!

Are you oneness Pentecostal as this is there doctrine

3. Matthew 28:19
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit . . .”

It is a heresy to deny the trinity as it makes us different from people like the mormans and the jws

The doctrine of the trinity is fundementally something that you infer from the scriptures

Do you believe in the trinity

rbanks-

You raise an interesting point but I am not sure that you have explained how to get around the Great Commission.

The statements in Acts regarding being baptized in Jesus’ name could be shorthand for saying " be baptized as disciples of Jesus Christ.”

I do not believe we have actual quotes in Acts of what was specifically said when a person was baptized. They very well could have said "in the name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit” but what was understood was that they were committing themselves publically as disciples of Jesus. Thus instead of writing out "the Father Son and Holy Spirit” when baptism was mentioned they just shortened it.

Yes...I believe in the trinity

But it seems clear from the book of Acts that they did everything in the name of Jesus

It seems clear that they baptized in the name of Jesus Christ

It seems clear from all the epistles that was written concerning the church and believers that they baptized in the name of Jesus Christ

It seems clear that it is the name of Jesus that brings reproach to the world...one can mention the name of God and not bring a reproach because so many religions believe in God but when you mention the name of Jesus that is when the trouble starts...

Acts 4:7 (KJV) And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?

Acts 4:10 (KJV) Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Acts 5:40-42 (KJV) 40 And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten [them], they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:12 (KJV) But 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.

Acts 8:16 (KJV) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Just wondering what others thought on why it is considered heresy....

I mean how do we pray....how are we saved....how do we speak with authority and power. I always say in the name of Jesus. I find not one scripture where the Apostles spoke or prayed in any other name but the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:36 (KJV) Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Philippians 2:9-11 (KJV) 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
11 And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 3:17 (KJV) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

But how do you get around Jesus’ own command in the Great Commission?

Bro. rbanks,
Thank you, I appreciate your question,... it is enormous ,...

First, I believe we must consider ‘what His Name’ is ...

We know Him as His great Name, ‘Jesus ‘...
But we MUST know Him as a WHOLE of that Name.

Jesus’ Name and God’ Name are the same,.. remembering how God always talked about "My Name” ?...

so if one is baptized in the Name of Jesus or if one is baptized in the Name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Ghost, ... it is all the same,... as I see it,..because we are baptized unto a death unto our fleshly ‘way’ of life unto true Life, which is everything that , that Name (the Whole Word of God ) means/stands for.,... (that He came to work in us by The/ His Holy Spirit.)

He called us by His Name,.. the Seed,.. which is ‘The Word of God’
He has now given us a new Name, ... has planted the Seed,.. The Word of God within us,.. which is His Name,... has given us His Name,... The Holy Spirit,.. Word of God ,through The Holy Spirit.

Mt.1:23,
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

””””””””””””-
elizabeth

Just a note:on His Name,...

His Name,.. The Name of God, that was given unto His Son, Jesus, was here from the beginning of time,..
(Which is God, The Spirit / Word)

Jn. 1:1,
"In the beginning was ‘the Word... The Word was with God,and The Word was God.”
Isa.63:16,
...”Doubtless, thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; ‘THY NAME IS EVERLASTING’

Isa.9:6,
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
AND HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED,Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”.

Gen.21:33,

And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, ‘AND CALLED THEREON THE NAME OF THE LORD, THE EVERLASTING GOD .’

””””””””””””
In His Name,
elizabeth

Thank you Elizabeth!

I love and agree with your post!

TMK,

The Apostles were the first ones to carry out the great commission and Acts 2:38 is just as much the Word of Jesus as Matthew 28:19..

Here is Luke’s account of the great commission:

Luke 24:45-47 (KJV) 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And what is the name of the Holy Spirit?

Rodger b,
The Holy Spirit, is the whole Word of God, ... The Truth ,...
God’ righteous judgements/ how He see’s righteously in all things.
That is His Name.

And another note:

When men in the past, and we now, call upon ‘The Name of The Lord’
it is not a magical thing of calling on the Word Jesus, ... but it is a calling upon whatever His Name means/ stands for,.. because He wants to do the work of His Name that He has given us ,...‘in us’.

””””””””””””””-
elizabeth

John 14:26 (KJV)
But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

It is clear from scripture that the only way to the Father is through Jesus and the only way to receive the Holy Ghost is through Jesus...

John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:26 (KJV) But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

//The Apostles were the first ones to carry out the great commission and Acts 2:38 is just as much the Word of Jesus as Matthew 28:19..//

But once again there is no quotation in Acts of what was actually said at the time of a baptism, so how do you know what they were actually saying? You are assuming that they only baptized in Jesus’ name.

By the way- in the long run I do not think it matters which way a person is baptized, ie in Jesus name only or in the name of the Father Son and HS. Obviously the latter is more in line with what Jesus commanded unless we do not believe He meant what He said.

To me, we come close to missing it when we try to make too much out of the scriptures that talk about who's name we baptize in. I think Jesus own words in the gospels gives us huge evidence as to the truth.

How often did Jesus speak of Himself, the Father, and the Holy Spirit as being distinct? It is literally all over His own words. So much so to be overwhelming. Then, how often did He make it clear that He and the Father were one? Jesus was VERY clear about this in John 17. It is irrefutable. So He is one, and yet He is three.

Granted, the term "trinity" is not a term we find in scripture, but rather a word we use to describe what we see in scripture. But what we plainly read in scripture tells us that there is one God, one Spirit (after all, God is spirit, not flesh and blood), manifested in three persons that are distinct enough to interact with one another and speak of and to one another as distinct.

We just don't understand spirit, so we muddle it all up with human analogy and understanding and wind up arguing about trinity and oneness. It is enough to me to know I serve the ONE and ONLY God, and yet He reveals Himself to me in three distinct persons. Not sure how that works in the spirit realm, but I will one day.

I would add. If we find in scripture two incidents, one in which they baptized in Jesus name and one in which they baptized in the name of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then I think it is OK to do either one. Not a big issue in my book.

Travis,
Jesus, we know was one with The Father.
He also said, ‘Father make them one,as we are one’

But what brings about that oneness,... that unity ?
It is The Word of God, which is His Name....
We are many, but He wants us to be ‘one’,... unifying us with The Father (God), who is The Spirit/Word,... the invisibile God.

His Name is most important.,... that new Name, that He has given us,... which is all encompassed in The Word/Seed, (the Holy Spirit), that He has planted within us.
...that surfaces as a fountain of Living Water as The occasion/need arises,... if we will heed, it will bring us into that oneness/unity, as it did with The Father and His Son, Jesus .

Lovingly I am communing,
””””””””””””””-
elizabeth

Travis: When you minister on the streets, you will run into all kinds of beliefs, when in the confines of a congregation and who all subscribe to the Trinity its easy to 'call it no big issue'. But when the UPC or Apostolic Church attempts to tell young converts they are not baptized correctly, or they have not received the Spirit of God but a false spirit or if they have not spoke in tongues to prove they are 'filled' and thereby saved...you have now got to have more than on opinion of the legitimacy of the Trinity.

When the United Pentecostal Church tells its own congregants that the doctrine of the Trinity is pagan and literally confuse it with Tri-theism what will you say then?

Ambiguous ideas about the Trinity or about modes of baptism seem to be all acceptable losses and easy concessions when the spirit of the world is telling true believers " lets unite, lets be at peace, lets not strive about words" In the end it's a wonderful service to Satan, that way he gains easy access to young converts to confuse and damage their young minds with corrupt doctrines and in the end practices that include 'resisting the truth and right Church'.

I get it no one likes to fight, but unfortunately its encumbant we do so.

rbanks,
Thank you for the kindness,

In response to this statement :
Re:
"It is clear from scripture that the only way to the Father is through Jesus and the only way to receive the Holy Ghost is through Jesus...”

That is very true,.. And we know that, that was made possible only by His Blood sacrifice.

... A truly wonderful subject.
Thank you ,
””””””””””””-
elizabeth

Yes sister...what can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus

Here is another thought:

We know it is the blood that makes atonement

Acts 22:16 (KJV) And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Acts 2:38 (KJV) 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.

There something about the name of Jesus and the blood of Jesus that seems to also have an effect in water baptism when there is faith in the Lord Jesus death and resurrection.

Notice that Peter clearly told them to repent and....be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins....

Now we know that it is the blood that we receive remission of sins

But Peter said be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins...and the You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit

Thanks Marvin for your comment...

It is sad when there is so much confusion and hurt when people are so zealous to preach a doctrine that hurts and divides the body of Christ.

The reason I wrote this post because I have recently come across some powerful music of the Pentecostals of Alexandria. A Pastor name Anthony Mangun is a oneness Pentecostal in Louisiana who ministers to thousands of people. This man is one of the most dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ that I have witnessed.

For over 40 years his church has had around the clock prayer. They have ministered to hundreds on the street and have seen multitudes baptized in Jesus name and baptized in the Holy Ghost.

I also saw a utube video where he was on tbn with Jentzen Franklin talking about prayer and fasting.

I know what I believe but I am here to challenge us with scripture because these oneness Pentecostal are truly dedicated and not going away but are growing...and they have scripture to back up what they believe...