As a minister of God who has attempted to declare all the counsel of God and not a small segment of that gospel, I do not concentrate my focus on water baptism as though it were the sum and substance of the gospel of Christ, as many have and are doing to the harm of God's people. The harm because they lack balance in not exploring the deeper things of God.

I am aware that many PAW and UPA ministers preach Jesus name baptism and the divinity of Christ. Those are sound teachings, for those who have enough enlightnment to teach them correctly, but to just teach that, as is the case in far too many churches, it is like one who feeds a child bread and water. That may sustain him for a while, but after a while you will see that there are many vitamin-deficiencies that harm that child. And so it is with many of these churches.

But that said, there is still a time and a need to delineate this important teaching. A brother provoked the discussion below by his question. Although I later found the brother to be on solid ground, the issue he raised is, no doubt, one that many have attempted to sell. For, indeed, I recall dealing with this matter many years ago. And the issue is this: "There is no actual name-formula the apostles used. Yes, they did all things in the name of Jesus Christ because they were in the name themselves. But when they said 'be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ,' that meant in the authority of Christ, not to actually say the name of Jesus during the baptism itself." That is basically the way this novel, but wrong, teaching unfolds itself. But along with that unique teaching is also this idea: "When the apostles commanded everyone to be baptized in Jesus name, they were not talking about water at all, but what they meant was to be thoroughly submersed in a knowledge of Jesus name."

I am ever amazed at the lengths people will go to confuse themselves about doing what God says and justify their wrong ways of seeing God's word. Many times the word is complex, but many times it is not. And on the matter of baptism in Jesus name, it is NOT AT ALL COMPLEX OR OBSCURE. Yet it is frequently disobeyed. [Hear our sermon taught on this matter of the Great Commisson.]

I get many questions from all over the world and, as a teacher, I know that a question of one student may be the same question that many have. Therefore, the teaching below is in response to a brother's question, but it is right on the issue raised above.

The issue of the actual word-formula to be used is an issue of correct analysis of God's word. The Bible is quite clear about what formula to use at baptism, but those who have taken an unorthodox approach often seek a distinction that seems to them to be thoughtful, but it is not thoughtful at all, only a Satan-influenced deception. There is a standard analysis the Apostle Paul applied to scripture interpretation, which I will patiently show and trust that you will patiently consider.

Baptism without the correct formula or no formula is no baptism at all—merely a submersion or a bathing of an individual. Each person can do that for himself, so why would the minister of God go about giving individuals baths? That greater work Jesus said we would do in found here in the water baptism and the Holy Spirit filling—the new birth that is necessary for all to benefit and receive the work of Christ on Calvary! That was a work that Jesus specifically left to us, his disciples. He could not have done that work because he had to go back to glory and send the comforter, the Holy Ghost, which is necessary along with the water to be born again. [John 3:5; 14:12; 16:7]  

An incorrect baptism is no baptism, and clearly the disciples correctly baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ all who were to be children of God in the church of God. And these apostles are our examples. 

You started this discussion with the recognition that Col. 3:17, says whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord. That is clear enough on its face, but I see that you cannot accept that clarity. Okay, let us see if we can bring another clarity that removes the veil and allows you to see it. Certainly, one of the first principles of sound reasoning and analysis is this, if a thing makes sense as it is written, it makes sense, and that is the sense that is meant. Furthermore, this is where Solomon’s admonition applies, “Be not over wise.”  I know many of our unlearned and unstable, as Peter labeled them, have used this scripture erroneously against the educated saints in the church because of their own insecurities, but that is a misapplication of the scripture. To be over wise is to become a fool, and God, I assure you, is NOT desirous of any of his saints to be fools. For too many of them have lingered too long by the sea of ignorance, thinking it to be godliness—IT IS NOT! God’s people, as any people, but especially his people, are destroyed because of their lack of knowledge. And, sadly, most of them reject knowledge—either they scorn it, they are too lazy to get it, they do not prepare themselves for it, they have lived too long to learn anymore, or they allow the Culture of Ignorance, so vibrant in too many sanctified churches, to pass down to and upon them, causing them to think that ignorance is okay with God. [Hos. 4:6]

With that said, however, that is not to say that God’s word does not have multiple means. It may well have several meanings, but all those means are the meanings he intends. Yes, even the scriptures that say, answer not a fool according to his folly. And answer a fool according to his folly. The student of God’s word will understand the appropriate application of these scriptures and see no contradictions, but complexities.

First, let’s look at Paul’s reasoning in analyzing scripture in Galatians 3. Paul analyzed the distinction between seeds and seed, in discerning the intent and meaning of God’s word. That is simply analysis by carefully reading a given scripture. He carefully read and saw that seeds is plural and seed is singular—the first, seeds, means two or more and the second, seed, means only one. This is a basic form of reasoning by reading and understanding. If one cannot reason competently that way, one will have serious problems understanding God’s word at all. And that is what God meant. 

Second, look at Jesus’ analysis and discernment of scripture in Matt. 22:32:  He put the Sadducees to shame, as he showed life after death in a most unlikely scripture through very faint, but sound analysis. God said that he is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; He is not the God of the dead, but the living…. That process of reasoning the scriptures was sound and undeniable by men of reason. So the Sadducees were ashamed. [Mark 12:27] 

Paul takes on the Sovereignty of God* issue found in Romans 9 and reasons it carefully so that all those who understand what he is saying can also clearly understand and reconcile, “You have chosen me but I have chosen you” with “Whosoever will, let him come.” And those who understand Paul in Romans 9, can also understand what God was doing to Job as he afflicted him, reconciling the Gen. 18 idea that the judge of all the earth will do right with how God afflicted the righteous man Job, all the while declaring Job righteous and, of course and without a doubt, maintaining God’s own integrity. [Job 1 & 2]

To see these things clearly is to reason well. And do remember, God said in Isaiah, come let us reason together. That is what Paul frequently went into and among the Jews and even kings doing, reasoning the word of God, and of righteousness and judgment. [Isa. 1:18; Acts 17; 18; 24] The word has to be rightly divided, as Paul says. [2 Tim. 2:15] And when it is wrongly divided it is not what God says, it is what man says. God will never be bound by a wrong interpretation of his word. And I am sure you are too intelligent and astute in God’s word to wrongly extract from God’s word and say, according to your faith be it unto you, as a cloak for a wrong analysis of  God’s word. [Mat. 9:29]

Finally, and to the point of this discussion, your notion of not having a biblically given formula for water baptism is way off the mark, and here is why: Mat. 28:19 is a formula that one has to understand and apply. That correct application is seen in Acts 2; 8; 9; 10; and chapters 19. These were the clear applications of that formula. But you would say, of course, that they said they did it in the name of Jesus being, themselves already in his name. That is where your reasoning of the words falls flat on its face. I do not mean to be harsh, but that reasoning is no reasoning at all.                    

Your argument is that you do not see them actually saying the words, therefore, you reason that there are no actual words used/that they used no words. That is reduction to absurdity—since you do not see Dr. Luke’s words that literally say, “The disciples said these words when they baptized, ‘I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins’” you conclude that there is no formula. Indeed, that is flawed reasoning that reduces itself to absolute absurdity, and it flies in the face of the rightly divided word of God. 

Let us reason even further: Will you not concede that the commissions in Matthew 28, Mark 16, and Luke 24 are given to the same disciples and Jesus is giving the same basic commission? Of course I know and assume you must know as well that Matthew 28:19 as well as 1 John 5:7-8 have great textual credibility problems. But, these commissions are meant to be the same. There is no problem with the integrity and credibility of Mark 16:15-18, however. In that scripture, Jesus said that believers in him would cast out devils, heal the sick, speak with new tongues…and lay hands on the sick and they shall recover—all in his name. His name is Jesus, and for purposes of clarity, Jesus is a translation and not a transliteration of his actual Hebrew name, Joshua, which means Jehovah is salvation.

Notice that all of the above actions are to be done in Jesus name. But according to your reasoning, these actions can only be done by one already in his name and this statement does not mean a formula to be used. That is your reason, and I want you to see it as it really is. Furthermore, you will see, I trust, that Mark 16:17-18 says what James 5:13-14 says and more, but specifically IN THE NAME?

Now look at the words of Dr. Luke in Acts 3:6. Remember Jesus said do it in his name, well Peter is explicit here and Luke writes this, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” That is the healing Jesus said would be done in his name. Notice that Peter applied the name in words, formula if you will, as Jesus said they would do. And Luke recorded the exact quote as Peter said it.

In Acts 16:18, Paul casts a demon of divination out of a young woman, and Luke actually gives the words/formula and process that Paul uses: “…Paul turned and said to the spirit, ‘I command thee, in the name of Jesus Christ, to come out of her….’” Jesus had told them to cast out devils in his name, heal in his name. That is what they did as recorded by Luke.  These scripture gives you an understanding of what is meant by doing it in my name or do it in the name of Jesus Christ. To take some other stance than what is clearly demonstrated above is vain, it defies commonsense, and it defies the right interpretation of the word of God.

 Peter explained in Acts 4, why the use of the name is so important: there is no other name that can do what the name of Jesus can. His name and faith in his name has made the impotent man whole, Peter said. You see, the name of a man carries his bloodline, so if we are to touch the precious blood of Christ, we must use his name. He came in his father’s name, Joshua/Jesus, and that name has power and application of the bloodline of Christ. By the use of that precious name, we acquire what he did on Calvary. There he opened the door for all mankind, but we walk in it individually. Let me give you an example of that.

A few years ago, Wells Fargo bank was sued in a class action suit. The petitioners won, Wells Fargo lost. Millions of Wells Fargo customers won and were owed money. We all won, but to get the fruits of that victory we had to apply individually into that class of customers who were wronged by the bank. Unless we applied individually, it was as if we lost. What Christ did on Calvary’s cross was for the entire world, BUT each person must apply for that great gift of God individually. That application starts by being born again. But if that is done defectively, we have not applied God’s way. And be assured, brother, God’s way is more stringent than man’s way. Notice what Isaiah says, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways, for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are God’s ways from our ways.

In Acts 19, some imitators of the disciples had been, no doubt, watching what and how the disciples were exercising the power of God, and they decided to try it too. These sons of Sceva called over those with evils spirits the name of Jesus and did not get the same result they had seen the disciples get. Notice their attempt to imitate what they saw the disciples do. The disciples called over the sick the name of Jesus, over the possessed the name of Jesus, and over those who they baptized the name of Jesus because that is what they were told to do.

Any reasonable person can clearly see that when the disciples were to baptize in Jesus name and when Peter commanded to be baptized in Jesus name that is to be translated into the calling of the name of Jesus over them as the way to baptize them in Jesus name. And not to linger in needless things, but for clarity and safety sake, the name is called upon them during the submersion process. That is the pattern of the formula shown here in these scriptures. We must do all things according to the pattern shown us! Some novel deviation from the right interpretation of God’s word is little more than a path to perdition. Souls are at stake and teachers of the word of God must first and continually be students of the word. I continue that a teacher is as good a teacher as he is a student: a bad student is a worse teacher, yet the obligations of the teacher is great!

 Notice what brother Paul says to the Corinthian Church: “And such were some of you, but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” [1 Cor. 6:11] Can you not reason that Paul is saying here the same thing he says in Col. 3, namely, that they were washed (baptized) in Jesus name?

The concept, to do it in his name means, as I have shown you above, to call his name out. Devils will not regard you, sin will not be moved, and the Eternal Spirit/The Father will not regard you when you do not regard His name. The name is Jesus. It was a name whispered to Mary by angels. It is the salvation name of God that is above every name, and at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. It is a name that is a strong tower that the righteous run into and are safe and saved.

Dear Brother, you as well as I, have been given the pattern that He wants us to follow. It was commanded by Him and his disciples, practiced by them so as to give an example for the slow to see. What more can Jesus do? Do not allow Satan to steal the clarity of God’s word with this old canard that claims to be thoughtfulness but is little more that Satan’s deception.

I suggest you study an essay in our Web Library (www.twot.org) that gives the history of when the baptism formula changed from Jesus name to the words, Father, Son, Holy Ghost. It was, of course, after the last apostle had died.

God told Moses, and He tells us as well, “See that thou do all things according to the pattern….” [Ex. 25:8-9; Heb. 8:5] You have been given the pattern of the formula; do not allow Satan to seduce you into thinking that this novel (but flawed) reasoning is nice. Whatever we do in word or deed, do all in the name of Christ. That means call the name of Jesus over it.

I have taken this great space to write to you because I have no idea how many people you touch and will touch, and my God would not allow me to pass by without shinning some light on that important subject. I beg of you to study our Web Library; we cover many important subjects and share the light of God’s Spirit upon them.

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* This is a matter that few ministers are willing to study God's word long enough to deal with. But it is the call of God to all his ministers to preach the whole counsel of God.

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