Truth or Tradition

There was once a great man named Aristotle.  He taught that heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones. Because he was one of the greatest thinkers of his time, people believed him.  After two thousand years of people believing this, another man named Galileo called for learned men to come to the base of a high tower. He then climbed to the top and pushed off a five-kilo weight and then a one-kilo weight at the same time.  Much to the surprise of everyone who had gathered there, both objects fell at the same time. The power of belief in man’s wisdom was so strong that the learned people refused to believe what they had seen. They denied Galileo’s experiment and insisted that Aristotle was correct.  The tradition of what they had been taught would not allow for them to accept the truth; even when they had seen it; and accept that they were incorrect.  They persisted to believe an inaccurate teaching. This story was related in, Strong Men in Tough Times, by Ed Cole.  He said,  “A person’s beliefs hold the greatest potential for good or harm in life.”

What we believe about our salvation matters much when we consider our future destiny.  We need to adjust to the truth of God’s Word.  If someone says something that is wrong, and then a thousand people say that it is correct, it is still wrong.  We cannot be like the boy who reacted stubbornly to his mother.  One day the mother told the son to sit down and he refused.  She again insisted that he sit down and he again refused. She demanded that he sit down and she forced him down. The boy retorted, “Mother even though you see me sitting down, in my spirit I am still standing up!”

As we look at many churches that practice baptism by immersion we realize that there are two varying formulas used. Many use the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19. Others use the words recorded in Acts 2:38 as contained in the first sermon preached in the New Testament Church. Because of these two different formulas there is confusion in the minds of many as to which should be used.   Researching history we see that the early church did not use the triune formula.  It usage started in 325 A. D. at the Council of Nicea.  No record of the Trinitarian formula can be found in the Book of Acts or in any of the Epistles.  In fact, nowhere in the New Testament was there ever an example of someone being baptized using this formula.

Matthew 28:19 is considered to be the Great Commission. Luke also records the Great Commission in Luke 24:45-47.  Here we see that “…remission of sins should be preached in His name among all nations.”

It is so important that we are baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ because, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is NONE OTHER NAME under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12)

Peter was given the keys to the kingdom by Jesus in Matthew 16:19 and used these keys to open the door to salvation in Acts 2:38.  He proclaimed,  “Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

The Apostles did not disobey or fail because we know that God inspires all Scripture.  Jesus is the highest name known to mankind (Philippians 2:9-11).  Jesus Himself in Matthew 28:19 commanded that we baptize in a NAME.  We are all aware that Jesus is the only saving name.  Everything that we do in word or deed should be done in the name of Jesus (Colossians 3:17).  Jesus died for us and we are His bride; therefore we must take on the family name (Ephesians 3:14-15).  We are to be buried with Him in baptism (Colossians 2:8-12).  We are washed in the name of the Lord Jesus (1 Corinthians 6:11).

We do not refute the words of Matthew 28:19 but we are trying to show how the command was interpreted and obeyed by the Apostles.  Neither are we trying to minimize the sincere religious experience of those who have been baptized in the titles.  Rather we want you to be like the sincere believers of Ephesus, who upon hearing the truth were rebaptized  “…in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  (Acts 19:3-5)

We cannot follow the traditions of men; making the Word of God of none effect. (Mark 7:13).  It is possible, like Jesus said to hold to “the tradition of the elders.” (Mark 7:3) All doctrine must be clearly based on the Scripture for it is the only measure of truth.  For those who obey the truth, the Bible gives us a great promise.  “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:32)

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