Question:
Jesus had told His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Yet, on the day of Pentecost, Peter told the crowd to be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” (see Acts 2:38). Well, which is it? Are we to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or the name of Jesus? Also, is it Biblical to refer to Jesus or the Holy Spirit as God?
Answer:
Both questions are intimately related. Besides giving the great gospel commission to his disciples, Christ was also emphasizing the critical truth of the unity of the Godhead—Father, Son, and Spirit. His command to baptize “in the name of,” and not in the names of, the three persons of the Godhead expressed that fact. We are baptized into the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, which intimates that these three are one, and their name one. (See 1 John 5:7).
When the disciples baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (see Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5), their act did not dismiss the Godhead’s unity but confirmed it. It was their established belief that doing anything in the name of our Lord contained the full backing of the Godhead, for in Christ “dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (See Colossians 2:9; cp. 1:19). Far from promoting the pagan error of oneness in person, so often referred to as the Trinity, it reveals the power of creation and redemption, as symbolized in baptism, that took the power of the Godhead to produce. (See Genesis 1:1, 2; Matthew 3:16, 17). Also, when further studying the Bible’s teaching regarding baptism, it is revealed that we are baptized into the name of the Godhead and not merely in their name. (See 1 Corinthians 10:2; Galatians 3:27).
The oneness of the Godhead is replete throughout Scripture. The following is adapted from the Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury and gives examples of that fact:
A careful study of Scripture demonstrates that all three (and only these three, and no others)—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—are the persons of the Godhead. They are associated on an equality of being and possess the attributes and prerogatives of Deity. Several divine attributes are incommunicable, belonging to God exclusively, and cannot be communicated, delegated, or given to a created being. These include eternity, omniscience, omnipresence, sovereignty, immutability, and immensity. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are each:
- Called God: Exodus 20:1-2 (Father); John 20:28 (Son); Acts 5:3, 4 (Holy Spirit).
- Called Lord: Romans 10:12, Luke 2:11, 2 Corinthians 3:17.
- Everlasting: Romans 16:26; Revelation 22:13; Hebrews 9:14.
- Called holy: Revelation 4:8; 15:4; Acts 3:14; 1 John 2:20; Matthew 12:32.
- Called true: John 7:28; Revelation 3:7; 1 John 5:6.
- Omniscient: Hebrews 4:13; John 21:17; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11.
- Omnipresent: Jeremiah 23:24; Ephesians 1:23; Psalms 139:7.
- Omnipotent: Job 42:2; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Acts 10:38.
- Almighty: Genesis 17:1; Revelation 1:8; Romans 15:19.
- Powerful: 1 Chronicles 29:12; Hebrews 1:3; Luke 1:35.
- Sovereign: Ephesians 1:11; Matthew 8:27; 1 Corinthians 12:11.
- Immutable: Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; Matthew 12:32.
- Immense: Jeremiah 23:24; John 3:13; Psalms 139:7.
- Incomprehensible: Romans 11:33; Ephesians 3:8, 19; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11, 14.
- Unequaled: Jeremiah 10:6; Matthew 8:27; Isaiah 40:13-14.
They each:
- Create: Genesis 1:1; John 1:2, 3; Job 33:4.
- Sanctify: Jude 1:1; Hebrews 2:11; 1 Peter 1:2.
- Give eternal life: Romans 6:23; John 10:28; Galatians 6:8.
- Are life: Deuteronomy 30:20; Colossians 3:4; Romans 8:10.
- Raise the dead: John 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 6:14; John 2:19.
Only God can possess the incommunicable attributes, yet Scripture ascribes them to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, so all three persons must be God. No other explanation correctly agrees with all the statements of Scripture.
