Ron Garber Ministries  

There is a great misunderstanding today concerning water baptism. Most of Christendom Baptizes by saying, "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Actually they are not baptizing in any name but in three titles. This is because we usually read the Scriptures the way we have been taught.

Before anyone puts a label on me, let me say I am not a "'Oneness," or "Jesus Only," or a 'Trinitarian." I am not going into the subject of the "God head," I am speaking about baptism. The only name, or label I claim, is "Christian." Those man made labels separate Christians and are signs of immaturity. Paul reprimands the Corinthians for this in 1 Corinthians 3:4, "For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not mere men?

Look carefully at what Jesus said in Mathew 28:19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Read what He said, "In the NAME," (singular) not names, (plural) "of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit;" not the name of the Father and the name of the Son and the name of the Holy Spirit. So, we are looking for ONE name! Father is not a name. Son is not a name. Holy Spirit is not a name. Father and Son are titles and Holy Spirit is what it is. I am a father but that is not my name. I am also the son of my father, but that is not my name. I am a human but that is not my name. So, what is the NAME that Jesus was referring to?

Peter was there when Jesus gave them that commandment in Matthew 28:19, so what name did he use when he was asked, "Brethren, what shall we do?" (Ac.2:37) His answer is found in the next verse, "Repent and each of you be baptized in the NAME of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." Remember, he had just been filled with the Holy Spirit and it was the Holy Spirit that gave him the answer. Look at the way Phillip baptized, "In the NAME of the Lord Jesus," (Ac.8:16); and likewise Paul, "In the NAME of the Lord Jesus." (Ac.19:5) Peter also ORDERED the first Gentile converts to be baptized, "In the name of Jesus Christ."  (Ac.10;48)

You cannot find that the church baptized any other way in the Scriptures. So are we to say they didn't do what they were told? If we claim that, we would have to say they laid the foundation wrong; therefore we could not believe anything they wrote to be inspired by God. Nor could we believe anything they taught, if they were not being directed by the Holy Spirit to baptize in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:3, says, "Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?" How are we baptized into His death? By being baptized in His name, thus we become associated with him in death. After all He was the one who died for us not the Father.

I have given 4 Scriptures besides Matthew 28:19, that prove baptism in the name of Jesus Christ is the correct mode of baptism. That makes it a fact. "Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses." (2Cor.13:1) Those who baptize in the titles have only one Scripture which in reality attest to what I am saying.

I had a Baptist man say to me once, "Well, I am going to do what Jesus said, because I believe that the Father will honor what the Son says." What nonsense!! He believes the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit are all equal and then claims what Jesus says has greater preponderance that the Holy Spirit. Thus he contradicts his doctrine of the trinity.

You can argue, twist the Word anyway you want, cry if you like, throw a tantrum and go into a tirade; but that is the correct and only way, according to the Scriptures, that the early church baptized. Any other way is the result of a twisted or distorted form of the Word of God. I challenge anyone to show me differently by the Scriptures. Of course, most people don't care what the Scriptures teach and will make up some fable in an attempt to substantiate what they want to believe.

HISTORICAL FACTS

Now, how did it happen? At the Nicene Council in 325 AD, a group of bishops, who wanted to enhance their doctrine of a trinity, changed water baptism by substituting the formula for the name. What kind of men were they? Judge for yourself. Emperor Constantine murdered his brother-in-law, his nephew, his own son, and possibly his wife; yet, they did not raise a voice to condemn him, for they were seeking to stay in his grace. They were like like the ungodly Pharisees, who refused to speak out against the sin of Herod, yet condemned Christ by twisting and distorting the things He taught. Does God give revelation to men of this nature?

Ron

 COMMENT: In black   ANSWER: In red

 "Hi Ron!  Thank you for the 2 messages you sent. I like to receive your comments.... we read in the bible  but not so close to see these truths, thank you very much." -Janet P.