Is Matthew 28:19 a part of the setting up of the church?
Question:
I am concerned about baptism. I have found that all of the Bible corresponds with Acts 2:38 from the prophets until the Spirit came upon the apostles. What I do not find is Matthew 28:19 having a part in the setting up of the church at Jerusalem. The prophets Isaiah and Micah tell us Jerusalem, and the word of the Lord that goes forth from Jerusalem will build my house. Joel 2: 28-32 tells us that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. I believe this means in baptism the name of Jesus Christ will be called upon. Every Scripture points to Jerusalem for the beginning of the church. Even the prayer that Jesus prayed for the salvation of the world puts our salvation in the words of the apostles, John 17:20. What Jesus told the disciples at Galilee never entered into the Spirit on the day of Pentecost for the establishing of the church. There are not two, who will be right?
Answer:
At it again, I see. Matthew 28:19 puts a huge hole in your pet theory that baptism must be done only in the name of Jesus; thus, you seek some way to discredit the verses that contradict your doctrine.
Paul states, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (II Timothy 3:16-17). This removes the possibility of men, such as yourself, from editing the Bible. All Scripture is inspired, not some or even most. This must include Matthew 28:19.
Jesus told his disciples, "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "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, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen" (Matthew 28:16-20). You claim that what is taught here was not taught in the church. However, we find that Jesus claim of holding all authority is supported in the teachings of the apostles (for a short list see: Acts 2:36; 10:36; I Corinthians 15:27; Ephesians 1:20-22; Philippians 2:9-11; and Colossians 1:16-19). Jesus' command to go into all the nations to make disciples is also found in the teachings of the apostles (Acts 1:8; 2:38-39;13:46; 28:28; Romans 10:18; Colossians 1:23). The command to baptize was followed by the apostles (see the Notes on Baptism). And the command to teach these disciples to observe all things that Jesus commanded was also taught by the disciples (Acts 20:27; I Corinthians 14:37; Ephesians 4:11-16, 20-21; ;I Thessalonians 4:1-2). Thus we conclude that everything the Jesus commanded the disciples in Galilee was what they implemented, starting in Jerusalem in Acts 2.
The only thing that puts a monkey wrench in your belief is the phrase "baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Yet, this phrase is just as much a part of Jesus' command as the rest of what Jesus told the apostles in Galilee. David noted "The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever" (Psalm 119:160). When a passage in the Bible contradicts your belief, it doesn't mean that passage is wrong or doesn't belong in the Bible; it means that your understanding is incorrect and needs to be adjusted to match what God teaches.
We have talked about this at length in the past, but see the sermon outline "All in a Name" for details on why your pet belief is incorrect.
