Expert: Marvin Howard - 5/18/2007

Question
Dear Sir:

I once read an on-line essay which indicated that the Churches of Christ have not generally made it a practice of requiring a candidate for salvation to understand the concept of the Trinity. The article further indicated that some Churches of Christ have even allowed the candidate for salvation the choice of being immersion baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, or else only in the name of Jesus Christ, as stated in Acts 2:38 and in several other passages in the book of Acts. Do you agree or disagree with the author of that article?

Best Regards,
John H.

Answer
Hi!

John, I have never read such an article, but I will do my best to explain my stance on these issues, and give Scriptural support.

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."

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: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

From Scripture, we see that baptizing in the name of Jesus is acceptable from Acts; with Peter making the quote. Also, from Scripture we see that baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is acceptable, and the teaching is attributed to Jesus. Was Peter wrong? Was Jesus wrong? What is the difference between the two?

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."

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, we saw that Jesus was given all power. Calling on His name is doing things in His name. It is not some magical formula, ritual, or incantation that is required by some of the idolatrous apostates.

John 1:1, 14, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Jesus is God according to this passage. Therefore, Jesus, in Matthew's account, was saying that His authority came from Heaven. It is by the authority of Jesus that baptism can forgive sins. This is why those who reject baptism will not be saved; because they reject the authority of Jesus. Moreover, since Jesus' authority came from Heaven, we are also baptized by the authority of the Father and the Spirit, in addition to Jesus.

There is no difference between baptizing in the name of Jesus, and baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are the same action, performed on the same authority. It matters not what words, if any are spoken. The immersion could be done in complete silence and still be acceptable, as long as the receiving person recognizes that it is authorized by God, and that it is declared to remove sins. You see, if you do not believe that it removes sin, you are not doing it by the same authority. Martin Luther and John Calvin wrote (authored) THOSE words, not Jesus or God.

Now, let's turn to the first part of your question. Notice the chronology of the Matthew account of the Great Commission. We are to first go. Then, we are to teach. Then, we are to baptize. Then, we are to teach some more.

That people still need teaching after they are baptized to become Christians shows clearly that we do not understand weightier matter of spirituality. There are differing levels of maturity.

1st Corinthians 3:2, "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able."

Hebrews 5:12, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."

The more complex an issue is, the longer it will take to learn it. When you deal with issues that have no mortal equivalent, it becomes even more difficult. Understanding that there are three persons, yet that they are all one, is probably the most difficult concept to understand of all, other than eternity. Therefore, it is one of the last things to be learned in the normal progression of things. Granted, there are exceptions, but this is the general rule. If it is normally one of the last things learned, understanding the nature of the Godhead is usually taught after baptism, and not before.

A candidate for baptism is subject to the first principles of the Word. They are not yet subject to the meat (more difficult aspects) of the Word. To make someone wait for their salvation until they know all things is to risk their soul if an accident of some sort may occur. Are you willing to stand before God at the judgment and explain to Him why this man died without salvation? Are you willing to say that it is your fault? I am not, so I (like the Apostles on Pentecost who baptized people as soon as they heard the Word) would not make someone wait for that level of spiritual maturity.

John thank you for the opportunity to answer this for you. I apologize for the delay. I have been very involved of late. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
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