The Bulletin
of the
Church of Christ at
New Georgia
Tim Johnson, editor
May 10, 2009
In
This Issue:
Baptism
in the Name of Jesus
by
Steve Klein
Stand,
See, Ask
by
W.C. Hinton Jr.
Baptism in the Name of Jesus
In Acts 2:38 Peter commands unsaved men to, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins."
To do something in the name of Jesus involves doing it for the reason and purpose that He has assigned. If we do not do what He has asked, for the reason He has asked, He doesn't accept it. How do we know this is true? Consider other things we are to do "in Jesus name."
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Charitable deeds. In Mark 9:41 Jesus said that anyone who gave His disciples a "cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ . . . he will by no means lose his reward" (Mark 9:41). But if someone does that same charitable deed "before men, to be seen by them" he will receive "no reward" from the Father in heaven (Matthew 6:1). Note that the reason the charitable deed is done is what determines if it is acceptable to God as having been done in Jesus' name.
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Withdrawing. When a church withdraws fellowship from a sinful member "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ" they do it "that his spirit may be saved in the day of judgment" (1 Corinthians 5:4-5; cf. 2 Thessalonians. 3:6). But suppose that a church withdraws from someone because it is following the lead of a bully (like Diotrophes) who wants to control everything (3 John 9-10); that church has not practiced withdrawal "in the name of Jesus," no matter what it may claim.
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Prayer. To pray "in the name of Jesus" (Ephesians 5:20) involves more than saying, "In Jesus name, Amen" at the end of a prayer. To pray in the name of Jesus is "not merely to add to one's prayers a meaningless formula, but it is to ask something from God as Christ's representatives on earth, in his mission and stead, in his spirit and with His aim" (ISBE, vol. 3, p. 483). If I pray selfishly or not according to the will of God, I am not praying in Jesus name, even if I believe in Jesus and say "in Jesus' name, Amen" at the end of my prayer (cf. James 4:3; 1 John 5:14).
Baptism in the name of Jesus requires that the one baptized "believes" on Jesus Christ (Acts 19:5; 8:37), but it also requires that the one baptized do so "for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38), to "wash away your sins" (Acts 22:16), and to "put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). No one who has failed to be baptized for these reasons has been baptized in the name of Jesus.
In Acts 19:1-7, the Scriptures teach that baptism for the wrong purpose does not save. In that text, twelve men who had been baptized "into John's baptism" were told by the apostle Paul that "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus" (19:4). Upon hearing this, these twelve men "were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (19:5). Obviously, a baptism which is not "in the name of Christ for the remission of sins" will not save.
If you have not been baptized in the name of Jesus, why are you waiting?
-- Steve Klein
"Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16)
What is the cause of division in the religious world? Is it God's Word? The statement is made by many, "We can't all see the Bible alike." James says the law is perfect. Paul tells us that the Word is sufficient for all that man does in religion (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The reason for religious division is man, who is willing to accept about anything in religion except Bible teaching. As a result, he has written a creed stating his belief and practice. The creeds of man need to be discarded and all return to the Word of God, where there is safety.
Consider Jeremiah's much needed plea today. We need to stop, face the facts, investigate, and consider our actions. Too many times, one is guilty of assum-ing that what he does in religion is pleasing to God. This is the mistake made by Nadab, Abihu, Saul, Uzzah - they were all punished.
We need to seek the ancient order of things; God's truths are timeless. We should not allow modernism to persuade us that modern man needs a modern religion. Sin is still the spiritual disease; the Gospel still the means of forgive-ness. The "old path" is the "good way" that leads to eternal life. (John 14:6).
It is not enough to know about the "old path" for one must walk in that path. It is not enough to say, "I believe the New Testament to be the Word of God," and then to add to it or subtract from it by accepting the doctrines and commandments of men. One must be willing to "DO" the things taught in the Word. (Matthew 7:21).
Will you not consider God's message as found in the New Testament, obey it, and then join with us in our plea and appeal for a restoration of New Test-ament Christianity? Remember, friend, the destiny of your soul is at stake.
-- W.C. Hinton Jr.
Via The Instructor, July 1987