Studies In Scripture » Born again

The Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Randy A. Brown — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:19:41 +0000

Easter is one of my favorite holidays. It reminds us of the reason we have salvation- the gospel of Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and resurrection. The word ‘gospel’ means ‘good news’. This good news of the gospel is that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected in order to provide salvation for us. Most teach about the good news but never tell what the good news is or why it is significant. Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected on the third day, but how is that good? How is his death burial and resurrection good news?

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. ³ For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Jesus was our ultimate sacrifice who paid the ultimate price for our sins, but it wasn’t enough for Jesus to just die on the cross. He also had to be buried and resurrect from the dead. Through the acts of his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus bought our salvation. He purchased salvation with his own blood and made it available to all who obey him.

Philippians 2:5-11 ⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: ⁷ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: ⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 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.

Death of Jesus

Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for our sins by dying on the cross. He went to the cross perfect and sinless. He did not deserve death. He was the only person that could make atonement for our sins. In order to make atonement, the sacrifice had to be without blemish- without sin. This is why we cannot atone for our own sins. We are born into sin. Jesus was not born into sin because God was his father.

We have to identify with his death by dying to sin. We die to sin, put off the old man, by repenting of our sins and turning away from sin. We can’t kill the sinful nature. What we put to death is the control the sinful nature has over us.

Romans 6:12-14 ¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. ¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Christians are not under the control of sin. We must live an overcoming life and not allow sin to work in our lives.

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ² God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

We die to sin when we repent. Repentance is a turn from sin; change of heart; a change of lifestyle; a change of paradigm. It is to be sorrowful for sin and to make a conscious decision to turn from sin. We must continue to kill sinful desires.

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

We apply the death of Jesus to our lives when we repent in faith.

Burial

Jesus was buried for three days and three nights. During this time he set the captives free.

Ephesians 4:8-10 ⁸ Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. ⁹ (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

We identify with the burial of Jesus through baptism in his name.

Romans 6:3-5 ³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Colossians 2:12 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.

We are buried with Jesus in water baptism. This is what Jesus is referring to in John chapter 3 when he’s talking about being born of the water.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

Water baptism remits sin. It washes sin away. Baptism is only effective when performed in Jesus name coupled with faith.

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

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

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

Water baptism buries the sinful life we once had. Water baptism applies the burial of Jesus to our lives.

Resurrection

Jesus resurrected on the third day. Through his resurrection, he is the first born from the dead- the first to resurrect to a new life.

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

Just as Jesus resurrected, we must also resurrect to a new life without sin.

Romans 6:4-5 ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

The likeness of his resurrection is the Spiritual birth that Jesus was talking about in John chapter 3.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

We identify with his resurrection through Spirit baptism.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Through the resurrection of Jesus we can have a new life.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Jesus bought the gospel with his own blood.

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

This is the work that Jesus was sent to do. This is what he was talking about when he said he would raise on the third day.

John 2:19-22 ¹⁹ Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ²⁰ Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? ²¹ But he spake of the temple of his body. ²² When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

The gospel is his death, burial, and resurrection. We identify with the gospel through repentance, being baptized in Jesus name, and being filled with the Holy Ghost. This gospel message is summarized by Peter.

Acts 2:38 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.

Salvation is God’s works, not our works. There is nothing we can do to work for our salvation, but we must obey the Word of God. Jesus purchased our salvation with his own blood. Salvation is a free gift by the grace of God. All we have to do is apply it. We apply it by first believing on Jesus as the scriptures say. Then, we have faith that Jesus will save us. Next we repent of our sins with the intention of forsaking sin, be baptized in Jesus’ name for the remission of sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. Finally, we must live a clean and holy life putting God first, and then we must endure till the end.

Repentance

Randy A. Brown — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:34:31 +0000

Before we can be baptized in water in Jesus’ name for the remission of sins, before we can be filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues, we must first repent of our sins. Repentance is more than repeating a prayer. Repentance is more than admitting to being a sinner. Repentance is more than a simple command. Repentance is part of salvation.

Repentance is an about-face; a 180; a change of heart; a change of mind. Repentance is a choice to turn around; a sorrow-felt choice to change your ways. Repentance is to be sorry for what you’ve done and to make a conscious decision to change. Repentance is a turn from sin to God. We all must repent.

The Greek word for repent is metanoeo.

metanoeo {met-an-o-eh’-o} Meaning: 1) to change one’s mind, i.e. to repent 2) to change one’s mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins

Repentance is a death to sin. Repentance identifies us with the death of Jesus. This is why Paul died daily.

1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

It is a death of the old man. It is how we identify with the crucifixion of Jesus.

Romans 6:6-11 ⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin. ⁸ Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰ For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. ¹¹ Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

To be dead to sin means that we do not live in sin. We do not repent of our sins just so we can continue to commit sin. We must overcome sin through the power of God.

Romans 6:12-18 ¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. ¹³ Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. ¹⁴ For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. ¹⁵ What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. ¹⁶ Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? ¹⁷ But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. ¹⁸ Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

We should not allow sin to have power over us. To repent is to turn from sin. Repentance is a change. There are three basic areas of change that are affected by repentance (Bernard, 1997, p. 103):

Intellectual change. This is a change of views.
Emotional change. This is a change of feelings.
Volitional change. This is a voluntary change of purpose.

These changes are: loving God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind, and all of your strength.

Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Repentance includes many elements including recognition of sin, confession of sin, contrition for sin, and a decision to forsake sin (Bernard, 1997, p. 104).

We have all sinned.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

We must confess our sins.

Mark 1:5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

1 John 1:9-10 ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

We must have contrition for sin- be genuinely sorry for the sins we’ve committed.

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

We must forsake sin.

Luke 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

Jesus taught about repentance through parables. The prodigal son is a parable about repentance.

Luke 15:11-32 ¹¹ And he said, A certain man had two sons: ¹² And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. ¹³ And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. ¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. ¹⁵ And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. ¹⁶ And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. ¹⁷ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ¹⁹ And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. ²⁰ And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. ²¹ And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. ²² But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: ²³ And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: ²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. ²⁵ Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. ²⁶ And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. ²⁷ And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. ²⁸ And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. ²⁹ And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: ³⁰ But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. ³¹ And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. ³² It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Another parable about repentance is the tax collector that beat his chest out of sorrow for sin.

Luke 18:9-14 ⁹ And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: ¹⁰ Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. ¹² I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. ¹³ And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. ¹⁴ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

God calls us to repentance by His grace.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Repentance is part of the saving work of God. God draws us to repentance by His grace. Calling us to repentance and forgiveness of sins is God’s works. In Fact, all steps of salvation are God’s works. We do not and cannot earn our salvation. We merely obey God with faith.

We are commanded to obey God’s Word. This includes the command to repent of our sins.

Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Luke 13:3-5 ³ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John preached repentance as part of the new covenant.

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 2:38 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.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

1 John 1:7-10 ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Repentance is not a one-time event. We should not sin, but if we do we must quickly repent.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

Just because we’ve repented of our sins doesn’t mean we can continue to commit sin. If we do sin, we must repent of that sin. We must repent of every sin we commit.

Repentance is an essential element of salvation. We must repent of our sins and be determined to turn from sin.

Repentance is only the first step. We must be born of the water and of the Spirit.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

We must repent of our sins, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38 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.

Repentance is not an option; it is a command and a requirement for salvation. We must die to sin by killing the old man- the sin nature. We should not continue in sin, but if we do sin we must quickly repent. We must all repent. Without repentance there is no remission of sins. Without remission of sins there is no salvation.

References

Bernard, David K. (1998). New Birth, The

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

A Child is Born

Randy A. Brown — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:15:01 +0000

It was prophesied in scripture that God would come in the form of a man.

Isaiah 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.

What child is this that he would be called the mighty God and the Everlasting Father? This verse is one of the most powerful statements of the Deity of Jesus. This verse describes Jesus as the Father.

We know from scripture that there is only one Father.

Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?

Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

If there is only one Father, and Jesus is called the Father, then Jesus must be the Father. Jesus himself taught that he was the Father.

John 14:8-9 ⁸ Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. ⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

John 10:30 I and my Father are one.

John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

John 12:45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.

The Father is also our Redeemer.

Isaiah 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 from everlasting.

This child that was born in Bethlehem over 2000 years ago was more than a man. He was our great God and Savior; our Creator; our Redeemer.

Isaiah 9:6 is one of the many verses that show the Son had a beginning. Jesus was God, but he was not the Son in eternity. Jesus was the Father in his Deity; he was the Son in his humanity- his incarnation. God became our sacrifice- our savior. Isaiah 9:6 shows us perfectly the dual-nature of Jesus- God and man, Father and Son. Immanuel, God with us.

In Jesus is everything we need. We are complete in Him.

Colossians 2:9-10 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:

Jesus is the son given for our salvation. Isaiah 9:6 sums it up nicely:

Jesus is Wonderful.

Wonderful 6382 pele’ {peh’-leh} Meaning: 1) wonder, marvel 1a) wonder (extraordinary, hard to understand thing) 1b) wonder (of God’s acts of judgment and redemption)

Jesus is our Counsellor.

Counsellor 3289 ya`ats {yaw-ats’} Meaning: 1) to advise, consult, give counsel, counsel, purpose, devise, plan 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to advise, counsel, give counsel, consult 1a2) counsellor (participle) 1b) (Niphal) to consult together, exchange counsel, deliberate, counsel together 1c) (Hithpael) to conspire

Jesus is the Mighty God.

Mighty 1368 gibbowr {ghib-bore’} or (shortened) gibbor {ghib-bore’} Meaning: adj 1) strong, mighty n m 2) strong man, brave man, mighty man

God 0410 ‘el {ale} Meaning: 1) god, god-like one, mighty one 1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 1b) angels 1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah 2) mighty things in nature 3) strength, power

Jesus is the Everlasting Father.

Everlasting 5703 `ad {ad} Meaning: 1) perpetuity, for ever, continuing future 1a) ancient (of past time) 1b) for ever (of future time) 1b1) of continuous existence 1c) for ever (of God’s existence)

Father 0001 ‘ab {awb} Meaning: 1) father of an individual 2) of God as father of his people 3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan 4) ancestor 4a) grandfather, forefathers — of person 4b) of people 5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art 6) of producer, generator (fig.) 7) of benevolence and protection (fig.) 8) term of respect and honour 9) ruler or chief (spec.)

Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Prince 8269 sar {sar} Meaning: 1) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain 1a) chieftain, leader 1b) vassal, noble, official (under king) 1c) captain, general, commander (military) 1d) chief, head, overseer (of other official classes) 1e) heads, princes (of religious office) 1f) elders (of representative leaders of people) 1g) merchant-princes (of rank and dignity) 1h) patron-angel 1i) Ruler of rulers (of God) 1j) warden

Peace 7965 shalowm {shaw-lome’} or shalom {shaw-lome’} Meaning: 1) completeness, soundness, welfare, peace 1a) completeness (in number) 1b) safety, soundness (in body) 1c) welfare, health, prosperity 1d) peace, quiet, tranquillity, contentment 1e) peace, friendship 1e1) of human relationships 1e2) with God especially in covenant relationship 1f) peace (from war) 1g) peace (as adjective)

Never has there been a child born like this one. God came in the form of a man to provide salvation as a free gift to those that would obey Him. God could not die, so He became a man. God and man were fused together at the miraculous conception of Jesus. Jesus was fully God and fully man. As a man he died upon the cross to provide salvation. As God He resurrected that body. He offered His blood as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. He provides salvation by His grace, but it is up to us to accept and obey the gospel of His death, burial, and resurrection. We obey this gospel when we repent of our sins, are baptized in Jesus name, and are filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. We see in the book of Acts how to be saved.

Acts 2:38 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.

Repent of your sins, be baptized in the name of Jesus, and be filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. Accept the salvation that Jesus, our mighty God and Everlasting Father, bought with His own blood.

Immanuel God With Us

Randy A. Brown — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:31:23 +0000

The scriptures tell us that God would come in the form of a man. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah tells us His name would be called Immanuel. Matthew writes that His name would be called Emmanuel.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:22-23 ²² Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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.

Jesus of Nazareth was a man accused of being born out of wedlock. In reality, He was not born of fornication, but born of a virgin. He was conceived by the Spirit of God. God was His father. Jesus is Immanuel, but what does Immanuel mean?

Let’s look at the names Immanuel and Emanuel in their original languages.

Immanuel is Hebrew.

0410 {ale} Meaning: 1) god, god-like one, mighty one 1a) mighty men, men of rank, mighty heroes 1b) angels 1c) god, false god, (demons, imaginations) 1d) God, the one true God, Jehovah 2) mighty things in nature 3) strength, power

Immanuel literally means Jehovah, the one true God.

Emmanuel is Greek.

1694 Emmanouel {em-man-oo-ale’} Meaning: Emmanuel = “God with us” 1) the title applied to the Messiah, born of the virgin, Mt 1:23, Is. 7:14, because Jesus was God united with man, and showed that God was dwelling with man

Emmanuel literally means the one God united with man.

Jesus is God with us- not God the Son with us. The scriptures tell us there is only one God.

Galatians 3:20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Jesus is the one God, Jehovah, manifest in flesh.

1 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.

God came in the form of a man to become our sacrifice. We all need salvation, but only the shed blood of an innocent man could pay the price for our sins. Only a sinless man could be our redeemer. No one could be the sacrifice for our sins that is born into sin. Since we are all born into sin, God Himself was manifest in flesh to become our sacrifice. As a man Jesus was not born into sin because He did not have a sinful father. His Father was THE Father. In His Deity, He was THE Father manifest in flesh because the scriptures tell us that Jesus is our God, Jehovah, the one true God, Immanuel, Emmanuel, the only God there is.

Jesus bought salvation for us and He freely gives it to us. All we have to do is believe it and obey it. The gospel of Jesus Christ that He bought with His own blood is His death, burial, and resurrection. By His grace, He gives us salvation through birth of the water and Spirit.

John 3:3-5 ³ Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. ⁴ Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? ⁵ Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

This is fulfilled in the New Covenant that we see in the book of Acts.

Acts 2:38-39 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.

We obey the gospel of Jesus Christ, the death, burial, and resurrection, by repenting of our sins, being baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and being filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. Jesus bought this gospel, this salvation, with His own blood. This is why God was manifest in flesh. This is why Jesus is Immanuel, God with us.

Speaking in Tongues

Randy A. Brown — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 15:45:44 +0000

God chose tongues as the initial evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost. Speaking in tongues is God speaking through believers in a language we have not learned. The languages are real. As seen in the second chapter of Acts, sometimes people that hear others speaking in tongues will recognize the languages that are being spoken.

The idea of speaking in tongues was not a new concept to those in the upper room awaiting the gift that Jesus told them to wait for. They had read the Old Testament Prophets that had prophesied about God using tongues in the new covenant. Isaiah prophesied that God’s people would speak with tongues.

Isaiah 28:11-12 ¹¹ For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. ¹² To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Jesus taught that we would speak in other tongues.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

There are four clear passages in the New Testament speaking with tongues. Three of those passages are cases where those who received the gift of the Holy Ghost spoke with tongues. Another case in Acts indicates external evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost.

The 120 in the upper room spoke with tongues on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-4 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. ³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Cornelius spoke with tongues.

Acts 10:44-47 ⁴⁴ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ⁴⁵ And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ⁴⁷ Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

The disciples of John spoke with tongues.

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

These verses are clear that when they received the Holy Ghost they spoke in tongues. Speaking in tongues was used as external evidence that the Holy Ghost had been received.

The Samaritans spoke with tongues.

Acts 8:17-19 ¹⁷ Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. ¹⁸ And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹ Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

Simon witnessed that the Holy Ghost had been received. He saw external evidence. In all other cases the external evidence was speaking with tongues. It is doctrinally and logically sound to expect that the evidence Simon witnessed was speaking in tongues.

The book of Acts describes tongues as the initial evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost. The scriptures do not discuss the idea of receiving the Holy Ghost without speaking in tongues (Bernard, p. 236).

There are several reasons that God chose tongues. For one, tongues as a sign for unbelievers.

1 Corinthians 14:22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

The tongue is the most difficult member of the body to control.

James 3:2-6 ² For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. ⁴ Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Speaking in tongues is universal. Regardless of nationality and language, people can recognize speaking in tongues (Bernard, p. 237, 238).

Speaking in tongues provides certainty in receiving the Holy Ghost (Bernard, p. 238). There is no other sign given as the initial evidence that someone has been filled with the Spirit.

Another clear passage is 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14. Paul is teaching of the different types of tongues. The first type of tongues, the tongues that everyone that is born of the Spirit will have, is the tongues of self-edification. This is the tongues that is the initial evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost. The second type of tongues is the Gift of Tongues. This is tongues that is used to give a message to the Church. Not everyone will have the Gift of Tongues, but everyone that is born of the Spirit will have the evidence of tongues (Reeves, p. 30). The Gifts of Tongues is what Paul was talking about when he asked ‘do all speak with tongues”? We see a difference in Paul’s writings between the various types of tongues.

1 Corinthians 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

1 Corinthians 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal

1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

1 Corinthians 14:1-15 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. ² For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. ³ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. ⁴ He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. ⁵ I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. ⁶ Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? ⁷ And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸ For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? ⁹ So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. ¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. ¹¹ Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. ¹² Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. ¹³ Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

1 Corinthians 14:18-28 ¹⁸ I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: ¹⁹ Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. ²⁰ Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. ²¹ In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. ²² Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. ²³ If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: ²⁵ And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. ²⁶ How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. ²⁷ If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

1 Corinthians 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

In these verses Paul is teaching the differences between self-edification and edification of the Church. If there is no interpreter then we are to speak quietly because it is a tongue for self-edification. If the message in tongues is for the edification of the Church we will know the difference and there will be an interpreter. Paul did not say it was wrong to speak in tongues. Paul was saying to use the gift in the correct manner, just as every gift should be used in the correct manner. When Paul asked “do all speak with tongues?” he wasn’t asking “do all speak with tongues when they receive the Holy Ghost?” He was asking “do all speak with the gift of tongues to edify the Church?” These verses were written to those that have already received the Holy Ghost because all of Paul’s writings are written to the Churches. Paul included himself, showing that he spoke with tongues.

Speaking in tongues is of God and for the Church today. Speaking in tongues is given to us for an initial sign of receiving the Holy Ghost, for personal edification, and for edification of the Church. Speaking in tongues should be expected as a normal relationship with God, including personal devotion and public worship. Speaking in tongues is an important part of our relationship with God in growing spiritually and allowing God to rule in our lives. Speaking in tongues by allowing God to speak through us is placing God first.

References

Bernard, David K. (1984). New Birth, The

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

Reeves, Kenneth (1966). Holy Ghost with tongues, The

Granite City: Inspiration Books

David Bernard The New Birth

Kenneth V. Reeves The Holy Ghost with Tongues

Spirit Baptism – Baptized by Fire

Randy A. Brown — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:51:49 +0000

When Jesus brought us the new covenant He had a plan that would allow us to have a closer walk with God. This ‘newness of life’ is a baptism of fire that is the Spirit of God dwelling in us, giving us power and strength to live an overcoming life. Spirit baptism is not just an extra benefit- it is part of salvation. Spirit baptism is as much as part of the new birth as water baptism. Several terms in scripture refer to Spirit baptism, including filled with the Spirit, born of the Spirit, filled with the Holy Ghost, and many others. Let’s look at scripture and see what Holy Ghost baptism is all about and see who it’s for.

John the Baptist taught about Holy Spirit baptism, referring to it as a baptism of fire.

Matthew 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

John was teaching that we should expect to be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Jesus told Nicodemus that being born again is to be born of the water and of the Spirit.

Jesus compared Holy Spirit baptism with wind.

John 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

Jesus referred to Holy Spirit baptism as Living Water.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 7:37-39 ³⁷ In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. ³⁸ He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ³⁹ (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Jesus told His disciples they would receive the Holy Ghost.

Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

The book of Acts is where we find New Testament believers being filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 1:4-5 ⁴ And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. ⁵ For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

The Holy Ghost wasn’t given until Jesus ascended. The Old Testament filling was not a baptism of the Holy Ghost (Bernard, p. 196). No one received Holy Spirit baptism before Jesus ascended.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Acts 1:8-9 ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. ⁹ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

The Holy Ghost was given on the day of Pentecost. They knew they had received the Holy Ghost because they spoke with other tongues.

Peter was given the keys to the kingdom.

Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Peter preached the first message on the day of Pentecost. This message included being filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:14-18 ¹⁴ But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: ¹⁵ For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; ¹⁷ And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: ¹⁸ And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

They knew something was going on because they heard them speak with tongues. This is what Peter was referring to when he said ‘which ye now see and hear’. The crowd asked Peter what they should do, since they crucified the one that came to save them. Peter’s reply included being filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:37-38 ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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.

A parallel passage to Acts 2:38 is Acts 3:19. This verse describes the Holy Ghost infilling as a refreshing.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

The baptism of the Holy Ghost is clearly mentioned in many accounts of someone being saved in the book of Acts.

Acts 8:15-17 ¹⁵ Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: ¹⁶ (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷ Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

Acts 10:44-46 ⁴⁴ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ⁴⁵ And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God

This case also mentions that they knew they received the Holy Ghost ‘for they heard them speak with tongues’.

Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

This case also mentions they spoke with tongues.

Holy Spirit baptism is part of salvation.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

This is the experience that Jesus promised in Acts 1:5 (Bernard, p. 192).

In the New Testament, the Holy Ghost is called Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit of Christ (Witherspoon Toole, p. 22).

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is Christ in us.

Romans 8:9-11 ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. ¹¹ But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Ephesians 3:16-17 ¹⁶ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; ¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 ¹⁷ Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Jesus said that He would be the Comforter.

John 14:16-18 ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷ Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

There is only one Spirit.

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

Jesus was made a saving spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Once we receive the Holy Ghost, we must walk with God to stay filled. The Apostles continued to be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

Being filled with the Holy Ghost is not a one-time event. Once we are baptized with the Spirit we should stay filled with the Holy Ghost through prayer. Baptism of the Holy Ghost is just the beginning of our walk with God. Being filed with the Spirit doesn’t make us perfect, but it does give us strength to be over-comers if we walk with God and allow His Spirit to lead us.

Old Testament prophets prophesied that God would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh.

Ezekiel 39:29 Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

Joel 2:28-29 ²⁸ And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: ²⁹ And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

Acts 2:16-18 ¹⁶ But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; ¹⁷ And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: ¹⁸ And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

God promised that He would write His laws in our hearts.

Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Holy Spirit baptism is the fulfillment of this promise.

Romans 8:3-4 ³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ⁴ That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:3-6 ³ Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. ⁴ And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: ⁵ Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; ⁶ Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The Holy Ghost will lead and guide us to all truth.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Holy Spirit baptism is promised to us today. It is part of salvation. It is the birth of the Spirit that Jesus spoke of. The evidence of receiving the Holy Ghost is speaking in tongues. Anyone can receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost by repenting of their sins, having faith in God, and asking for the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is for everyone. If we allow the Spirit of God to lead us, we will bear the Fruit of the Spirit and live clean, holy lives. Only with the Spirit of Christ in us can we truly be Christ-like. Only with the Spirit of Christ in us can we be baptized by fire.

References

Bernard, David K. (1984). New Birth, The

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

Witherspoon Toole, Jet (2001). Acts

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

David Bernard The New Birth

Jet Witherspoon Toole Acts

Water Baptism – Old Testament Typology

Randy A. Brown — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 02:26:11 +0000

Water baptism in the New Testament was not a new idea to those living at the time. It was not a foreign thought. They were already familiar with the concept of water baptism. How is this true, considering that John the Baptist is the first person mentioned in scripture that performed baptisms?

Water baptism was seen in the Old Testament in typology. In fact, there are many OT typologies of baptism.

We see the account of Noah in Genesis chapters 6 – 9. God told Noah to build an ark to save Himself, his wife, and his three sons and their wives, and two of every animal (and seven each of the clean animals) in whose nostrils was the breath of life. God destroyed the earth with water in a world-wide catastrophe. Noah was saved through the flood. Peter used this as a typology of baptism.

1 Peter 3:20-21 ²⁰ Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. ²¹ The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

The earth was purged of sin by water. The next purging will be with fire.

2 Peter 3:5-7 ⁵ For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: ⁶ Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: ⁷ But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

We are purged by water at baptism, and of fire when we are filled with the Holy Ghost.

In the book of Exodus we see the Israelites in bondage of Egypt. God sends Moses to deliver the Israelites out of the hand of Pharaoh. While Moses and the Israelites are traveling to the land that God promised them, Pharaoh and his armies chase them. The Israelites are caught against the Red Sea as Pharaoh’s armies approach to attack. God sends a cloud to stand between Israel and the Egyptians as Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. God parted the Red Sea, allowing Israel to cross on dry land. Once the Israelites have crossed over, the Egyptians attempt to follow them. God causes the water to fall back into its place, destroying the Egyptians (Exodus 14). God used water to destroy Pharaoh’s armies. This is symbolic of water baptism destroying and burying the sinful nature. The water delivered Israel. We are delivered of sin when we are baptized in water.

1 Corinthians 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; ² And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

Just before God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai, He commanded Israel to wash their clothes in water.

Exodus 19:10-11 ¹⁰ And the LORD said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, ¹¹ And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.

Moses sprinkled the people with blood and water; symbolic of the shed blood remitting sins through water baptism (Bernard, p. 138).

Hebrews 9:18-20 ¹⁸ Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. ¹⁹ For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, ²⁰ Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

Symbolism can also be seen in the Tabernacle. In fact, the Tabernacle symbolizes the New Testament salvation experience (Bernard, p. 79).

Hebrews 9:8-10 ⁸ The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: ⁹ Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; ¹⁰ Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

The laver of brass was given for the Priests to wash before entering the Tabernacle.

Exodus 30:18-21 ¹⁸ Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. ¹⁹ For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: ²⁰ When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: ²¹ So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.

This is symbolic of washing away uncleanness before entering the holy place, which contained the altar. Without the washing, the priests were unclean, just like without water baptism our sins are not washed away.

Consecration of the Priests required a blood sacrifice, washing in water, and anointing with oil. The washing in water was symbolic of water baptism.

Exodus 29:4 And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.

The blood sacrifices had to be washed in water before being burned in fire (more new birth symbolism – water representing water baptism and fire representing Spirit baptism).

Leviticus 1:9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

Elijah poured water on the altar.

1 Kings 18:33-35 ³³ And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. ³⁴ And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. ³⁵ And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

Naaman was healed of leprosy after obeying Elisha’s instructions to dip seven times in the river Jordan.

2 Kings 5:10-14 ¹⁰ And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. ¹¹ But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. ¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. ¹³ And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? ¹⁴ Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Others that were healed of leprosy were purified in blood, water, and oil. The water is symbolic of water baptism.

Leviticus 14:5-8 ⁵ And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: ⁶ As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water: ⁷ And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field. ⁸ And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean:

Those that were ceremonially unclean had to be purified blood, water, and fire.

Numbers 19:7-8 ⁷ Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. ⁸ And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.

God ordained a purification ceremony for the Israelites after they had won a war against the Midianites. This included purification in water.

Numbers 31:23-24 ²³ Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. ²⁴ And ye shall wash your clothes on the seventh day, and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp.

These typologies show that water was used for cleansing from sin (Bernard, p. 137). In some cases the blood was applied through the water, showing that the blood of Jesus Christ is applied during water baptism in order to forgive sins (Bernard, p. 137). Over and over we see blood, water, and oil or fire. This is symbolic of New Testament salvation, which consists of repentance, water baptism in the name of Jesus, and the infilling of the Holy Ghost, or Spirit Baptism.

Acts 2:38 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.

The blood that was offered in the Old Testament was a foreshadow of the blood of Christ. The blood represents our repentance from sin. This is the death of the old sinful man in our lives. This is a conscious decision to turn from sin and live for God. The washing in water is water baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. Water baptism also represents the burial of Jesus. We are buried with Him in baptism, which is a burial of the old sinful man. The oil and the fire represents the Spirit baptism, or the infilling of the Holy Ghost. This represents the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is a resurrection into newness of life. Without the complete gospel – death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus – we do not have salvation. We apply the gospel by repenting of our sins, being baptized in Jesus name for the remission of sins, and being filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. This is the gospel that the Old Testament shows in typologies. This is the gospel that Jesus bought for us by coming to Earth as a man and taking our place in death by dying upon the cross. It is salvation bought by the blood of Christ.

References

Bernard, David K. (1984). New Birth, The

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

David Bernard The New Birth

Water Baptism – For the Remission of Sins

Randy A. Brown — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:48:52 +0000

Many Churches have practiced the act of water baptism over the years. Some believe strongly that baptism is essential, while others see it as something you should do. Some believe baptism is not necessary at all, claiming that it doesn’t apply to us today. Is baptism essential? If so, how are we to be baptized? By immersion? By sprinkling? In what name? What is baptism for?

What is baptism? Water baptism is a ceremony for those that have repented of their sins. It is an immersion into water in the name of Jesus for the remission of sins. We see throughout the New Testament that we are commanded to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

Water baptism is part of the new birth experience.

Jesus told Nicodemus to be born again. When Nicodemus didn’t understand what Jesus meant, Jesus expounded by saying ‘born of the water and of the Spirit’. To be born again is to be born of the water and of the Spirit. Jesus was teaching that water baptism is part of the new birth experience.

Jesus continued this teaching by commanding His disciples to baptize.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The Apostles carried out this command in the book of Acts by baptizing in Jesus name.

Acts 2:38 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.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Acts 8:12 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 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Acts 8:35-38 ³⁵ Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. ³⁶ And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? ³⁷ And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

Acts 9:18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

Acts 10:47-48 ⁴⁷ Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Acts 16:15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

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

In Matthew 28:19 Jesus gives the command ‘baptizing them in the name’. We see how the Apostles interpreted this command in the book of Acts. In Mark 16:16 Jesus included baptism with salvation, but He did not include baptism when speaking of those who do not believe. If they do not believe, being baptized would be irrelevant. In Luke 24:47 ‘remission of sins’ refers to water baptism, as we also will see in the book of Acts.

The Greek word for baptize is baptizo.

907 baptizo {bap-tid’-zo}

Meaning: 1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk) 2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe 3) to overwhelm

To baptize means to dip or plunge, to take completely under the water. This means that the mode of baptism is by immersion.

John 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

Acts 8:38-39 ³⁸ And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. ³⁹ And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

Baptism is a burial of the old sinful nature.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12 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.

A burial requires the body to be completely covered. We bury the old man, which is symbolic of burying the old lifestyle of sin.

The purpose of baptism is for the remission of sins. This is seen starting with John’s baptism.

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

Peter explained that the purpose of baptism was for the remission of sins.

Acts 2:38 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.

Remission means release, wipe out, cancel, and dismiss (Bernard, p. 130). It is used interchangeably with forgiveness (Bernard, p. 141). During water baptism, God remits our sins. He washes them away. This is seen in Peter’s use of ‘for the remission of sins’. ‘For’ means to receive, or in order to obtain (Bernard, p. 130). The clear reading of Acts 2:38 is that baptism is for the remission of sins. CONTEXT DETERMINES MEANING. It is clear from the context that we must be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. The crowd asked Peter and the others “what shall we do?” Peter’s answer included an explanation of what baptism was for – for the remission of sins. Peter was explaining to the crowd what to do to be saved, and this includes water baptism for the remission of sins. He wasn’t telling them to be baptized later because they had already had their sins remitted. He was telling them what to do to have their sins remitted.

Jesus bought remission of sins for us with His own blood.

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

This doesn’t mean that we have remission of sins automatically whether we want it or not. We still have to apply the blood by obeying the plan of salvation. We can believe that our sins will be remitted, but until we go down into the water in the name of Jesus our sins will not be remitted.

This does not mean that simply going down into the water has any power of its own.

1 Peter 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

Baptism is not our work. God performs remission of sins. We simply obey His command to be baptized for the remission of sins. It is the work of Jesus that remits our sins. We must obey and have faith in the atoning work of Jesus, but we are not remitting our own sins by obeying God’s command anymore than the Jews that were obeying His commands to place blood on their doorposts at the Passover.

Exodus 12:7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.

Exodus 12:12-13 ¹² For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. ¹³ And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

It was by God’s grace that He made a way for the Jews to be passed over. The Jews could have believed it all day, but if they didn’t obey and apply the blood the death angel would have visited them. God provided a way of salvation, and He did the work, but the Jews had to obey God’s commands in faith.

We must obey God with faith.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Faith and obedience includes believing. Philip would not baptize the Ethiopian eunuch until he could confess that he believed in Jesus as the Son of God.

Acts 8:36-37 ³⁶ And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? ³⁷ And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

In order for our sins to be remitted we have to believe that baptism in Jesus name will remit our sins. We must have faith in the one doing the remitting. We must have faith, believe, and obey. The eunuch was not being baptized in public as a public confession of faith. There was no one else present to see this baptism. He was being baptized because it is a necessary part of salvation.

Water baptism is a spiritual circumcision.

Colossians 2:11-12 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.

Our sins are forgiven when we are baptized in water (coupled with faith) in Jesus name. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said ‘Born of the water’ in John 3:5. Baptism identifies us with the death and burial of Jesus. Baptism is a spiritual circumcision, signifying that the old nature is cut away, and places us into a covenant with our Lord. Water baptism is an essential element of the new birth that Jesus bought with His own blood. We must be born of the water and of the Spirit. Both elements are required for salvation.

References

Bernard, David K. (1984). New Birth, The

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

David Bernard The New Birth

In the Name of – a Study in Greek

Randy A. Brown — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 19:11:08 +0000

The phrase ‘in the name of’, as applied to baptism, has sparked many debates over the years. The Popular view of the baptismal formula comes from Matthew 28:19, which uses the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. An argument that is used against the formula ‘in the name of Jesus’, as seen in the book of Acts, is that the phrase ‘in the name of’ means ‘by the authority of’. This study will look at the Greek words in this phrase to see what was meant when Jesus and the Apostles said “in the name of’.

One argument against baptism in the name of Jesus is that the phrase ‘in the name of Jesus’ only refers to the authority of Jesus. It is true that ‘in the name of’, and ‘in his name’, is in reference to the power and authority of Jesus (Bernard, p. 72). It is by Jesus’ authority that we use His name, because Jesus has all power.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Jesus told His disciples to use His name.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Jesus uses the same phrase during the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

We see this phrase in the book of Acts in reference to baptism.

Acts 2:38 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.

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

Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord

Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

If the phrase ‘in the name of’ only means ‘by the authority of’ then we would not have a baptismal formula because Matthew 28:19 also uses the same phrase. If we have no baptismal formula, Paul would not have needed to rebaptize the disciples of John. But Paul did rebaptize the disciples of John, and he used the name of Jesus.

The verse in Matthew and the verses in Acts use the same phrase, ‘in the name of’, but they are not all the same in Greek. The preposition ‘in’ has three different prepositions in the Greek text- eis with the accusative case, en with the dative case, and epi with the dative case. Here are the Greek definitions of the words ‘in’ and ‘name’:

1519 eis {ice} Meaning: 1) into, unto, to, towards, for, among

1722 en {en} Meaning: 1) in, by, with etc.

1909 epi {ep-ee’} Meaning: 1) upon, on, at, by, before 2) of position, on, at, by, over, against 3) to, over, on, at, across, against

3686 onoma {on’-om-ah} Meaning: 1) name: univ. of proper names 2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc. 3) persons reckoned up by name 4) the cause or reason named: on this account, because he suffers as a Christian, for this reason

Matthew 28:19 uses the same phrase as Acts 8:16 and 19:5. This Greek phrase is eis to onoma tou kuriou Iesou (in the name of the Lord Jesus). This phrase literally means ‘into the name’ (Bauer, et al, p. 228). This literally means that the one who is baptized becomes the possession of, and is under the protection of, the one whose name he bears (Bauer, et al, p. 228). When we are baptized in Jesus name we become His possession because He bought us with His own blood. This is how we are baptized into His death.

Romans 6:3-7 ³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: ⁶ Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷ For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Eis, which means ‘into the name’, shows us that Matthew 28:19 commands us to be baptized into the name. What is the one name we are to be baptized into? We see in the book of Acts this name is Jesus.

Acts 10:48 uses en. The phrase is en to onomati Iesou Christou (in the name of the Lord). The phrase literally means verbally calling the name (Bauer, et al, p. 572). This literally means to say the name of Jesus Christ at baptism. Bauer, et al, says that the use of en seems to be a formula (Bauer, et al, p. 572). Bauer, et al, gives the following examples of the name being uttered as a formula.

Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Luke 9:49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.

Acts 4:7 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 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.

Other examples include:

John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Acts 16:18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Philippians 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Colossians 3:17 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.

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

These verses, as in Acts 10:48, speak of verbally calling the name. Peter was telling Cornelius to be baptized with the name of Jesus verbally called over him.

In Acts 2:38 the Greek phrase is epi to onomati Iesou Christou (in the name of Jesus Christ). This phrase literally means ‘on (or in) the name’ (Bernard, p. 79). This indicates that the name is literally called out (Bauer, et al, p. 573). This shows that we should call out the name of Jesus during baptism. Here are some other verses that use epi:

Acts 4:17-18 ¹⁷ But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. ¹⁸ And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.

Acts 5:40 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.

Jesus uses epi in Great Commission that we find in Luke.

Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Jesus was saying to speak His name.

F. F. Bruce stated that a study of the Greek prepositions shows that Matthew 28:19 is a symbolic reference, while Acts 2:38 refers to a specific invocation of the name (Bruce, p. 57). En to onomati refers to ‘in the name’ and ‘on the authority of’, while eis to onoma implies a transfer of ownership (Bruce, p. 57). The idea is that we call on the name of Jesus in baptism, and we receive remission of sins that He bought with His own blood. We become His through the new birth experience of water and Spirit baptism.

The Greek text shows that water baptism is to be performed with the name of Jesus being called out. When the name of Jesus is called over us during baptism we are dedicating our lives to the one that died for us. Through faith in His name, we are expressing His authority to remit our sins. We are devoting our lives to God and proclaiming Jesus as the Lord of our lives. We proclaim Jesus as both Lord and Christ.

References

Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., and Danker F., (1979). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, 2nd ed.

Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Bernard, David K. (1992). In the name of Jesus

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

Bruce, F. F., (1984). The Books and the Parchments, rev. ed.

Old Tappan: Revell

David K. Bernard In the Name of Jesus

In the Name of Jesus

Randy A. Brown — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:57:28 +0000

When God chose to manifest Himself in flesh as our savior He chose a name that would signify the essence of who He is. The name He chose would not only reveal who He was, but also what His mission on Earth was. The name Jesus means Jehovah-Savior, meaning that Jehovah is our Savior.

We are told in scripture that God would dwell with us.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Matthew 1:21-23 ²¹ And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. ²² Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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.

Jesus died on the cross to provide salvation for those that will accept it. The gospel (His death, burial, and resurrection) is the new birth experience that includes being born of the water and of the Spirit.

The new birth is given to us in the name of Jesus. Jesus is the name given to us for salvation.

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

Jesus is the name that is above every name.

Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

We are to do everything in the name of Jesus.

Colossians 3:17 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.

This includes water baptism. We are to be baptized in the name of Jesus.

There are five baptismal accounts in the book of Acts. In each account, the name of Jesus is the name used for the baptismal formula.

The first account is Peter’s sermon to those that had heard the disciples of Jesus speaking of other tongues as they received the Holy Ghost. This is the account of the Jews receiving the gospel.

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 2:36-39 ³⁶ Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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.

The Jews recognized that Jesus was their savior – God manifest in the flesh to become their sacrifice. They accepted that baptism was in Jesus name and 3000 were baptized that day.

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

The second account is the Samaritans receiving the gospel.

Acts 8:12-17 ¹² 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. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. ¹⁴ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: ¹⁵ Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: ¹⁶ (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷ Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

The first thing Phillip did was preach Christ unto them.

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

When they had accepted Christ as their savior, they were baptized in His name.

The third account is the Gentiles receiving the gospel.

Acts 10:43-48 ⁴³ To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. ⁴⁴ While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. ⁴⁵ And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. ⁴⁶ For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ⁴⁷ Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? ⁴⁸ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

The oldest Greek manuscripts say ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’ (Bernard, p. 45). We know that the Lord is Jesus.

Philippians 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Peter recognized that God had opened the door for the Gentiles to receive salvation. This includes baptism in Jesus name, as we see from his command to them to be baptized.

The fourth account is the disciples of John.

Acts 19:1-6 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, ² He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. ³ And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. ⁴ Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

The disciples of John had been baptized unto repentance. It was necessary for them to be rebaptized in the name of Jesus. If the name of Jesus wasn’t important at baptism, Paul would not have rebaptized the disciples of John.

The fifth account is Paul.

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

Calling on the name of the Lord means to invoke (Bernard, p. 48). This literally means to say the name of Jesus at baptism. Paul knew what this name was because he met the Lord on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest

Paul knew that the name of the Lord was Jesus. It was only natural for Paul to understand that baptism was in the name of Jesus.

It is clear these passages that baptism is in the name of Jesus. This means that we should orally invoke the name of Jesus at baptism (Bernard, p. 75).

Some say that the phrase ‘in the name of Jesus’ means ‘by the authority of’, and that we should be baptized in titles according to Matthew 28:19. We see the same phrase in Matthew 28:19- ‘in the name of’. If the phrase means ‘by the authority of’ in one verse then the same phrase will have the same meaning in another verse. The phrase ‘in the name of’ literally means ‘in the name of’. The key to understanding Matthew 28:19 is to understand that the one name is Jesus (Bernard, p. 61).

Using the name of Jesus is exercising power and authority (Bernard, p. 72). This includes using His power and authority in baptism. The proper way to use the power and authority of God is to use His name. We use His name when we invoke the name Jesus.

We should use the name of Jesus because he died for our sins.

1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Paul was demonstrating that we should be baptized in the name of the person that died for our sins.

The formula for New Testament baptism has always been in the name of Jesus (Bernard, p. 74). All through history, Jesus was the name used because that’s how the Apostles baptized. Even Martin Luther knew of baptism in Jesus name (Bernard, p. 74).

The natural reading of the phrase ‘baptized in the name of Jesus Christ’ would not allow us to baptize any other way than in the name of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 28:19 states that baptism is in one single name.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

All we need to do is look at how the Apostles obeyed this command. We’ve already seen in the baptismal accounts in the book of Acts that the Apostles baptized in Jesus name.

We also find baptism in the name of Jesus alluded to in the Epistles.

Romans 6:3-4 ³ Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

1 Corinthians 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Colossians 2:12 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.

The indication from these verses is that baptism includes the name of Jesus. We see this again in the book of Acts.

Acts 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

How is Jesus’ name called over us? The name of Jesus is called over us when we are baptized in Jesus name.

We see the name being called again in James 2:7.

James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Both of these verses, Acts 15:17 and James 2:7, point to a specific account where the name was orally invoked over each believer (Bernard, p. 76).

Some of these verses say Lord while others say Christ. The significance is the name of Jesus. Jesus is both Lord and Christ.

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

It is a privilege to be identified with the name of Jesus. We get that identification through baptism in Jesus name. Romans tells us to call on the name of the Lord Jesus for salvation.

Romans 10:9-13 ⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. ¹² For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. ¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

We call on the name of the Lord Jesus by repenting in the name of Jesus, being baptized in the name of Jesus, and being filled with the Holy Ghost in the name of Jesus.

Acts 2:38 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.

We then walk with Jesus, living clean, holy lives that are set apart for His glory. Everything we do, we do in the name of Jesus.

Colossians 3:17 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.

If we are to truly recognize Jesus as our savior and make Him the Lord of our lives, we must follow the new birth experience of being born of the water and of the Spirit. This includes being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

References

Bernard, David K. (1992). In the name of Jesus

Hazelwood: Word Aflame Press

David K. Bernard In the Name of Jesus