The Diaries of a Fruitcake in a Half Baked World!

Well, I was raised Southern Baptist and accepted Jesus Christ as my savior on March 25, 1985. I was 14 and had my baptism that following month on Easter Sunday. I was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. What is that name? What is the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? When we are baptized “in the name” isn’t that singular? It doesn’t say “names”.

So, I was going through some of my journals and I came across one of my writings that I wanted to share.

Matthew 28:17-19

“When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, “All authority has been give to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

This verse is another indication that God is one in three persons. “I am with you always” demonstrates that Jesus is the true Immanuel, “God with us” (see Matt. 1:23; Heb. 13:5, 6; Rev. 21:3)

This is the only place I have found where baptism is said to be done in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. A couple of things stick out to me.

1. In these verses they are written in red, which means they were said by Jesus. He was speaking. In v.17 some doubted. If Jesus were to say baptize in the name of Jesus that would have sent the doubters over the edge. But He didn’t.  He was still in front of them.
2. In v. 19 He left it up to everyone to baptize according to their faith. “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” So, what is the name of these three? The name is singular. It didn’t say, baptize in the names of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. My faith says that singular “name” is Jesus.

The concept could be easily explained like this. My name is Thea.  I am a Mother and a daughter and a wife. What is the name of all three? Thea. I am all three in one name. (I am humbly trying to use this example to simplify, though I don’t see how it could be any simpler than what is said in scripture.)

So why is it so hard to baptize in the name of Jesus? I can’t help but look back in Acts chapter 4. Starting in v.13. Peter and John were speaking and teaching in the name of Jesus. Even going so far as to say that you needed to be baptized in the name of Jesus. (Acts 2:38) The members of the Sanhedrin didn’t like this and commanded them to not speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.(v.18) Has that followed us to this day and age?

See the name of Jesus is powerful. It’s not like, we’ll say it this way and it means the same thing. Or saying it this way, you know who we are talking about. The fact is we aren’t saying His name. Just like the Sanhedrin didn’t want to have anything done in His name, people aren’t being educated about how important His name is, so they don’t say it. Miraculous signs and wonders were done in His name. When the cripple man that would be laid at the gate of the temple which was called Beautiful had asked Peter and John for money, they didn’t have silver or gold to give but they did have something else. (Acts 3) They said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” He did and that is what caused the members of the Sanhedrin to come up against Peter and John with their teaching and preaching in the name of Jesus.

I have often asked myself and God in my daily prayer and study time, why I don’t see those miracles and signs like I read in the new testament in our time? Do you know why?