What Is Written 7-Feb-99: A Baptismal Formula

The question we want to answer this morning has to do with a supposed baptismal formula. Let me read the question and then I will give an explanation as to the doctrine behind the question. “Our pastor says that you people in the church of Christ are very wrong in regard to the Trinitarian formula you use when you administer baptism. He says that you cannot use that formula for it is a Catholic Church error. He says that there is only one way to baptize people and that is by using the formula, ‘in the name of Jesus.’ I would like to hear what you have to say.”

The question arises from the doctrine known as the Oneness Doctrine. This is the doctrine that says Jesus is the only person in the Godhead. That is, Jesus is the father, and he is the son, and he is the Holy Spirit. This doctrine is the peculiar mainstay of some Pentecostal churches such as the United Pentecostal Church and the Apostolic Church. Of late some within mainstream Protestant denominationalism and even some claiming to be New Testament Christians have accepted part of this heresy. These Oneness pastors forbid anyone from saying what Jesus said in Matt. 28:19 when he said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Those, like the so-called pastor of the one asking the question, say that in order for baptism to be scriptural and effective then the one doing the baptizing must recite a certain formula, and that formula is “in the name of Jesus,” not “in the name of the father and son and Holy Spirit.” These Oneness Pentecostal Churches and their pastors believe and teach that baptism is not valid unless the minister says, “I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ.” They say that if one says, “I baptize you in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit,” then the baptism is unscriptural and flawed. They will often cite Acts 2:38 as their proof text to support their doctrine. In Acts 2:38 we find the apostle Peter telling those in Jerusalem, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Many Pentecostal preachers teach that Jesus told us what to do and Peter teaches us what to say. They conclude that when one is baptized in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit, then one is being baptized in the name of Jesus — because Jesus is the father and son and Holy Spirit. Furthermore, they conclude that Peter has given us an ironclad formula that must be said at every baptism. And if one is baptized without this formula being recited, then the baptism is ineffectual and unscriptural.

Our study this morning will not address all that is involved with the Oneness Pentecostal doctrine. I only wish to address the question as it pertains to a so-called baptismal formula. It is blatantly false to contend that a certain baptismal formula is given in the scriptures. Neither Jesus nor his apostles ever gave a baptismal formula to be recited upon baptism. I’ll even go beyond making that statement to challenge any minister within any Oneness Pentecostal church to offer just one verse where Jesus or his apostles ever gave a formula to be recited at baptism. If what the pastor of our questioner this morning says is correct —that saying, “I baptize you in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit,” is Catholic error — then we should be able to easily find the verse where the correct formula is given. The truth is, there is no place in the New Testament where a formula is given. I know it and so do these men and women who claim that there is one given in the scriptures. This morning I am going to examine each so-called proof text where these preachers say they find their formula. And when we finish you will be able to easily see that no such formula is given.

Before I do this, let me ask, “Is it wrong to say what Jesus said?” According to these pastors who say that a certain formula must be said at baptism, it is. We are told if someone says the exact words of Jesus, which are in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, then sin was committed. That is, if I am baptizing someone and I say exactly what Jesus said then I am wrong. Don’t you see that? These people are trying to convince us that it is wrong to say what Jesus said. I would be afraid of a doctrine that teaches that it is sinful to say what Jesus said. If, as these Pastors contend, Jesus has given us a formula to be followed, then why doesn’t Jesus speak the words of the formula? That is, if Jesus has given a baptismal formula to be said, then why isn’t it the one these pastors say is Catholic error? Why isn’t the formula the words in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? I’ll tell you why — it’s because it does not fit into their peculiar doctrine of Jesus being the father and the son and the Holy Spirit. If Jesus tells me to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with me saying what I am doing. Also, the saying of what I am doing or not saying what I am doing does not make the baptism right or wrong. I can be doing what Jesus said to do whether I say what I am doing or whether I refrain from saying what I am doing. So get out your Bibles or be prepared to take down some notes, because I am going to analyze every passage where we are told a baptismal formula is found. And when we are finished you will see that this doctrine of a supposed baptismal formula is false.

The first is Acts 2:38, which says, “Then Peter said to them, repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” This is, we’re told, a formula that must be spoken each and every time a baptism occurs. If, we’re told, this formula is not spoken, then the baptism is unscriptural. Whenever we study the Bible we ought to be more independent than that. We should stop letting men put their spin on a verse. For example, this verse! If we read this verse with the perception that Peter is telling us what to say, then suddenly we see a formula. Look carefully at the verse Peter isn’t telling us what to say, he is telling us what to do. Peter said . . . let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. He did not command those doing the baptizing to say “I baptize you in the name of Jesus.” Instead he is commanding sinners to do something. He is commanding sinners to be baptized in the name of Jesus. He is not commanding preachers to say, “in the name of Jesus.” Anyone who can see through a picket fence can see that. These people were commanded to do something, not to say something. As a matter of fact, not one word here states what is to be said. The text discusses what is to be done. You see, this is the trouble we get in when we let someone put a certain spin on a verse. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that Peter is speaking to those who desired to be forgiven. He wasn’t speaking to the preachers who were about to baptize these men and women. Look carefully at the verse again: “Then Peter said to them, repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The question you should be concerned with is: Who are those identified by the word them? According to these so-called pastors who trouble men and women with the notion that a certain formula must be uttered, Peter is speaking to preachers. That is, those identified by the word them are preachers who are about to baptize these men and women. These baptismal-formula pastors think Peter is telling preachers what to say. But the truth is, Peter is telling them what to do, not what to say. And those identified in verse 38 by the word them are not preachers but sinners. Look back into verse 37. Those who Peter addresses in verse 38 are those who “when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren, what shall we do?” Not only do these baptismal formula preachers get it wrong when they think Peter is telling what to say instead of what to do, but they also fail to understand what the simple phrase in the name of means. When Peter told these people to be baptized in the name of Jesus — what did this mean? Well, we’ve already discovered it isn’t a formula to be spoken — it is a command to be obeyed. In the name of Jesus means the same in Acts 2:38 as in Col. 3:17 where Paul wrote, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” In both Bible verses the name of means the exact same thing. If Peter gave a formula in Acts 2:38, then Paul did as well in Col. 3:17. Notice whatever is to be done is to be done in the name of Jesus according to Col. 3:17. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Does this mean that every time we kiss our wives we say, “I kiss you in the name of Jesus?” Does this mean every time we change a baby’s diaper we say, “I change this diaper in the name of Jesus?” Does this mean that every time we empty the trash we say, “I empty the trash in the name of Jesus?” This is what we would have to say if the baptismal-formula preachers are correct. But they aren’t correct. They are wrong! In the name of Jesus means by the authority of Jesus. Those people in Acts 2:38 were to be baptized by the authority of Jesus, not the authority of Peter, Moses, or any other man. They were to submit to the baptism of Jesus, not the baptism of John or anybody else. In Col. 3:17 Christians are reminded that Jesus must authorize everything we say or do. Everything we say or do must be by his authority.

Let’s consider another verse these baptismal formula preachers think supports their doctrine. Acts 8:16 says, “They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Before commenting on this verse we need to give the context of what is said. Philip, the evangelist had preached in Samaria, and many men and women, including Simon the magician, believed and were baptized. Peter and John, two of the original twelve apostles, came to Samaria from Jerusalem to impart spiritual gifts to the brethren “for as yet he had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Can’t these baptismal-formula preachers see and understand that this verse is discussing baptism that had already taken place and not what was about to happen? This verse is telling what happened not what was said. This verse is referring back to what happened in verses 12–13 and not to what the preacher was about to say. Each time these baptismal-formula preachers see the words in the name of they think they have found a formula. They read this verse that tells us what these people in Samaria did. They had been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And, lo and behold these formula preachers think Luke, the writer of Acts, is telling us what is to be said. By the way, if Acts 8:16 is a verse that proves that a formula must be said, then my question is which of the formulas is to be said at baptism — the one in Acts 2:38 or the one in Acts 8:16? I ask this because if you compare the two verses you will see that they are not identical. A formula demands repetitive sameness. For example, if there is a math formula that must be followed to reach a certain equation, then the formula will be the same each time. And in this way, if the Bible reveals a baptismal formula that must be said, then the same thing will be said at each baptism, because the formula must be the same. If a formula has been revealed in Acts 2:38 and the same thing was said at every baptism, then we will see the same formula in Acts 8:16. Do you know what? They are not the same! In the name of the Lord Jesus is not the same as in the name of Jesus Christ. Are they similar? Perhaps, but they are not the same. A formula must be the same or it is no formula. But guess what these baptismal-formula preachers do with this obvious discrepancy? If you said they ignore it as insignificant, then you are correct. It is all right for them to demand a formula and then claim the formula can vary from in the name of the Lord Jesus to in the name of Jesus Christ. They will certainly draw the line when someone wants to say what Jesus said, which is in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Now, which of you baptismal-formula preachers will step up and tell us which formula is to be said, the one in Samaria that says in the name of the Lord Jesus or the one in Jerusalem that says in the name of Jesus Christ?

Let’s consider another of the so-called proof texts demanding a certain baptismal formula be said. This one is Acts 10:48 that says, “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Peter spoke this to Cornelius and his family. Frankly, I am a little surprised that the baptismal-formula preachers would acknowledge this verse is even in the Bible. I say that because this is the same man who said in Acts 2:38 to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. But now he is saying to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Is there a difference between what Peter said in Jerusalem and in what he is saying in Acts 10:48? Why, sure there is! If Peter was giving a formula back in Acts 2:38 it looks like he could have remembered what the formula was, don’t you think? And not only is what Peter commanded different in Acts 2:38 and Acts 10:48, but he is not even telling what is to be said. That is, in Acts 10:48 Peter is commanding what is to be done, not what is to be said. Can’t these formula preachers tell the difference between what is said and what is done? Look very closely at the words of Peter in Acts 10:48. The text says, “and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Now, within this short verse I direct your attention to the phrase to be. This does not read to say. Peter was commanding what they were to do and that was be baptized in the name of the Lord. He was not telling them what to say. as we indicated a moment ago, this does not seem to matter to the baptismal formula preachers. They think anytime they say “I baptize you in the name of the Lord (or the Lord Jesus) (or Jesus Christ)” that they have spoken correctly the formula. They can’t form their mouth to say “in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit.” This is because they have the mistaken notion that the name of the father is Jesus and the name of the son is Jesus and the name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus. In reality they believe that Jesus is the father and he is the son and he is the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they think that when their preachers recite their preordained formula “in the name of the Lord Jesus” that they are giving the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit. Now, if you think this sounds confusing, then you are right. False doctrine is often confusing because it is so convoluted. I would like to have some of these baptismal-formula pastors tell me if they believe what is said in Isa. 9:6. I ask this because that verse says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; And the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” These baptismal-formula preachers will get in the baptistery and hold up their hand and confess, “I baptize you in the name of Jesus.” This is, we’re told, because the name of the father and the son and Holy Spirit is Jesus. Well, Isa. 9:6 tells us that his name is also Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. I ask these preachers, will you get in the baptistery and raise your hand and say, “I baptize you in the name of Wonderful?” Why not? His name will be called Wonderful! Will you get in the water and confess, “I baptize you in the name of Prince of Peace?” No! You won’t say that either, but the Bible tells us his name is not only Wonderful but also Prince of Peace. If you are so bent on calling out what you perceive to be the name, then why not say, “I baptize you in the name of the Prince of Peace?” Furthermore, Isa. 9:6 speaks of father and son. Do you see that “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; And the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Jesus is a son, but we can’t say what he is when we baptize someone under his authority. These baptismal-formula preachers have a difficult time explaining why they can say the name Jesus at baptisms but not the name Wonderful or Prince of Peace. They won’t even raise their hand and say “I baptize you in the name of Mighty God.” They are extremely selective in what name they wish to use in their formula. But the truth is, there is no baptismal formula given.

They will also use Acts 19:5 in another effort to prove there is a formula. Acts 19 is when Paul came into Ephesus and found certain men who had no idea of the existence of the Holy Spirit. Well, Paul immediately recognized something was wrong with their conversion. By asking a question he soon discovered they had only received the baptism of John. So Paul then preached to them Jesus. Acts 19:5 says, “when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” I know that I am beginning to sound like an echo, but this verse, like all the rest we’ve considered this morning, says nothing about what was to be said. It is addressing what was to be done. There is no indication that Paul raised his hand and said, “I baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus.” By the way, if he did that, there would have been yet another formula. This is different from any of the other verses we’ve read this morning. Let me just run through these verses again to illustrate how they all say something a little different. Acts 2:38 says, “in the name of Jesus Christ,” Acts 8:16 says, “in the name of the Lord Jesus,” Acts 10:48 says, “in the name of the Lord,” and Acts 19:5 says, “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Now, since each one says something different, which one constitutes the correct baptismal formula? I know, I know! The correct formula is a combination of all. That is, these baptismal formula preachers teach that the preacher must raise his hand and confess “I baptize you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Yet, not one of the passages we’ve considered discussed what was to be said. Each one has revealed what was to be done. Every one of these passages we’ve considered this morning has discussed those who were being baptized and nothing was directed toward the one doing the baptizing. These baptismal-formula pastors will read these verses and think that God is telling them what they are to say. Yet each and every one of these Bible verses we’ve read is telling the ones being baptized what they are to do, are to have done, or are doing. And Acts 19:5 is just like the others we’ve read. Here the writer tells what these men in Ephesus did. “They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Now we will consider one final verse that is often used in an effort to prove a baptismal formula. Acts 22:16 says, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Let me tell you what I am going to do. I am going to advise these baptismal-formula preachers not to use this verse anymore. I say this not because I think it lends any support to their contention, but because it makes them teach that the one who says in the name of the Lord is not the preacher but the one being baptized. Here the preacher, Ananias, tells the sinner, Saul, that Saul is to call upon the name of the Lord. Of course this is done through the action of baptism. However, if this verse teaches a formula, like some of these ministers claim. Then what must happen is that the one being baptized must say, “I am being baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Yet I don’t think that this is what these ministers do. I don’t think they get in the water and then ask the one being baptized to say he is being baptized in the name of the Lord. These preachers believe they are to make this confession and not the one being baptized. This verse like all the rest is discussing what is being done not what is being said.

The truth is, there is no mandated formula that must be spoken upon baptism. Just as long as one is being baptized by the authority of Christ for the remission of sins he is being baptized scripturally. This is so whether or not any words are spoken.