Into the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples to make more disciples, and to baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

In the Bible, the word “name” implies character, function, and purpose. Biblical names often describe the essential character of a person. So Jesus actually instructed his disciples to be intimately and fully immersed in the essential character of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We would correctly conclude that Jesus meant much more than just a baptismal liturgy when he said, “baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit“.

The Holy Spirit reveals the person of the resurrected Messiah and convicts us that Jesus is our Lord and Saviour. As the Holy Spirit fills and leads us, Jesus becomes the focus and purpose of our lives, and we, by faith, come to know him and follow him.  And Jesus leads us to intimate knowledge of the Father. He said, “I am the way and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14.6) We only know the Father as Jesus reveals him to us. Jesus said, “Now this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (17:3).

When a person experiences this knowledge of God, this intimate personal relationship of love, then God’s love will flow through them to others, all others, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Our modern world is full of great confusion and deception. We are told that there is a multitude of “ways to God.” But the only way to know God is to know the Father through Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit. It is for this reason that Christians are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Thank you, God, for revealing Yourself to me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to be immersed fully into the essential life and character of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Study by Joseph Tkach