THE WAY WE WORSHIP.. What about the plan of salvation? Matthew 16:16-19, Mark 16:16-17, Luke 24:47,49, John 3:3-5, 7:37-39, Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 10:44-48, 19:1-6, Galatians 1:8-9 What about water baptism in Jesus Name? Luke 24:47, John 3:23, Acts 2:38-39, 4:12, 8:16,38-39, 10:48, 19:5, Romans 6:3-5, Colossians 2:9-12, 3:17 What about women’s hair? I Corinthians 11:15, John 12:3, 11:2 What about men’s
hair? I Corinthians 11:14 What about women wearing apparel pertaining to a man and a man wearing apparel pertaining to a woman? Deuteronomy 22:5 Does the Bible mention anything about "painting of the face"? JEZEBEL DID! WOULD YOU WANT TO PATTERN YOUR LIFE AFTER HER? II Kings 9:30, Jeremiah 4:30, Ezekiel 23:40 What about modest apparel? I Timothy 2:8-10, I Peter 3:1-5, Matthew 6:28, Isaiah 3:16-24 What about living holy and separation from the world? Leviticus 11:44-45, Psalms 29:2, 93:5, 96:9, Luke 1:74-75, Romans 6:19-23, 12:1-2, I Corinthians 3:16-17, 7:1, Ephesians 1:4, Titus 2:14, Hebrews 12:14, James 1:27, I Peter 1:14-17, 2:9, II Peter 3:11-14, I John 2:15-16, 3:1-9, I Chronicles 16:29, II Chronicles 20:29, 31:18, Ephesians 4:24, I Thessalonians 3:13, 4:7, I Timothy 2:15, Titus 2:3 What about prayer for the sick? Mark 16:16-18, James 5:14-15 What about raising hands? Psalms 134:2, 141:2, Lamentations 3:41, I Timothy 2:8 What about singing, clapping of hands, shouting, and dancing? II Samuel 6:14-16, Psalms 33:3, 47:1, 66:1, 81:1, 95:1, 98:4, 100:1, 149:3,5, I Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16 What about playing music? II Samuel 6:5, I Chronicles 23:5, II Chronicles 7:6, 29:25, Psalms 68:25, 98:4-6, 150:3-6 What about praying together aloud? Psalms 95:6, Luke 1:10, Acts 1:14, 4:24, 12:12, 21:5 What about testimonies? Psalms 26:6-7, 66:16, 107:1-2, Revelation 12:11 Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. WHY WE BAPTIZE IN Jesus’ Name The subject of water baptism has long been called a great issue and no doubt has been made much by many church leaders of the past and present. In our study of it, let us first consider its importance, or the necessity of being baptized. The Importance of Water Baptism 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 eu**ch; and he baptized him’ (Acts 8:38). "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death" (Romans 6:4). A co**se 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? ABOUT OUR DOCTRINE About the Bible The Bible is the infallible Word of God and the authority for salvation and Christian living (II Timothy 3:15-17). ABOUT GOD There is one God, who has revealed Himself as our Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and as the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is God manifested in flesh. He is both God and man (Deuteronomy 6:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; Colossians 2:9; I Timothy 3:16). About Sin and Salvation Everyone has sinned and needs salvation. Salvation comes by grace through faith based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25; 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9). About the Gospel The saving gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. We obey the gospel by repentance (death to sin), water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (burial), and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (resurrection) (I Corinthians 15:1-4; Acts 2:4, 37-39; Romans 6:3-4). About the Future Jesus Christ is coming again to catch away His church. In the end will be the final resurrection and the final judgment. The righteous will inherit eternal life, and the unrighteous eternal death (I Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 20:11 15). HOW WE WORSHIP We pray together aloud because in the Bible we read, "They lifted up their voice to God with one accord" (Acts 4:24). We lift our hands in praise because in the Bible we read, "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord" (Psalm 134:2). We sing with all our hearts because in the Bible we read, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise" (Psalm 98:4). We play musical instruments because in the Bible we read, "And all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments" (2 Samuel 6:5). We clap and shout unto God because in the Bible we read, "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph" (Psalm 47:1). We dance before the LORD because in the Bible we read, "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: praise Him with stringed instruments and organs" (Psalm 150:4). We testify publicly because in the Bible we read, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee" (Psalm 22:22). We anoint with oil for divine healing because in the Bible we read, "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" (James 5:14). We allow the operation of the spiritual gifts because in the Bible we read, "When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation" (1 Corinthians 14:26) Salvation Repentance, Baptism, and the Holy Ghost First, we must repent, turning our back on all sin and turning to God in faith. Repentance is motivated by godly sorrow, and it includes confession of sins to God. Second, we must be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus told His disciples to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. He did not say to baptize in the titles. If this command literally meant to use the titles Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, then there would be a great contradiction in the Bible, for the disciples never baptized in any way but in the name of Jesus. (See Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16.) But Jesus said to baptize in the name (singular) of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. These titles are not the one proper name of God, but terms that describe God’s relationships to humanity. These three roles of God are revealed to us in the name of Jesus. The name of the Son is Jesus (Matthew 1:21). Moreover, Jesus said that He came in the Father’s name and that the Holy Ghost would be sent in His name (John 5:43; 14:26). The one saving name of God is Jesus, which literally means Jehovah-Savior. Jesus was the one God of the Old Testament who came in flesh to be our Savior. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). "Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name" (Luke 24:47). In Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9), so to fulfill Matthew 28:19 we must baptize in Jesus’ name. Third, God will pour out the gift of the Holy Ghost on us as He did on the disciples, and we will receive the same Bible evidence - speaking in other tongues. (See Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6.) As Jesus said, "These signs shall follow them that believe ... they shall speak with new tongues" (Mark 16:17). It takes all three steps to complete God’s plan of salvation for the New Testament church. Our heart is burdened for those who really love the Lord but who through ignorance or fear are being cheated out of their inheritance. Will you not search the Scriptures, see whether these things are true or not, and earnestly ask God to baptize you with the Holy Ghost? These are the days of the "latter rain," which God is sending to ripen the grain for the harvest. Soon He will come to catch away those who have the same Spirit dwelling in them that raised up Jesus from the dead. Now is the time to examine yourself to see whether or not you are in the faith of the apostles
