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Baptized.. My name is Liz. I was raised in a (missionary) Baptist Church. I attended service about every Sunday since I was about 6 years old.Whenever I would listen to our Pastor preach, I'd hardly ever heard him speak about "joining the body of Christ" or "taking on the name of Jesus". I never heard him preach about receiving the Holy Ghost. Jesus was spoken of as if He was a "neighbor", rather than a "companion". "God" was mostly referred to as "the Father", or "the Lord", pending on which Testament the subject was being taken from. It seemed that "Jehovah" was God's name in the Old Testament, but no name was reached for God in the New Testament by our ministers. When I was baptized, at the age of 11, I remember the minister saying "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost". I began to wonder "what" was the name of the Father(?). I knew the name of the Son (Jesus). But what sort of name would the Holy Ghost have? Would it be "Holy Spirit"? Isn't God "a Spirit"? I got married in the Spring of 1980, at East Mt. Zion Baptist Church. I began to learn what the name of the "Father" was, and also the name of the "Holy Ghost" on the radio from a pastor of a church that taught the "Apostolic Pentecostal Faith". My husband and I only attended maybe twice a year, but each Sunday I would listen to the Apostolic Pentecostal Pastor on the radio. I heard him say that almost all other preachers are baptizing people the wrong way. They merely "repeat" the commandment of Jesus (Matt 28:19), instead of "doing" what the commandment says to do (Luke 24:47), which is to "Baptize in the NAME...", and not the titles "Father, Son, & Holy Ghost". I always knew that the name of the "Son" was Jesus, but this preacher was now telling me that the Father's name was also Jesus, along with the Holy Ghost also being named "Jesus". He went on to say that the book of Acts (of the Apostles) was the written history of the original Christian church that Jesus founded on Earth.Of the seven or more instances of people being baptized, nobody was baptized using the formula "Father, Son & Holy Ghost", but the Apostles always baptized by immersion using the NAME of Jesus Christ, or Lord Jesus. He said that was because the name of the "Father" was Jesus, the name of the "Son" was Jesus, and the name of the "Holy Ghost" was Jesus. This reconciles Matt. 28:19 with Acts 2:38, and I began to understand why most churches were baptizing people the wrong way...., that being because they misinterpret the command of Jesus. He says to "use the name" that is shared by the three "titles of the roles" performed by the (One) God of Israel. Since it is known that only the name of Jesus can "cast out demons", and heal the sick, why isn't it used by churches for the removal of sin? Since only the blood of Jesus can "wash away" sins, how is "the blood" ever applied, unless a person is baptized in the NAME of Jesus? On the day of Pentecost, Peter didn't say "our sins are remitted when we accept or confess Jesus"!! But only water baptism in the name of Jesus gives us of remission of sins, when preceded by repentance. After a few years of reading and wondering about it. I became disappointed that my Baptist minister were misleading me about salvation, and never told me the truth about receiving the "Holy Ghost" (Jesus). For many years I thought I was saved, and then I found out that I was still in my sins. So I went to an Apostolic Pentecostal church that would baptize me the correct way. I listened to what the minister said to other people that he was baptizing, in order to make sure that was what they always did. I heard him say "I now baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38). That very night I received the baptism of the Spirit, for I heard myself (the spirit) speak in another language which I had not heard before, nor could I initiate what the spirit was saying. My whole body felt so wonderful, and my soul seemed to rejoice in the experience. I never knew any other language but English, yet I spoke with coherence but without knowledge of what was being said. I was told that it was the Holy Ghost (speaking in other tongues) "reporting back to God" in praise! In my case, I received the Holy Ghost (birth of the Spirit) before I was water baptized (birth of the water). It does not matter which one is first as long as you receive both the birth of the water and the birth of the spirit. If you have been baptized using (the titles) "Father, Son, & Holy Ghost" (or Holy Spirit), your water baptism is not valid, and Jesus will not recognize you as having remission of sin (Matt 7:23). Here is seven examples of people being born (baptized of the water in the book of Acts): 1.8:12-16 5.16:14-15 2.8:35-39 6.16:31-33 3.9:13-19 7.19:4-5 4.10:44-48
By reading those chapters and verses, it is concluded that baptism must be performed with complete water immersion (not pouring or sprinkling), using the name of Jesus. If someone tries to tell you differently, ask them to give you an example in the Bible as I have. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus told His disciples to "baptize in the NAME...". The name of the Father is Jesus. The name of the Son is Jesus, and the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Jesus. Beware of the "modern doctrine" that water baptism is not needed. Without the correct water baptism, we do not have remission of sins, and will be lost.
Matthew chapter 7 says: 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 14 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
The correct baptism is very, very important. For also in Matthew chapter 7: 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
The people in the above two verses "speak in tongues, cast out devils, and do many works in the name of Jesus"...., but they will have failed to be baptized in His name, and will be thrown into torment. Before criticizing what you have just read, what current "tag" (faith) would you put on the original Christians as they were in the book of Acts? Would they be Baptists, Jehovah Witnesses, Methodists, etc, or Oneness (Apostolic) Pentecostals? If we all had AIDS and I found a cure, would you want me to tell what the cure was, and how to get it? I'm telling you about true salvation.This is not "judging" or being "narrow minded", but is an accurate rendition of the doctrine of salvation. I'm now "Apostolic Pentecostal" (the current "tag" given), teaching the Apostles' Doctrine as the first Christians did (Acts 2:42). I have not sent my testimony to you to "argue", or to "debate scriptures", but to save your soul from torment and to let you know that there is only one true doctrine (gospel) of Jesus. ("You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free", John 8:32). This is my testimony, and I pray that it helps someone else who is serious about their salvation. .
Liz.
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