JESUS ONLY DOCTRINE ANSWERED

When the phrase “in the name of Jesus Christ” is invoked by the apostles in Acts, it means “upon the authority of Jesus Christ” (cf. Matt. 28:18).

For example, in Acts 3: 6 the apostles heal by the authority of the name ‘of Jesus Christ’ in Acts 4, the apostles are summoned before the Sanhedrin to be interrogated concerning the mighty works they were doing. The scripture reads in Acts 4:12:

“The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: “By what power or what name [authority] did you do this?”

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name [authority] of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name [authority] under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

A modern usage of word, would be that of a policeman coming to your home and saying, “Open the door in the name [authority] of the Law!” In other words, there is authority backing the policeman.

In Acts 16:18, the apostle Paul set a young woman free from demonic possession “in the name [authority] of Jesus Christ.”

The apostles were baptizing, healing, performing deliverances, and preaching by the authority of Jesus Christ. As Paul said,

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name [authority] of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 517).

Conclusively, the apostolic declaration “in the name of Jesus Christ” is then tantamount to saying “by the authority of Jesus Christ.” Hence, there is no reason to believe that the apostles were disobedient to the Lord’s imperative to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28: 19), or that Jesus was being less than straightforward when he told them to do so.

So, it is reasonable to believe that in the Book of Acts, the apostles also baptized by the authority [name] of Jesus Christ in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Why do I say this? Because we see that when Paul preached to the Ephesians in Acts 19, he immediately asked them how had they been baptized, since they had not heard of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. If they had been baptized properly, that is, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, they would have heard of the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, the Trinitarian formula does not diminish the person of Jesus, since in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Col. 2:9) And, the Father was pleased that in him—that is, Jesus the man—all the fullness should dwell. (Col. 1:19) Such is the mystery of the Trinity.

Some would argue, however, that when the Prophet Isaiah wrote the following that he negated the Trinity:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

“See,” they say, “Jesus is also the Father, as well as the Son.”

The obvious reply is that Isaiah’s statement only fortifies what Paul writes in Colossians 2:9. Jesus is indeed the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and it pleased the Father that in him should all the fullness reside. (Col. 1:19)

Furthermore, the Prophet Zechariah illuminates the doctrine even more as he speaks for God about the Messiah’s crucifixion:

“ ‘I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son’ ” (Zech. 12: 10).

Clearly the one true God is speaking in the first person (“me”) in reference to having been “pierced,” and yet He himself makes the grammatical shift from the first person to the third person (“him”) in referring to the Messiah’s sufferings because of having been “pierced.” The revelation of plurality in the Godhead is quite evident in this passage.

Now, also consider that many if not most imminent Bible scholars agree that the “official title or name” of Jesus is the Lord Jesus Christ. So, let’s take a close look at what these words actually mean.

The word ‘Lord’ [Greek: κύριος] in the New Testament is translated into the Septuagint from the Old Testament word ‘Jehovah’ meaning, ‘the self-Existent One or The Eternal One.’

So, let’s rephrase his official title by saying, Jehovah (the Lord) Jesus (Saviour) Christ (The Holy Ghost anointed One). Although, the name or titles of Jesus is not found precisely in that given order, it certainly is understood as such.

Of course there are many other verses to substantiate this understanding of the Trinity, but we believe that what we have just written should satisfy a sincere person who does not have a hidden agenda to promote some unscriptural doctrine.

So, we are on solid scriptural ground when we baptize in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, for Jesus instructed his disciples to:

“Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” [Matt. 28:19]

because in doing so we are using the authority of The Lord Jesus Christ with the solid backing of the Father and the Holy Spirit since within Him resides the fullness of the Godhead bodily.