His Word Is Forever Settled!
This Is My Rebuttal Article Sent To Williamson Daily News In Response To The Question Of "Is Baptism In Jesus Name Scriptural?"
I am responding to an article by the North Matewan Church of Christ, published April 19, l989, in the Williamson Daily News. The article was entitled, "Baptism in 'Jesus Only' Scriptural?".
The person writing the article said, "...The 'Jesus Only' cult is spreading in this area, with little being done to counteract this false teaching..." First of all, I, being a minister of the Gospel, refuse to discuss heatedly, angrily, or otherwise argue when it comes to God's Word, but I am fully prepared to earnestly contend for the Faith!
When the writer said "...The 'Jesus Only' cult is spreading in this area...", my mind went back to a similar statement made concerning a people who also were worried about the spreadingof a One God believing people. It is found in Exodus 1:7-10: "And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land." Then I was reminded of what Gamaliel, a doctor of the law and a Pharisee, said in response to Peter and the other Apostles preaching in the name of Jesus: "And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought: But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." (Acts 5:38&39).
In Exodus they couldn't suppress the children of Israel and their belief in Jehovah! In the book of Acts, they couldn't suppress the preaching and teaching of the Apostles concerning Jesus' Name! And today, man cannot do anything with the Doctrine concerning Jesus' Name! "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
Baptism in Jesus' Name is not only Scriptural, but it is the only way the New Testament Church baptized! (Ref. Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48). The disciples that walked with Jesus, talked with Jesus, and were taught by Jesus, heard the command given in Matthew 28:19; and we find them fulfilling Jesus' directive to the uttermost detail by baptizing them in the name of Jesus! From the Day of Pentecost to the present, we find the answer to the question: "...Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37) STILL to be: "...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). I don't think the disciples got their wires crossed, I think they not only understood but also carried out the command Jesus gave!
For those who refuse to accept God's Word, look at what some encyclopedias say:
Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, page 365--Baptism was changed from the name of Jesus to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost in 2nd Century.
Canney Encyclopedia of Religion, page 53--The early church baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until the second century.
Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion, Volume2--Christian baptism was administered using the words, "in the name of Jesus" page 377. Baptism was always in the name of Jesus until time of Justin Martyr, page 389.
Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, page 263--Here the authors acknowledged that the baptismal formula was changed by their church.
Schaff-Herzog Religious Encyclopedia, Volume 1, page 435--The New Testament knows only the baptism in the name of Jesus.
Hastings Dictionary of Bible, page 88--It must be acknowledged that the three fold name of Matthew 28:19 does not appear to have been used by the primitive church, but rather in the name of Jesus, Jesus Christ, or Lord Jesus.
We (Jesus Name People) don't deny the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; We acknowledge what the Word of God says and we believe it! We believe God manifested Himself to the world in the person of Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that the Divine Nature that resided in Christ was the selfsame Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Holy Spirit of the Church Age. (Ref. Is. 9:6, John 8:58, John 14:8-11). I John 2:23: "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." I John 5:7: "For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." We acknowledge that all the fulness of the Godhead dwells in Jesus. Colossians 1:19: "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell;" Colossians 2:9: "For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." I Timothy 3:16: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." This does not even begin to scratch the surface of the Scriptures that plainly express who Jesus is!
Jesus Name People are Bible believing people! We have not created a religion, we are merely obeying the Word! Colossians 3:17 says: "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." James 1:5: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Simon Peter sums it up pretty well in II Peter 1:16: "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty."
Rev. Richard D. McKinney
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