Personal blog posted by Scott Ledbetter on November 18, 2009 at 10:11pm
Growing up in denominational Christianity, whnever anyone was baptized, it was said to them, “I now baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit”. Thinking back, though, I sit and wonder why their name was not ever used. If we are, as Yeshua told us, to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then why are we not doing so?
Are we saying that we are baptizing a person by the authority of the One of whom we shall not say Their name, or are we suppose to be placing His name on the person who is being buried in the watery grave of baptism, also known as a mikvah? To answer that question, I go look at Acts chapter 2 and see an important statement, “And YHVH added to the assembly daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47) So not everyone that was baptized were added to the assembly, but rather only the ones that YHVH added were added. YHVH is the only One who makes the decision as to whether a person is added to the assembly or not, so then men have no authority to make that decision.
That leaves us with the answer to the question being that we are placing the Name of YHVH on the person who is being baptized. But the problem lies in the fact that most Christians wish to separate the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit into three different persons instead of being a unified being. If this is the case, then are we ever told in Scripture what the name of the Holy Spirit is? In Hebrew, the word would be the Ruach HaKodesh, but that is not a name, but rather is the Hebrew words for the English words “The Holy Spirit”. Does Yeshua ever tells us what the name of the Holy Spirit is? He used the term comforter, but that is a term and not a name. So then, is Scripture lacking in an area, for if there are three names to be used, are we not suppose to say each name?
In fact, where in Scripture does it even give us an example of placing a name on any of YHVH’s people? Wait, that would be Numbers chapter 6, and verses 22 through 27 says, “And YHVH spake unto Moses, saying, ‘Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, “On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, YHVH bless thee, and keep thee: YHVH make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: YHVH lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”’ And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.”
This is where YHVH tells how to place His name on His people. There are not three different names listed here, but rather there is only the On e Holy Name. Although YHVH is also the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, there is only one name to be given. Now in First peter chapter 2 and verse 5, Peter tells us that “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to YHVH by Yeshua HaMashiac.” So we, as priests, and sons of YHVH through Yeshua Hamashiac, are to place His name on His people, the people He chooses to be in His assembly.
When you were baptized, was the name of YHVH placed on you? Or rather, were you given the titles of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit upon you? How are we, who are to be the priests of YHVH, suppose to know Whom it is that gives us the authority to work if we do not even know or have His Name applied to us? HaSatan has done His best to blot out YHVH’s name, and to cover it up with the doctrines and traditions of men so that those that come subsequent to us will not know the truth.
Comment by Lev/Christopher on November 19, 2009 at 12:31am
We combine both concepts in our baptismal prayer when we say: "I baptise you in the Name of the Father Yahweh, and of the Son Yah'shua and of the Sevenfold Ruach haQodesh..." remembering too that
Rom 6:3
3 as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
NKJV
Gal 3:27
27 as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ
NKJV
