Water Baptism does not save..

[Preacher]

for those who believe water baptism is required for salvation why the thief on the cross did not need to be baptized to be saved. A common reply to that question is: “The thief on the cross was still under the Old Covenant and therefore not subject to this baptism. He was saved just like anyone else under the Old Covenant.” So, in essence, the same people who say the thief did not need to be baptized because he was “under the Old Covenant” will use John 3:5 as “proof” that baptism is necessary for salvation. They insist that Jesus is telling Nicodemus that he must be baptized to be saved, even though he too was under the Old Covenant. If the thief on the cross was saved without being baptized (because he was under the Old Covenant), why would Jesus tell Nicodemus (who was also under the Old Covenant) that he needed to be baptized?
the only baptism that washes away sin and brings salvation is that of the holy spirit..

When we are born again we are washed by the holy spirit, the word baptism means to (wash) at the very moment one becomes born again, they are washed and made sinless,the bible says,

1 Corinthians 6
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 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.

Notice verse 11 says we are washed by the spirit of God! not by water, the water is just an outward showing of whats going on spiritually,the water it self, has no power to wash away sins,we baptize out of obedience as did Christ,not that Christ had any sins of his own to have washed away, but in keeping things in order.

Mathew 3:1-13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

we obey once we become saved, its salvation and our new nature that causes us to want to obey God,not the other way around,so we see and understand that water baptism doesn't save, but being baptized with the holy spirit washes away sins,and brings salvation.

God Bless

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

I have to agree with you on this Preacher. We never agree on things of doctrine, but I am with you here!

[newview]

Trevor, you know this teaching of NOT BAPTIZING new believers is a rather new doctrine.
Why do you think that is?
What revelation has the Lord shared with modern preachers about salvation that He did not give to the bible apostles and all preachers for the last two thousand years that He has finally changed things?

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Since when did you believe that this was new? Just because the Churches of old thought this way doesn't mean that the Apostles themselves didn't teach this. Keep in mind that it was the Church traditions that also allowed pagan rituals in. Want to allow that also?

[newview]

What early churches taught that new believers didnt have to get baptized in water?

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Just read the ext. You can plainly see that the Apostle Paul himself didn't always go about performing water baptism, because he fully understood that it was the HOLY SPIRIT which did the true work. You pretty much missed or ignored my other posting. I'll re-post it simply because I am looking for a response to it.........

To base your entire doctrine on the event of Acts 2, a time period considered "the infancy of the Church and the revelations of the Church" is actually a bad move, Newview. Consider this:

- at the time, Peter and the rest of the Apostles only considered certain requirements for an Apostle. If those requirements were to stand as the essentials, then Paul, James, and the other new Apostles would be disqualified from their office, and their writings would be worth toilet paper. Is this the doctrine that your salvation is built upon as well?

- at the time of Acts 2, they didn't think that Gentiles could receive the HOLY SPIRIT. In fact, they didn't even preach to Gentiles and still considered them too unclean to preach to! Is this the doctrine that your salvation is built upon as well?

There was a great theme song that is also a true theme of life: "you take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have the facts of life". You can't eliminate these two things I mentioned concerning Acts 2 but keep your doctrine simply because it sounds good and your Church taught that for generations.

Now, consider this: NO verse in any Epistle of the New Testament mentions or even considers water baptism as requirement for salvation. NONE!! On the contrary, the epistles do speak of a few things that are required:

- faith
- the Gospel
- the baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT
- obeying GOD's decrees

Did JESUS say baptizing them in water, or in the HOLY SPIRIT?

[newview]

"...To base your entire doctrine on the event of Acts 2, a time period considered "the infancy of the Church and the revelations of the Church" is actually a bad move, Newview..."

Not the my entire doctrine...the rest of the bible is worthy for believing and understanding and following the Lord.


"...- at the time, Peter and the rest of the Apostles only considered certain requirements for an Apostle. If those requirements were to stand as the essentials, then Paul, James, and the other new Apostles would be disqualified from their office, and their writings would be worth toilet paper.."

And NOW when people make themselves so called apostles - I guess the bar had to be lowered. Hmmmm...I wonder why.


"...- at the time of Acts 2, they didn't think that Gentiles could receive the HOLY SPIRIT. In fact, they didn't even preach to Gentiles and still considered them too unclean to preach to! Is this the doctrine that your salvation is built upon as well?"...

But further along in the bible we see that the gentiles indeed receive the Holy Ghost and that did not stop the apostles baptizing in water.


Well lets see what Peter said in his epistle:
20Which 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.
21The 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:

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

"Not the my entire doctrine...the rest of the bible is worthy for believing and understanding and following the Lord."

When it comes to the baptism, you as well as many others use Acts 2 as a foundational scripture of doctrine. This is off.


"And NOW when people make themselves so called Apostles - I guess the bar had to be lowered. Hmmmm...I wonder why."

In what way has the bar been lowered for the office of Apostle? You tell me.....


"But further along in the bible we see that the gentiles indeed receive the Holy Ghost and that did not stop the apostles baptizing in water. Well lets see what Peter said in his epistle:

20Which 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.
21The 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:"

True he did baptize them in water. True he did say this. However, does that mean water baptism saves? You still have to ask this question. The answer to that is a big NO. You quoted Peter and he spoke well. However, the baptism he spoke of is the baptism that CHRISt spoke of, for water baptism can clean the flesh because water washes the flesh, but water cannot clean the soul and spirit of a man.

Acts 1:4-5 "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. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."

[Della Morton]

Christian water baptism is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ. If it is not important in the plan of God, why did Jesus command it in Matthew 28:19? And why did Peter follow up by saying, "Be baptized every one of you," and by commanding the Gentiles to be baptized (Acts 2:38; 10:48)? We must remember two points about the importance of water baptism. First whatever Christ definitely established and ordained cannot be unimportant, whether we understand its significance or not. Second, Christ and the apostles showed the importance of this ordinance by observing it. Jesus walked may miles to be baptized, though he was without sin, saying, "For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" (See Matthew 3:13-16).

It is true that water itself does not contain any saving virtue, but God has chosen to include it in His plan of salvation. Peter explained, "Baptism doth also now save us (not putting away the of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21). According to Luke 7:30, "the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized."
The Mode of Baptism

According to the Scriptures, the proper mode of baptism is immersion. "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water" (Matthew 3:16). "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him' (Acts 8:38). "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death" (Romans 6:4). A corpse is not buried by placing it on top of the ground and sprinkling a little soil on it, but by covering it completely.

According to the World Book Encyclopedia, "At first all baptism was by complete immersion" (vol. 1, p. 651). And the Catholic Encyclopedia states, "In the early centuries, all were baptized by immersion in streams, pools and baptisteries" (vol. 2, p. 263). Immersion was not convenient after the Catholic church instituted infant baptism; thus the mode was changed to sprinkling. (See Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed, vol. 3, pp. 365-66)

Repentance identifies us with the death of Christ, and baptism identifies us with His burial. Coming for from the watery grave of baptism and receiving new life in the Holy Spirit identifies us with His resurrection.
The Formula for Baptism

Jesus commanded His disciples to "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19). He did not commend them to use these words as a formula, but He commanded them to baptize in "the name". The word name is used here in the singular, and it is the focal point of the baptismal command. The titles father, Son, and Holy Ghost describe God's relationships to humanity and are not the supreme, saving name described here, which is Jesus. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Jesus is the name in which the roles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are revealed. The angel of the Lord instructed Joseph, "She shall bring forth a son and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Jesus said, "I am come in my Father's name," and, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, . . . the Father will send in my name" (John 5:43; 14:26). Thus by baptizing in the name of Jesus, we honor the Godhead. "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). Luke 24:45-47 records that just before His ascension Jesus opened the disciples understanding. It was necessary that their understanding be opened, and many today need this same operation in order to understand the scriptures.

Then Jesus said to them, "Thus it is written, and it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day." The disciples had their understanding opened so that they could grasp the vast importance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Verse 47 describes the commission that Jesus then gave: "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations (Jews and Gentiles), beginning at Jerusalem."

Peter was one of that number to whom Jesus had spoken and whose understanding had been opened. After having listened to these instructions, a few days later he was inspired by the Holy Ghost to preach on the Day of Pentecost. The hearts of the hearers were pierced and feeling condemned, they cried out to Peter and the other apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter did not hesitate but boldly answered. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall received the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day they were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).

Some say that Peter told them to be baptized in Jesus' name because they were Jews and this baptism was to make them acknowledge Jesus Christ. But let us go with Peter to the house of Cornelius several years later. Cornelius and his household were Gentiles, yet there again Peter "commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:48). (Most translations actually say, "In the name of Jesus Christ.") If Peter was wrong on the Day of Pentecost, he surely had ample time to be corrected before he went to the house of Cornelius. Was Peter wrong on the Day of Pentecost? When the hearers were pricked in their hearts, they spoke to Peter and the rest of the apostles (Acts 2:37). This included Matthew, who wrote Matthew 28:19. Moreover, when Peter preached, he stood up with the eleven (Acts 2:14).

Matthew was there, yet we find no words of correction from him. He surely would have spoken up if Peter had disobeyed the Lord. Bit all the apostles understood and carried out the Lord's commission. As Jesus said in a prayer, "I have manifested thy name unto the men (the apostles) which thou gavest me out of the world . . . and they have kept thy word" (John 17:6). The Samaritans, who were not Jews, were also baptized in the name of Jesus. "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them . . . .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. . . .They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 8:5,12,16).

Let us see how Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, baptized. He went to Ephesus many years after the Day of Pentecost and found some disciples of John the Baptist there. "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. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 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. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:2-5).

Although these disciples had already been baptized, the name of Jesus was so important as to cause them to be rebaptized in His name. We do not believe that Paul changed the formula or mode of baptism when he baptized Lydia and her household (Acts 16:14-15) or the Philippian jailer. The latter came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, saying, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And he took them the same hour of the night (shortly after midnight), and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway" (Acts 16:30-33).

How can we doubt that Paul baptized these people using the same mode and formula that he used elsewhere, that is, immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Paul was not with the apostles when Jesus gave His final instructions to them in Matthew 28:19 and Luke 24:47, yet Paul baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. How did he know what to do? He said that his gospel was not a tradition of men but a revelation from God. "I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it from of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12). Paul was chosen to bear Jesus' name to the Gentiles, and he wrote many divinely inspired epistles to the church. To this apostle, God revealed the mystery of the church, "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Ephesians 3:5). Paul claimed to have divine authority: "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (I Corinthians 14:37). And Paul wrote, "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colossians 3:17). Water baptism is done both in word and deed.

We cannot afford to overlook this command to the church. The church is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." (Ephesians 2:20). The apostles not only preached baptism in Jesus' name, but they practiced it. Nowhere can we find that they baptized using the words "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Instead, we find them baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In baptizing in Jesus' name, they fulfilled the command of the Lord in Matthew 28:19. Paul said, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Let this be a solemn warning to us. Some say that they will accept the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 but not those of Peter in Acts 2:38. But Peter spoke on the Day of Pentecost under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Peter was one of the apostles, and to him had been given the keys of the kingdom, so we have no right to discredit his words.

In Mark 7:8 Jesus said, "Laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men." History tells us that it was not until many years after the apostles that the mode and formula of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ were changed. (See Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 1, p. 241.) Which means more to you, the command of the Lord or the tradition of men?

[Preacher]

The post is not saying not to baptize,its teaching that baptizing doesn't save...water doesn't wash away sins...we become born again, then out of obedience we get baptized...but we are born again first baptism doesn't initiate salvation, its a result of salvation...
GB

[Della Morton]

Why are you trying to discredit water baptism by implying it''s not necessary? By doing this you blatantly ignore all these scriptures below and how it is Commanded by Jesus Christ and His apostles for the New testament New Birth!

Christian water baptism is an ordinance instituted by Jesus Christ. If it is not important in the plan of God, why did Jesus command it in Matthew 28:19? And why did Peter follow up by saying, "Be baptized every one of you," and by commanding the Gentiles to be baptized (Acts 2:38; 10:48)? We must remember two points about the importance of water baptism. First whatever Christ definitely established and ordained cannot be unimportant, whether we understand its significance or not. Second, Christ and the apostles showed the importance of this ordinance by observing it. Jesus walked may miles to be baptized, though he was without sin, saying, "For thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness" (See Matthew 3:13-16).

It is true that water itself does not contain any saving virtue, but God has chosen to include it in His plan of salvation. Peter explained, "Baptism doth also now save us (not putting away the of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21). According to Luke 7:30, "the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized."
The Mode of Baptism

According to the Scriptures, the proper mode of baptism is immersion. "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water" (Matthew 3:16). "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him' (Acts 8:38). "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death" (Romans 6:4). A corpse is not buried by placing it on top of the ground and sprinkling a little soil on it, but by covering it completely.

According to the World Book Encyclopedia, "At first all baptism was by complete immersion" (vol. 1, p. 651). And the Catholic Encyclopedia states, "In the early centuries, all were baptized by immersion in streams, pools and baptisteries" (vol. 2, p. 263). Immersion was not convenient after the Catholic church instituted infant baptism; thus the mode was changed to sprinkling. (See Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th ed, vol. 3, pp. 365-66)

Repentance identifies us with the death of Christ, and baptism identifies us with His burial. Coming for from the watery grave of baptism and receiving new life in the Holy Spirit identifies us with His resurrection.
The Formula for Baptism

Jesus commanded His disciples to "teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19). He did not commend them to use these words as a formula, but He commanded them to baptize in "the name". The word name is used here in the singular, and it is the focal point of the baptismal command. The titles father, Son, and Holy Ghost describe God's relationships to humanity and are not the supreme, saving name described here, which is Jesus. "Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).

Jesus is the name in which the roles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are revealed. The angel of the Lord instructed Joseph, "She shall bring forth a son and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). Jesus said, "I am come in my Father's name," and, "The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, . . . the Father will send in my name" (John 5:43; 14:26). Thus by baptizing in the name of Jesus, we honor the Godhead. "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9). Luke 24:45-47 records that just before His ascension Jesus opened the disciples understanding. It was necessary that their understanding be opened, and many today need this same operation in order to understand the scriptures.

Then Jesus said to them, "Thus it is written, and it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day." The disciples had their understanding opened so that they could grasp the vast importance of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Verse 47 describes the commission that Jesus then gave: "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations (Jews and Gentiles), beginning at Jerusalem."

Peter was one of that number to whom Jesus had spoken and whose understanding had been opened. After having listened to these instructions, a few days later he was inspired by the Holy Ghost to preach on the Day of Pentecost. The hearts of the hearers were pierced and feeling condemned, they cried out to Peter and the other apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). Peter did not hesitate but boldly answered. "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall received the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day they were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:41).

Some say that Peter told them to be baptized in Jesus' name because they were Jews and this baptism was to make them acknowledge Jesus Christ. But let us go with Peter to the house of Cornelius several years later. Cornelius and his household were Gentiles, yet there again Peter "commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord" (Acts 10:48). (Most translations actually say, "In the name of Jesus Christ.") If Peter was wrong on the Day of Pentecost, he surely had ample time to be corrected before he went to the house of Cornelius. Was Peter wrong on the Day of Pentecost? When the hearers were pricked in their hearts, they spoke to Peter and the rest of the apostles (Acts 2:37). This included Matthew, who wrote Matthew 28:19. Moreover, when Peter preached, he stood up with the eleven (Acts 2:14).

Matthew was there, yet we find no words of correction from him. He surely would have spoken up if Peter had disobeyed the Lord. But all the apostles understood and carried out the Lord's commission. As Jesus said in a prayer, "I have manifested thy name unto the men (the apostles) which thou gavest me out of the world . . . and they have kept thy word" (John 17:6). The Samaritans, who were not Jews, were also baptized in the name of Jesus. "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them . . . .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. . . .They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 8:5,12,16).

Let us see how Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, baptized. He went to Ephesus many years after the Day of Pentecost and found some disciples of John the Baptist there. "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. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 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. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:2-5).

Although these disciples had already been baptized, the name of Jesus was so important as to cause them to be rebaptized in His name. We do not believe that Paul changed the formula or mode of baptism when he baptized Lydia and her household (Acts 16:14-15) or the Philippian jailer. The latter came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, saying, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And he took them the same hour of the night (shortly after midnight), and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway" (Acts 16:30-33).

How can we doubt that Paul baptized these people using the same mode and formula that he used elsewhere, that is, immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? Paul was not with the apostles when Jesus gave His final instructions to them in Matthew 28:19 and Luke 24:47, yet Paul baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. How did he know what to do? He said that his gospel was not a tradition of men but a revelation from God. "I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it from of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12). Paul was chosen to bear Jesus' name to the Gentiles, and he wrote many divinely inspired epistles to the church. To this apostle, God revealed the mystery of the church, "which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" (Ephesians 3:5). Paul claimed to have divine authority: "If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord" (I Corinthians 14:37). And Paul wrote, "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him" (Colossians 3:17). Water baptism is done both in word and deed.

We cannot afford to overlook this command to the church. The church is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." (Ephesians 2:20). The apostles not only preached baptism in Jesus' name, but they practiced it. Nowhere can we find that they baptized using the words "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Instead, we find them baptizing in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. In baptizing in Jesus' name, they fulfilled the command of the Lord in Matthew 28:19. Paul said, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Let this be a solemn warning to us. Some say that they will accept the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 but not those of Peter in Acts 2:38. But Peter spoke on the Day of Pentecost under the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Peter was one of the apostles, and to him had been given the keys of the kingdom, so we have no right to discredit his words.

In Mark 7:8 Jesus said, "Laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men." History tells us that it was not until many years after the apostles that the mode and formula of baptism in the name of Jesus Christ were changed. (See Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible, vol. 1, p. 241.) Which means more to you, the command of the Lord or the tradition of men?

[Preacher]

well you can't totally commit yourself to God unless he's called and chosen you..ITS ALL GODS WORK..

[Archbishop Trevor 'Elihu' Greene]

Both of you are correct.