Saturday or Sunday Worship - Why is that the Question?

It was recently suggested to me that there may be some confusion as to the day Christians are to worship, and further more that this confusion may be causing turmoil, and unrest…

To which of course I wondered “Why?”

Never being immersed in the group the Seventh Day Adventists I am sure I cannot fully appreciate the ingrained dogma regarding Saturday worship… Although a time or two I have tuned into the local Seventh Day radio station and heard tidbits of information regarding the “satanically inspired Saturday morning cartoons”, which were of course a demonic ploy to keep children out of “Sabbath School” Stating “Do you think it is a coincidence they show those cartoons on Saturdays?” It caused a slight chuckle, a grin and a turn of the dial back to the local Christian Contemporary station…

However I too have had the cold scaly hands of legalism around my throat, therefore I feel sympathetic towards any who may be struggling with such thoughts and am inspired to put forth a suitable amount of effort to clear things up a bit, and I hope it helps.

Many Seventh Day Adventists associate Sunday worship with receiving 'the Mark of the Beast'. In fact many believe that Christians who attend church on a Sunday have actually been deceived by a variety of demonic influences ranging from the Catholics, to Constantine, to Satan himself, and therefore, by attending Sunday worship, are in essence sinning against God!

Legalism in all cases seeks to justify it case by selective texts, and selective historical documentation, somehow failing to balance their view or conveniently leaving certain historical truths covered. In fact I am amazed at the length to which these groups will search to validate their view, obtain obscure historical records, of which are highly questionable, and then degrade those most generally and scholarly accepted documents! In fact it sickens me and I am appalled!

It is suitable to note that most Seventh Day Adventists also hold to the dietary laws of the Old Testament as well… So if one chooses to subscribe the “Sunday is Satanic” or Pagan or whatever hot button word being used, I’d lay aside the bacon, as well, and of course Shrimp Fest at the local Red Lobster should be considered a memory as well!

This is only noted to state that in the New Testament some changes where made, and we observe those changes and we follow them as the fulfillment of initial first coming of our Messiah – Jesus Christ…

So let us dive into the meat of the issue!

The commandment in Exodus 20:8-11 states that the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday, is the day which the Lord instructed as the day of rest and worship. However in the New Testament we see the church worshiped on Sunday. So what gives?

Though there are a variety of places to begin let me first start with the New Testament view of the Sabbath.

Romans 14:5-6: "One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God."

Paul illustrates for us in Romans that one man regards one day, and another man, another day… He then states “He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord”

If Saturday worship were so critical, then why would Paul give such variance to man, such flexibility? Why would he not drill the issue, as some feel it should be, why not make it an object of division, as some have? I won’t answer this, actually I cannot answer this question because no answer exists, other than to note Paul felt we should take a day to observe the Lord, but this day was to the discretion of men… As a man observes that day of choice, he observes to the Lord. It is a clear command.

Colossians 2:16-17: "Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day-things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ."

This is a critical text. Take note of the Holy Days noted here:

a festival

a new moon

a Sabbath day

Preceding the mentioning of these things we are given a command from the Word of God “Therefore let no one act as your judge in regard to” Pretty weighty stuff so far.

No one can judge in regards to the Sabbath day, or what day we worship the Lord, and the reason is… this is where it gets interesting –

The Sabbath was a “mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ”

The Message Bible

Col 2:16 So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.

Amplified Bible^(R)

(Colossians 2:16) Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath.

(Colossians 2:17) Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value. But the reality (the substance, the solid fact of what is foreshadowed, the body of it) belongs to Christ.

Jesus is essentially our Sabbath! The Sabbath was a shadow of what is to come. He is our rest, He is our worship, and the entire law is summed up in Loving God, not in keeping a variety of Holy Days!

The insistence of the Seventh Day Adventists adherence to Saturday worship, and their condemnation of Sunday worship, is unfounded and ignorance or ignoring based of New Testament SCRIPTURE, PRACTICE, AND TRADITION!

That in mind let’s take a look at some historical truths

Acts 20:7: "And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight."

Message Bible

Act 20:7 We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master's Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight.

The first day of the week is now as it was then and that day is Sunday. It also appears to be the day that the church gathered for worship. The day that people gathered, worshipped and learned of God, in the New Testament church… WAS/IS SUNDAY.

Now if this was a single occurrence that would be fine, but as you’ll see it was not!

1Corinthans 16:1

Regarding the relief offering for poor Christians that is being collected, you get the same instructions I gave the churches in Galatia. Every Sunday each of you make an offering and put it in safekeeping. Be as generous as you can. When I get there you'll have it ready, and I won't have to make a special appeal. Then after I arrive, I'll write letters authorizing whomever you delegate, and send them off to Jerusalem to deliver your gift. If you think it best that I go along, I'll be glad to travel with them.

Notice here that Paul is directing the churches to meet on the first day of each week and put money aside. It would seem that this is tithing. So, the instructed time for the church to meet is Sunday. Is this an official worship day set up by the church? You decide.

So we notice that Paul instructs the saints to make an offering on Sunday, which sounds like well an offering in a church service!

Revelation 1:10-11: "I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."

On the Lord’s day is Sunday

Same text Message Bible

(Revelation 1:10) It was Sunday and I was in the Spirit, praying. I heard a loud voice behind me, trumpet-clear and piercing:

Ask the REAL EXPERTS

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

The Lord’s day - The first day of the week, observed as the Christian Sabbath, because on it Jesus Christ rose from the dead; therefore it was called the Lord’s day, and has taken place of the Jewish Sabbath throughout the Christian world.

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Rev 1:10 - I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day,.... Not on the Jewish sabbath, which was now abolished, nor was that ever called the Lord's day, and had John meant that, he would have said on the sabbath day; much less the Jewish passover, but the first day of the week is designed

Now let me give you a bit of wordy information, but it so validates this truth

The Lords Day

the Ethiopic version renders it "on the first day"; and is so called just as the ordinance of the supper is called the Lord's supper, being instituted by the Lord, and the Lord's table, 1Co_10:21, and that because it was the day in which our Lord rose from the dead, Mar_16:9; and in which he appeared at different times to his disciples, Joh_20:19, and which the primitive churches set apart for his worship and service, and on which they met together to hear the word, and attend on ordinances, Act_20:7; and Justin Martyr (z) tells us, who lived within about fifty years after this time, that on the day called, "Sunday", (by the Greeks,) the Christians met together in one place, and read the Scriptures, and prayed together, and administered the ordinance of the supper; and this, he adds, was the first day in which God created the World, and our Saviour Jesus Christ rose from the dead;

Barnabas (a), the companion of the Apostle Paul, calls this day the eighth day, in distinction from the seventh day sabbath of the Jews, and which he says is the beginning of another world; and therefore we keep the eighth day, adds he, joyfully, in which Jesus rose from the dead, and being manifested, ascended unto heaven: and this day was known by the ancients by the name of "the Lord's day"; as by:

Ignatius

Irenaeus

Tertullian

Origen

End quote

Some of you may not know the names listed: Ignatius, Irenaeus, Tertullian, etc… These men are known as the “Church Fathers” We value their opinion because they where disciples of the disciples… Yes, most of them knew the actual disciples/Apostles of Jesus Christ, and as they began to pass away, these men began to lead the church…

Fringe groups such as the Seventh Day Adventists will often discredit the Church Fathers… They do so because their thoughts, and words disagree so vehemently with what I call their “existence doctrines”

Existence doctrines are those doctrines so extreme that orthodox Christianity rejects them as heresy there fore a group is formed around the existence of this polarizing doctrinal view… it then becomes the soul reason for their shallow existence! The sum of all their sermons etc …

Nonetheless the writings of the Church Fathers and their historical value are so esteemed by so many scholars all over the world it is silly to refute them in totality!

Constantine Controversy

Poor Constantine, he was the fourth century Roman Emperor, and is usually the man in black for our Seventh Day Advents which is all to humorous to me, because he also is the devil in the Oneness doctrine as well… This guy gets blamed for more stuff!!! I am sure he was not sweetheart but come on… The rumor is Constantine created or imposed Sunday worship (along with the trinity as well) and then persecuted all the Sabbath-keepers and modalists of his age… Excuse me while I chuckle

Justin Martyr 110-165 a.d. [160 years before Constantine]

"Sunday is the day upon which we all hold our communion and assembly" (Justin Martyr, First Christian Apology)

Didache Estimated Range of Dating: 50-120

Chapter 14. Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day. But every Lord's day (Sunday) gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one who is at odds with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the Lord: "In every place and time offer to me a pure sacrifice; for I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name is wonderful among the nations."

Obviosuly Sunday worship was happening LONG before Constantine, so that theory, accusation is false, and perhaps we may even say it is a lie…

The non-canonical Epistle of Barnabbas show that Christians were also assembling on Sundays.

The Epistle of Ignatius about A.D. 107 gives the reason why The Lord's Day was now seen as having more importance than the original sabbath:
'Be not deceived with strange doctrines, nor with old fables, which are unprofitable. For if we still live according to the Jewish Law, we acknowledge that we have not received grace....If, therefore, those who were brought up in the ancient order of things have come to the possession of a new hope, no longer observing the Sabbath, but living in the observance of the Lord's Day, on which also our life has sprung up again by Him and By His death.'

'Apostolic Constitutions: Church life in the 2nd Century' says this:
'On the day of the resurrection of the Lord--that is, the Lord's Day--assemble yourself together without fail, giving thanks to God and praising Him for those mercies God has bestowed upon you through Christ.'

What about Jesus

Jesus bluntly corrected the legalistic view of the Pharisees when he stated, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath" (Mark 2:27).

The point Jesus made is that the Sabbath was not instituted to enslave people, but to benefit them.

The purpose of Sabbath is to give man the opportunity to honor God, and to rest from work to worship God… Not simply a law to obey!

A few final thoughts

Adventists claim: The Catholics take responsibility for changing Saturday to Sunday worship.

My answer – Maybe they do, I have not checked into this… but they also claim Peter as their first Pope! So who care what they claim as their, and what they take credit for? Is it scriptural, is it historical… That Adventist claim is MUTE, WORTHLESS, WITHOUT MERIT

Do not fail to remember worship on a Sunday is present within the New Testament itself (Acts 20:7 1 Cor 16:1-2 and Revelation 1:10, for instance).

The Sabbath command is never repeated in the New Testament, not even once.

Christ entered his own rest from His earthly labors on a Sunday - not a Sabbath.

The resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples first on a Sunday (John 20: 19-22).

If you wanted to have church with the disciples during that time period… You better wait till Sunday (Acts 20:7 1 Cor 16:1-2 and Revelation 1:10). If you want to go the Jewish Synagogue and follow all the laws, dietary, and all other 600 or so… go ahead and do the Saturday thing

While Paul chose to preach on a Sunday - see Acts 20:7.

MY FINAL THOUGHT…

Legalism is a killer. It seeks to steal, kill and destroy. “Destroy what?” you may ask. Life, faith and grace… oh yes, and the cross of Jesus Christ. The command given to us regarding our worship to God is simple… Do it with all your heart!

(Matthew 22:36) Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

(Matthew 22:37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

(Matthew 22:38) This is the first and great commandment.

Other than not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, we will find no other commands in the New Testament about our public worship, not the correct day it must happen, the correct time it must happen… This foul “existence doctrine” of Saturday worship is sheer legalism, and it is void of scriptural, historical and logical truth. So then, I’ll see you Sunday.

Mr. Opinionated

Okay well sooner or later this blog was bound to get me in trouble, sooner or later it was certain that my opinionated discourses on a variety of subjects was bound to break through the eewie gooey goodness of past posts, no longer satisfied with silence here comes “Mr. Opinionated”!

With fair warning I first feel it fair to confess, a soon apparent reality, I write this offering with a hint of irritation! It could be a warning perhaps to go no further although I implore you to do so.

What has rained on my parade, you may ask? What has caused such irritation? Well not a single incident per say, though it certainly could be labeled as the catalyst. The past week brought news of an impending divorce to take place among a Christian TV personality (televangelist) and her husband who pastors a very large church in Florida.(somewhere in the neighborhood of 23,000 members). The cause for such an action was simply labeled as “We are going in different directions” with the promise to continue in ministry without missing a beat. He’ll continue to Pastor, and she will continue to pursue or serve in the ministry on television…

I must confess that this floored, shocked, disappointed, and saddened me. Without coming across as calloused and uncaring I am quick to note that I pray for this couple and sympathize with the plight and pain of divorce. Truly it is devastating and painful for all who find themselves at this crossroads, or who are themselves storming such weather…

However, with dues sympathies noted, under no condition, or circumstances at all should divorce be considered, simply because a couple finds themselves going in different directions, under such a discovery, that they may well be, and most certainly are actually traveling in opposing directions which therefore are the wrong directions, an immediate change of travel MUST take place, so they find themselves once again on the right path… together… because after all that “two shall become one flesh stuff… I think God meant that! (ref; Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31)

This failure to do so cannot be remedied by further separation! Certainly a time of refocus of the roads being traveled and finding the correct avenue, one ample for proper travel would be the wise pursuit to endeavor!

What I find so saddening. is certainly the decline of moral fiber here in America, what I find utterly repulsive and sickening is the decline of moral fiber in the church. In past years marriage was considered to be ones first ministry, and it was considered the most precious commodity. Is that sentiment, no let me reword that, is that truth somehow losing its fire in the hearts of modern American Christianity?

In our modern Christian view, are we know shaping the commands of Christ based merely on cultural preferences? Gee, I hope not.

The basis of the marriage vow… “for better or worse, richer, or poorer…. Until death do we part” is said for a reason!!! The reason or the summation of such is a word seemingly hated by society today… So scary I cringe as I say it … get ready here it comes!

COMMITMENT

Ouch! That’s right God calls us to be committed… to Him, to each other and to our marriage, our spouse our children, our church etc…

In fact if we as Christians are to be any thing, or to have retained any quality since “Jesus came into my heart” as the song says… IT SHOULD BE COMMITMENT – and the first sin of wavering commitment(oxymoron) should be a warning that one may be weakening in their spiritual life…

I do realize that extenuating circumstances exist. Certainly in cases of abuse I don’t expect a spouse to abide under the same roof where physical danger lurks…

Nonetheless a principle quality of the church ought to be the sanctity of marriage, in which we certainly confess with our lips, but our statistics are far from it! Divorce is as prevalent in the church as it is in society at large… In fact our statistics rival theirs!

It seems to have lived in the pew long enough that it is becoming more socially accepted… Now that acceptance is crawling from the pew making its way to our pulpits… and I personally don’t like it! In fact as you were fairly warned I have something to say about it! IT – STINKS!

So my one lone voice resonates on the pages of this Blog perhaps making a point or two to those who frequent… But one voice is not the totality of the body of Christ… For we being many are essentially one body… there fore I make the simple suggestion to you… Be ye holy… as you have been so called, and defend the faith, which was given to you at the costly price – the blood of Christ.

We must make a stand against the erosion of moral integrity in Christianity today… Because we, like it or not are the only church God has in America, we are the modern day: apostles, prophets, teachers etc… Lets not take that to lightly! In fact I would encourage some contagious zeal! Let’s stand firm in the faith, and let the WORD of God be a lamp, and a light to our path! We live in age were uncertainties exist, and social pressure seeks to override the precepts of God… This truth therefore begs the question: What are you going to do about it?

The Dream Of God

The Dream Of God

I want to talk to you about the dream of God

I am very honored to have you here, because you are a creation of God.

You know many people have spent all the time they want to spend in; depression, being burned out, feeling lost and uncertain. There are other's who have dreams and visions and they see day by day go by and those dreams do not come to pass... I feel called to encourage you today...

maybe secretly you have wondered

Secretly you have considred the the thought:

• Maybe God doesn’t love me

• Maybe God just doesn’t care

• Maybe God doesn’t want me to be happy

Come on now its passed through you somewhere along the way

Maybe God just isn't interested or concerned with my life

• He's unaware of my dreams
  

• He’s unaware of my heartache

• He’s unconcerned with my situations

But the bible says

That your father know your needs

Lu:12:32: The Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

I am excited about that, I am excited and encouraged to tell you that God has a dream! God has a dream for your life, He is concerned about you, He is dreaming about you!

• God has not created you destination-less

• God has not created you without purpose

• God has a dream for you

1) You Where Created With a Purpose

Jer:1:4: Then the word of the LORD came …., saying,

Jer:1:5: Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee ……….a prophet unto the nations.

I want you to pay particular attention to the word BEFORE in this text

It contains two key ingredieants to our understanding The Dream of God

A) BEFORE you where concieved

B) BEFORE you where born

God had a plan for your Life

HE purposed you – HE designed you

• before you took your first breathe of air

• before you kicked inside the belly of your mother

• before a name had been chosen for you

• before your mother even knew she was with child

God did something for you

He Sanctified you – God ordained you

We ministers love to talk about being ordained – Carry our papers and our cards! The truth is God already ordained each one of us for a purpose

Ordained means –set apart for a sacred purpose

– Ordained you for a sacred purpose –

– You’re ordained you for divine destiny

Before you were a failure, before you had heard all the negative things people have said to you, before any body knew you and what you were...

GOD had already spoken some things over your life

GOD already had a dream that HE established within your being

You’re not just some chump down here with no place to go and nothing to do! Your not just taking up space – You where created with a destiny! You where created with a purpose! You where created with gifts and attributes to propel you towards the dream GOD has for you

People wonder why I spend so much time and why I preach so many messages on divine destiny on personal purpose

The reason is, I believe the devil has spent the last how many years of your life telling you, and trying to convince you that you’re worthless, you've have no purpose, that God can’t, and doesn’t want to do anything special in your life!

The devil has used people, he used failures, he used your bad circumstances, he used your bad mistakes, he's used every conceivable means available to make you believe your purposeless, worthless, and without a destination.

WHAT A LIE! The truth is you’re ordained! You've been set apart for a sacred purpose - you've been sanctified for a divine destiny - before the mistakes, before the failures… GOD spoke who you really were/are!

I'm not talking about what you did, with whom, and where…

I’m not talking about mistakes made in terrible ways, and unseemly circumstances…

I’m talking about something that happened in the HEAVENS

The moment the LORD spoke you into existence;

· HE shouted your destiny –

· He spoke it before HIS throne

· He spoke it in the presence of angels

and now all of heaven watches for you to fulfill the will of GOD

to be all that HE has sacredly purposed you to be, we’ll to be who you really are… not this façade you have become.

The angels know what you can be

GOD knows what you can be

The devil knows what you can

The only one that may be unsure, or unsettled in that is you

Its not who you fooled around with

It’s not the drugs you took

the failures you have had

It’s none of that

It’s what God has said about you

David’s father and brothers thought David was just a Shepard boy but GOD knew he was a king, a giant slater

They called Moses an Egyptian, but God knew he was a deliverer…

They called Joseph a dreamer- a slave – Potipher’s wife called him a rapist – they said his place was in the dungeon

But God knew his place and it wasn’t a prison it was in the palace

See I’m thinking GOD has said some things about you and I

I’m thinking that in the womb HE spoke some purpose

HE spoke some destiny

Proverb:23:7: as he thinketh in his heart, so is he

Some of us thought we where drug addicts

Some of us thought we where bums and losers

Some of us thought that we were what other people said about us

Addicted, strung out, helpless… Whatever!

But what did God say:

(Philippians 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

(Matthew 19:26) …………….with God all things are possible.

Before anybody had a chance to say anything

GOD spoke

HE ANNOUNCED IT TO THE HEAVENS

(Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Crafted By God

Joh:1:3: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

See we have been crafted by the Master’s hands

We where made by HIM – Because there is not anything made that was not made by JESUS

I’m thinking if HE made me – HE must have purposed me

IF HE made me – HE must have ordained me

IF HE made me - HE must have sanctified me

IF HE made me – there must be a reason

Be all that God has created you to be, and believe that you the creation is much greater than you first imagined... That with God... Nothing is impossible!

The Correct Formula For Baptism Part Two

The Correct Formula For Baptism Part Two

The following thesis will attempt to answer the following questions. This time it is in my own words and thoughts. I hope you enjoy it!

A) What formula, or pronouncement should be made at baptism?
B) What was the historical and biblical process of the early church – apostolic and post apostolic?

The correct practice of baptism has long been debated between adherents of the Christian faith. Disagreements such as how one is baptized: sprinkling or immersion, what is pronounced during the baptism “in Jesus name” or “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost ”are a few that exist.
These disagreements have created quite a rift in the Christian church, most notably among those of the Pentecostal faith. In Fact adherents of the oneness doctrine assess and state that no one baptized in: “the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost”(Matthew 28:19) is saved, nor can they be until they are water baptized with the pronunciation of “in Jesus name.”

Here an attempt will be made to rightly divide the Word of God, to verify if such disagreements should exist and to what importance they actually bare on baptism.


What is the proper announcement or verbal formula for baptism?

Much debate and division has been waged over the proper formula of pronunciation at baptism. Some attest it is to be done in the name of Jesus while others insist it is to be done in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:


(Matthew 28:18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
(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:

The dominant formula spoken at baptisms in this day and for history by and large is derived from the above text. Such pronouncements would be:
“I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost”

I could include a variety of sources – but I think it is well beyond debate, that this is the most common of formulas. With great ease we could fill a page with such examples but for brevity I’ll include only a few

Irenaeus Against Heresies Book III a.d. 120-202.
A student of Polycarp, who was a disciple of John. Wrote 123 years before Nicaea

That is the Spirit of whom the Lord declares, "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."308 And again, giving to the disciples the power of regeneration into God,309 He said to them," Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

Justin 1st Apology Chapter LXI.-Christian Baptism. 110-165 a.d. [160 years before Nicaea]

Then they are brought by us where there is water, and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, "Except ye be born again, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Tertullian The Prescription Against Heretics.1 a.d. 145-220
[105 years before Nicaea]

Accordingly, after one of these had been struck off, He commanded the eleven others, on His departure to the Father, to "go and teach all nations, who were to be baptized into the Father, and into the Son, and into the Holy Ghost."203


Tertullian-On Baptism.
105 years before Nicaea

For the law of baptizing has been imposed, and the formula prescribed: "Go," He saith, "teach the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."

Now then, it is dully noted that church fathers as credible as they may be, are not bible – and in this manner – I will look then to the WORD – though I may draw a comparison to some wording that I see of interest down the road a bit!

The bible states the following regarding the pronouncement at baptism, this is the veru first instruction we receive, and it comes right from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ

(Matthew 28:18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
(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:


With post apostolic/early church history well established we then must deal with biblical precepts such as:


Which is the most correct formula for baptism? Here is where we (you(the reader) and I) need to take a hard well deserved look at the formation of the “Jesus Name” doctrine.

Which is as followed:

A) the assessment of the apostles wording in Acts 2:38 is that “JESUS” is the one name subscribed to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

- In this manner the apostles then, understood the seemingly cryptic message of Jesus, that they where not to invoke the name of the Father, the Son and The Holy Ghost at baptism as Jesus said, but instead – this was a coded message to use his name.

I think we have to deal with this first – for this is the cornerstone of the view
1) Did Jesus ever speak in this code prior to this?

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Mar 9:39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

He uses freely “my name” in the above texts, so why now at such a crucial point of salvation does Jesus “mix it up” a bit? Why not be forthwith with it?

-

Another thought process could be – is their another meaning behind “in my name”?

2) Is the name of the Father, JESUS?

Here is the crux of the matter – We really have to determine this one issue. It is critical because this is where the doctrine makes its presumption. It states JESUS is the one name of GOD revealed to humanity by which to call – Hence the name of the Father is JESUS, and the Holy Spirit is JESUS .

The problematic scene we have – is biblically we do not see such a reality – this causes us a problem with the oneness interpretation of Acts 2:38.

There is no scriptural text to validate that the one name of JESUS is the one name ascribed to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. In fact scripture contains distinctions such as those noted in the greetings to the Romans See Romans 1:1-7

(Rom 1:7) To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.


Again in 2 John 3 (2 John 1:3) Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.


Such greetings and statements are problematic for the oneness adherents; in fact in most cases such a greeting would not be welcome among oneness ranks, for its supposed Trinitarian implication.

Typically most of the text that is used to support this view are interpretational errors such as…

(John 5:43) I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible states…
John 5:43 - I am come in my Father's name,.... Power and authority; by his consent, with his will, and according to a covenant with him: Christ came not of himself, of his own accord, by a separate power and will of his own, but was called, and sent, and came by mutual agree meat; and brought his credentials with him, doing the works and miracles which his Father gave him to finish:

Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible states…
I am come in my Father’s name - With all his influence and authority. Among the rabbins, it was essential to a teacher’s credit that he should be able to support his doctrine by the authority of some eminent persons who had gone before. Hence the form, Coming in the name of another.

The most accurate rendition of this is “I am come in my Father’s authority, power and consent” not that the name of the Father is JESUS. You’ll find few biblical scholars who assume the text to mean anything more than the commentaries above have noted. Much like David stated

(1 Samuel 17:45) Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

Meaning the power, authority and might of GOD, David was not implying that the name of the Father was DAVID!!! But under the exegesis of apostolics – we must assume this to be the meaning since they insist the same words spoken by JESUS to mean this very thing.

Another instance is seen here in (John 10:25) Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.


The greek word for “name” according to Strongs is:
G3686 ὄνομα
onoma
on'-om-ah
From a presumed derivative of the base of G1097 (compare G3685); a “name” (literally or figuratively), (authority, character): - called, (+ sur-) name (-d).

”Name” here could be figuratively or literally – but we see the two fold meaning
1) a “name
2) authority, character
It is scholarly assumed to mean: authority, character

Thirdly some assume the prophecy of Zechariah 14:9 to be fulfilled by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ

It reads

Zechariah 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

Insisting this prophecy has been fulfilled and that name is Jesus, oneness adherents often site this verse to establish the validity of their doctrine…

Lets look at the verse in context…

The chapter starts with this prophetic word

(Zechariah 14:2) For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

(Zechariah 14:3) Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

(Zechariah 14:4) And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown

Zec 14:4 -

… The place of His departure at His ascension shall be the place of His return: and the “manner” of His return also shall be similar (Act_1:11). He shall probably “come from the east”…

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Zec 14:1 - Behold, the day of the Lord cometh,.... Or the day when the Lord will come, both in his spiritual and personal reign; for this is not to be understood of his first coming in the flesh…

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

One Lord, and his name one - There shall be in those blessed days, only one religion, and one form of religion. There shall not be gods many, and lords many. All mankind shall be of one religion, the essence of which is, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, and strength; and thy Neighbor as thyself.”

Further the context states

Zec 14:11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

Zec 14:12 And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.

Obviously this is a futuristic event and not a current reality! Therefore their use of Zechariah 14:9 is improper.

Seeing that we do not have the ability to attribute the name of JESUS CHRIST to the Father - we must then consider a possible variance in meaning...

One could from these thoughts parallel the phrase, "in the name of the Lord" is not so much a baptismal formula, but a reference to authority.

Consider the following using this phrase:

It is easily discerned that the phrase is used in a Biblical sense as an expression of authority.
Acts 16:18 above. "And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour."

If power and authority was not intended and simply just the name of “JESUS” was enough – someone would be hard pressed to convince the sons of Sceva of such a theology…

Notice in Acts, there is no occasion where one person says to another, “I baptize you in Jesus’ name.” Every time Acts mentions a baptism in Jesus’ name, the phrase characterizes the baptism; it does not record what the baptizer said. In this manner supposition is the only ally.

If instead it means the baptism was in Jesus’ name, under the authority that Jesus gave them. This flows more clearly with the words of Jesus, the apostles and the entire word of God… Making all three elements(Jesus, The Apostles, and the rest of the Inspired Word) in harmony, as opposed to using only two ingredients to derive at a doctrinal position.

The most common thought is it was the way they distinguished what sort of baptism was done. They were not performing a Jewish baptism for a convert to Judaism, nor were they performing John’s baptism for repentance, they were performing a Christian baptism into Jesus Christ, at the command and verbiage of Jesus Christ.

Correct Form Of Baptism

I did not write the following article, but I think it is excellent, and will helpful to those of you still in the Oneness Pentecostal movement. I wanted to share it with you all. I'll add a part two of my own thoughts later!

I hope you enjoy the article, and thanks for stopping by! Be sure to visit the categories section as well for alot of other articles of similar subject matter! It should be noted: I do not agree with every thought expressed in this article... by and large though its a good article

TRINITARIAN BAPTISM

For a sacrament to be valid, three things have to be present: the correct intention, the correct matter, and the correct form. With baptism, the correct intention is to do what the Church does, the correct matter is water, and the correct form is the baptizing "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19).

Unfortunately, not all groups use this form. Jehovah's Witnesses use no formula at all in their baptisms, and an even larger group, the "Jesus Only" Pentecostals, baptize "in the name of Jesus." As a result, the baptisms of these groups are not scriptural(edited) These groups are not orthodox Christians, but pseudo-Christian, religious organizations. "Jesus Only" Pentecostals note that Jesus told the apostles to baptize in "the name" (singular) of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, but they make the mistake of assuming that name is Jesus. In reality, the single name shared by the three is almost certainly Yahweh, the personal name of God in the Bible.

This name is applied to both the Father and the Son in the New Testament.

In Acts 2:34-36, Peter quotes Psalm 110:1, applying the term "Lord" to the Father, but in the Old Testament original, the term "Lord" is actually Yahweh.

In Philippians 2:10-11, Paul quotes Isaiah 45:19-24, applying a prophecy about the Lord to the Son. And in the Old Testament original, the term "Lord" in this passage is actually Yahweh. Jesus applied the name Yahweh ("I AM") to himself in John 8:58, and his audience understood exactly what he meant and tried to stone him. Since the Bible applies the name Yahweh to the Father and the Son, it is almost certainly possessed by the Spirit and thus is a name of all three Persons of the Trinity.

"Jesus Only" Pentecostals argue that the New Testament talks about people being baptized "in the name of Jesus," but there are only four such passages (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, and 19:5); they don't use the same designation in each place (some say "Lord Jesus," others say "Jesus Christ"), meaning they were not technical formulas used in the baptism but simply on-the-fly descriptions by Luke. The four cannot stand up against the divine command of the Lord Jesus Christ to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19).

The phrase "baptized in the name of Jesus" is not a technical version of the baptismal formula, simply Luke's way to distinguish Christian baptism from other baptisms of the period, such as John's baptism (which Luke mentions in Acts 1:5, 22, 10:37, 11:16, 13:24, 18:25, 19:4), Jewish proselyte baptism, and the baptisms of pagan cults such as Mithraism. It also indicates the Person into whose Mystical Body baptism incorporates us (Rom. 6:3, Gal. 3:3).

The Church Fathers, of course, agreed. As the following quotations show, Christians from the beginning have recognized that the correct form of baptism requires one to baptize "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Didache

"After the foregoing instructions, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living [running] water. If you have no living water, then baptize in other water, and if you are not able in cold, then in warm. If you have neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Before baptism, let the one baptizing and the one to be baptized fast, as also any others who are able. Command the one who is to be baptized to fast beforehand for one or two days" (Didache 7:1 [A.D. 70]).

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Tatian

"Then said Jesus unto them, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and earth; and as my Father has sent me, so I also send you. Go now into all the world, and preach my gospel in all the creation; and teach all the peoples, and baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; and teach them to keep all whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you all the days, unto the end of the world'" (Diatesseron 55 [A.D. 170]).

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Hippolytus

"When the one being baptized goes down into the water, the one baptizing him shall put his hand on him and speak thus: 'Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty?' And he that is being baptized shall say: 'I believe.' Then, having his hand imposed upon the head of the one to be baptized, he shall baptize him once. Then he shall say: 'Do you believe in Christ Jesus . . . ?' And when he says: 'I believe,' he is baptized again. Again shall he say: 'Do you believe in the Holy Spirit and the holy Church and the resurrection of the flesh?' The one being baptized then says: 'I believe.' And so he is baptized a third time" (The Apostolic Tradition 21 [ A.D. 215]).

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Tertullian

"After his resurrection he promises in a pledge to his disciples that he will send them the promise of his Father; and lastly, he commands them to baptize into the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, not into a unipersonal God. And indeed it is not once only, but three times, that we are immersed into the three Persons, at each several mention of their names" (Against Praxeas 26 [A.D. 216]).

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Origen

"Why, when the Lord himself told his disciples that they should baptize all peoples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, does this apostle employ the name of Christ alone in baptism, saying, 'We who have been baptized into Christ'; for indeed, legitimate baptism is had only in the name of the Trinity" (Commentary on Romans 5:8 [A.D. 248]).

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Acts of Xantippe and Polyxena

"Then Probus . . . leapt into the water, saying, 'Jesus Christ, Son of God and everlasting God, let all my sins be taken away by this water.' And Paul said, 'We baptize thee in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Ghost.' After this he made him to receive the Eucharist of Christ" (Acts of Xantippe and Polyxena 21 [A.D. 250]).

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Cyprian

"He [Jesus] commanded them to baptize the Gentiles in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. How then do some say that though a Gentile be baptized . . . never mind how or of whom, so long as it be done in the name of Jesus Christ, the remission of sins can follow-when Christ himself commands the nations to be baptized in the full and united Trinity?" (Letters 73:18 [A.D. 253]).

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Eusebius of Caesarea

"We believe . . . each of these to be and to exist: the Father, truly Father, and the Son, truly Son, and the Holy Ghost, truly Holy Ghost, as also our Lord, sending forth his disciples for the preaching, said, 'Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.' Concerning whom we confidently affirm that so we hold, and so we think, and so we have held aforetime, and we maintain this faith unto the death, anathematizing every godless heresy" (Letter to the People of His Diocese 3 [A.D. 323]).

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Cyril

"You were led by the hand to the holy pool of divine baptism, as Christ was carried from the cross to this sepulcher here before us [the tomb of Jesus at Jerusalem]. And each of you was asked if he believed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And you confessed that saving confession, and descended three times into the water, and again ascended, and in this there was suggested by a symbol the three days of Christ's burial" (Catechetical Lectures 20:4 [A.D. 350]).

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Athanasius

"And the whole faith is summed up and secured in this, that a Trinity should ever be preserved, as we read in the Gospel, 'Go ye and baptize all the nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.' And entire and perfect is the number of the Trinity (On the Councils of Arminum and Seleucia 2:28 [A.D. 361]).

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Basil

"Faith and baptism are two kindred and inseparable ways of salvation: Faith is perfected through baptism, baptism is established through faith, and both are completed by the same names. For as we believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, so are we also baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; first comes the confession, introducing us to salvation, and baptism follows, setting the seal upon our assent" (The Holy Spirit12[28] [A.D. 375]).

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Ambrose

"Moreover, Christ himself says: 'I and the Father are One.' 'One,' said he, that there be no separation of power and nature; but again, 'We are,' that you may recognize Father and Son, forasmuch as the perfect Father is believed to have begotten the perfect Son, and the Father and the Son are one, not by confusion of Person, but by unity of nature. We say, then, that there is one God, not two or three Gods" (The Faith 1:1[9-10] [A.D. 379]).

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Gregory of Nazianzus

"But not yet perhaps is there formed upon your soul any writing good or bad; and you want to be written upon today . . . I will baptize you and make you a disciple in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; and these three have one common name, the Godhead. And you shall know, both by appearances and by words that you reject all ungodliness and are united to all the Godhead" (Orations 40:45 [A.D. 380]).

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Jerome

"Seeing that a man, baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, becomes a temple of the Lord and that while the old abode is destroyed a new shrine is built for the Trinity, how can you say that sins can be remitted among the Arians without the coming of the Holy Ghost? How is a soul purged from its former stains which has not the Holy Ghost?" (Dialogue Against the Luciferians 6 [A.D. 382]).

I know it hurts but it’s good for you

Do you remember going to the doctor as a kid, and getting a shot! OUCH!! WAAAAAA!!! Oh the pain! I hated that. It made me angry, frustrated and sore… “Why?” I’d ask… The nurse would say… “I know it hurts honey, but it’s good for you”

I love that don’t you?

“I know it hurts but it’s good for you” …

Sheesh! Come on! WHO BUYS INTO THAT STUFF??

But she was right. Pain at times though it hurts, does us good. I wish we never had to deal with pain, and the variety of methods it uses to inflict itself: betrayal, jealousy and meanness, among others. But it is a reality that we do. We have storms, and those storms are necessary because they have away of turning us to God.

In fact we are told:

(James 1:2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

(James 1:3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

(James 1:4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Okay so here we are with the “inspired” Word! God is speaking to us about trials and temptations; the trying of our faith!!! Lets see what He says …. Okay, wait! “count it all joy”! What? Not only must I concede to the fact that it is good for me, but also I should rejoice about it? How can that be?

Look at the Message version of this text

(James 1:2) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.

(James 1:3) You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors.

(James 1:4) So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

A sheer gift… LOL… uh um…what? Oh wait You’re serious about that God?

Um, but what happens when people do me wrong? How about if someone connives behind the scenes against me, and their conniving works? Surely I should not have joy about that? What about when someone hurts me, or…. Oh I see… I have to count it all joy all the time…

Rejoice – that is the Word from God concerning our trials. That is His answer… that’s a tough one…

Don’t worry about tomorrow

(Matthew 6:25) Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

(Matthew 6:26) Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

(Matthew 6:27) Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

(Matthew 6:28) And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

(Matthew 6:29) And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

(Matthew 6:30) Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

(Matthew 6:31) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(Matthew 6:32) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

(Matthew 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Don’t fear man

Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Love your enemies

(Matthew 5:44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

These are the words that God gives to us about life, trials and battles. That the pain will do us good, the hurt will work something in us, the sorrow will be seed to some new sprout of blessing in our life!

There are a few others things to remember as well:

God will turn it for good

(Romans 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

He will fight our battles

(Exodus 14:14) The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

He sees the lie

(Acts 5:3) But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Give it to God, I think is the key here… Let God have His way… And keep that joy unspeakable … In the sun and in rain – REJOICE – GOD HAS A PLAN Look for God to: split the seas, raise the dead and silence the enemy!