Have You had the Water Baptism in Jesus’ Name?, continued

Praise the Lord, Beloved, and Greetings in the Name of the One who said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). These words are accredited to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is in His Name that I greet you.

Beloved, in continuance of our theme, “Have you had the Water Baptism in Jesus’ Name?” - Christians who have not been baptized in Jesus’ Name have not been baptized correctly. The New Testament teaches us that the Holy Ghost should follow a person who is saved. In other words, signs and indications of the Holy Spirit of God should be seen when a baptism is applied correctly to a soul. You would be surprised to discover that there are millions in the so-called Christian society who say that they have been baptized, but who have never heard of the Biblical principle of “speaking in other tongues” - an indication of the presence of the Holy Ghost. You will also find that most of their problems stem from the lack of a proper baptism.

Precious Ones, this is nothing new. Paul had to deal with this challenge in his day. He came across a group of believers (see Acts 19:1-6) who had been baptized by John the Baptist (the cousin of Jesus). Paul asked them, “Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” They answered, “We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost”. Notice that Paul immediately began to question their baptism. He asked them, “Unto what then were ye baptized?” They answered, “Unto John’s baptism”. Today, true men and women of God have to teach the truth to believers who have been infected with false teaching (or minimal and sub-standard teaching). Paul had the same challenge. That’s why he explained to them that they had only been baptized as a sign of repentance, but that “they should believe on him which should come after [John], that is, Christ Jesus”. What I like about these believers is that once they heard the truth, they readily and immediately obeyed the new knowledge of the proper way to receive baptism. It did not matter to them how long they had been walking in the other way. Oh, Beloved, I would love to see more Christians exemplify the same attitude today. Many are convicted and know better, but have too much pride to be re-baptized, for fear that they may appear to be misinformed or less spiritual. However, the believers who Paul encountered didn’t have that problem.

Children of God, scripture records that “when [the believers] heard [Paul’s revelation of this baptism principle], they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus”. After they obeyed in receiving the correct baptism, they received the full and complete blessing that God wants all believers to experience. “...when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied [they foretold, through the Holy Ghost, good things to come for the church]”.

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this,
I love you all SO very much,
In His Love,
Pastor William L McCoy