5/5/2016
The other morning before getting up to start my day I began thinking about my relationship with God. I went back to when I first became a Christian. My Christian experience with God was from the Baptist perspective; I did not know what it meant to be holy. I only knew holiness was women who wore long dresses. You know (holy rollers). I began my real relationship with God at the age of 19, I am now 55. This relationship/salvation happened at a sanctified Church in Chicago. People believed in being baptized in the name of Jesus according to Acts 2:38 and being filled with the Holy Spirit by the evidence of speaking in other tongues (languages). I mention this because these were my thoughts on that morning. I know many people (Christians) do not believe in Acts 2:38, they say this is a Pseudo-religion. I didn’t believe in it either, I knew nothing about it.
Many pastors attend Bible colleges where their professors teach them that it is in error to baptize in the name of Jesus – some call the ones who believe in baptizing in the name of Jesus “Jesus Only” – members of cults.” Consequently, some pastors are taught in school, the correct way to baptize is to say In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Amen. Often times these people say that someone who has not been to Bible College are unlearned, isn’t this what the Pharisees and others said about the disciples. They were unlearned men but people had to take note that they had been with Jesus. It’s not about theology or ideology or what we think; it’s about the word of God. The scripture says in Isaiah 28:9-10 “Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” We have to teach and preach the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
When I accepted Christ as my Savior I studied the Bible to learn more about this baptism in the name of Jesus. I urge you to study for yourself, we must study to show ourselves approved before God and we must work out our own soul salvation. As I studied I didn’t have the internet, a Bible dictionary or commentaries, I only had the Bible and the concordance in the back of the Bible. I asked God to show me because I wanted to make sure I was doing right, I did not and still do not want to end up in hell. It was not created for us. Through studying I was able to understand why Peter and the apostles baptized using the name of Jesus throughout the book of Acts; they understood what Jesus meant when he said in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It is unfortunate that there are many professors in Bible school who do not have this understanding. This is fully explained in the book the New Birth: Going Unto Perfection. We must come to that knowledge also. I studied the Bible with an open mind. Sometimes we study the Bible from our perspective, from what we have been taught and when we do we will only see things through that lens. It is like looking through a tunnel, you won’t be able to see what is around you; you can only see what is in the tunnel (tunnel vision). God does not want us to be hung up on religion, that’s why many of the Jews couldn’t see Jesus. They were caught up in RELIGION and because of it they were not able to see the Messiah. Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, what is truth? Truth (Jesus) was standing right in front of him and he couldn’t see it.
But sadly many people will not hear this truth, for the scripture says in Luke 5:36-39, “And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.”
I remember when I became saved my family thought I had gotten involved with a cult, my behavior did a 180 degree turnaround and I was speaking in tongues. Do you know that many denominations that used to not believe in speaking in tongues now teach it? Their eyes have been opened, and I believe many who do not believe in the baptism in Jesus name will begin to see this truth. I started the group Behold the Bridegroom Cometh to help bring truth to people and also to help make the bride of Christ ready, this is the mission of the Church Readiness Ministries for his coming because in spite of what many people believe Jesus is coming back. I know it is sooner than it has ever been. Sometimes I say, God you know that these posts that I make do not get many views neither do they get many shares, maybe one day that will change, in spite of this I will continue to speak truth.
So no matter what you believe study the Bible with an open mind and ask God to show you the truth, baptizing in the NAME OF JESUS is not a PSEUDO- RELIGION he will but be warned because Satan will come against you. Be blessed.
Nadine Richmond
The Church Readiness Ministries