The True Baptist

As John's ministry developed in Israel, he had become known as John Baptist. Following His baptism by John and before Calvary Jesus became a baptist too (though only in the capacity John speaks of in chapter 4 of his Gospel). At that time John was the Baptist, Jesus was a baptist. Now the positions are reversed, John was only a baptist, Jesus is THE BAPTIST. Just as John in his day was the Baptist, so Jesus Christ is now THE BAPTIST and John is not a baptist at all. Nevertheless, although his ministry has ceased, what was true under John's preaching is also true now under Christ's preaching -- baptism is the way in. In the same way as John's baptism was quite useless unless there was true faith in the hearts of those he baptised, so Jesus' baptism is equally quite impossible unless hearts truly believe unto it. Just as John responded to faith by baptism, so also does Jesus Christ respond by baptism to simple faith.

Lo I AM with YOU Always

Just prior to His ascension to the throne, the Lord commanded His apostles to go and teach all nations, baptising them into that one name which is borne by each member-person of the triune Godhead -- I AM. 'Lo I AM with you always, even unto the end of the ages', He said; they only had to tarry until the age commenced. It was to be the age of the Baptism, so they must await the element or means in which alone it could be accomplished, the blessed Spirit. It is plain that the Lord intended to be with them in the Baptism He had commanded them to administer, so they entered into their ministry highly conscious of His presence with them. They were to use the only element they could use, namely water, and He would use the element He alone could and had chosen to use, namely Spirit. This is why, given the correct conditions, there is no reason why both should not take place together as one.

This is the real reason why baptism was administered by the apostles in Jesus name. It must not be thought that because in discharge of the commandment they baptised in Jesus' name, they neglected to do it as He had so explicitly told them earlier. Their action does not imply gross refusal to do His will -- rather their words and actions meant that doing it in Jesus' name they were actually standing on His promise. They believed that He was there with them and they became workers together with Him; they baptised into the name of all three persons of God, and He into His body and life. Which brings the whole into line with the truth as revealed in verses like Ephesians 2:18, 'through Him we (both) have access by (Gk.'in') one Spirit unto the Father.' Through Jesus' person and ministrations this is exactly both what it accomplished and how it happens.