Do You Believe in Baptizing in the Trinity?

by Terry Wane Benton

Just before Jesus went back to heaven, He told His disciples to go “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). What that means is that we baptize people with the full authority of the triune God. It is not a formula of what to say while immersing someone, but rather an action done with an understanding that God, in all aspects, will bless the persons coming into discipleship.

We should also understand that the Father sent Jesus, and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, so that all that is done by the authority of Jesus is automatically with the Father’s full approval and blessings, and with the full approval and blessings of the Holy Spirit. So, in Acts 2:38 when Peter told the 3000 to be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ”, this was not something different than what Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19. Being baptized in the name of Jesus is also not a formula of what to say while immersing, but again an action to be done with an understanding that Jesus’ authorizes and blesses this action.

So, what is done in Jesus’ name (by His authority and blessing) is also done in the name of the Father and Holy Spirit. So, when I understand that I am being baptized by the authority of Jesus, I also understand that I am being baptized by the full authority of the Father and the Holy Spirit. There is no conflict of interest in the triune God. They are one in desire, thought, and will, and doing all in the name of the Lord will of necessity be doing all in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.