WHAT DOES “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT” MEAN?

Matt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, NIV. This has been quoted in church a number of times and we say in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit but the truth is when you talk this way you haven’t really mentioned any name.

It’s just like saying in the name of the President, the Vice President and Speaker of Parliament. You are only describing them but you haven’t really mentioned their name.  Notice that the Bible never said in the “NAMES OF”. This means that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit has one name. One name represents all of them.  Jesus told them to baptize all those who get born again in the NAME. Remember he didn’t say in the names. If you say in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit you haven’t mentioned any name.

What is that name?

 In Acts we begin to understand these things that the disciples understood what Jesus meant when he said “baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

Now let’s look at what Peter said in Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, NIV. Jesus told them to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit but when Peter was preaching he said all of you must be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. So that is the name, when they were baptizing they never said that I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus told them that, but the disciples knew what name he was referring to.  Throughout the Bible from that time, that is how they baptized believers because they knew that when you say in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit you really haven’t mentioned any name yet. You can try casting out devils that way and see. They won’t mind you because they know you haven’t specifically invoked any name.

Now let us look at another portion of the Bible.

Acts 8:15-16 When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus, NIV. Notice the repetition here. The believers had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. They were not baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  This is what most people do because they haven’t understood what Jesus meant.

The early church didn’t baptize this way. They baptized in the name of Jesus. That is the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That is why the Bible says that at the mention of the name Jesus every Knee shall bow, including those in heave. So that name carries all the identity of God. Acts 19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. NIV

Let this open your eyes, the name Jesus is the name of the Godhead. When you mention it you have God’s attention you have Jesus attention, the Holy Spirit’s attention and the whole heaven gives you an ear. Thank God the name has been given to us. Glory to His name forever, Amen.

OPOKU AGYEMANG EMMANUEL

REVIEWED BY

REV. DR. ERIC OWUSU BARNIE