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MATTHEW 28:19 EXPLAINED - THE FATHER GAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHRIST, SO THAT CHRIST COULD BAPTIZE US WITH HIS OWN SPIRIT (LIFE).
When we read verses on their own, taken out of context, all sorts of beliefs and doctrines can be made from them. But when we read scripture IN CONTEXT, taking the WHOLE council of God, then we can learn the TRUTH. So what is the truth concerning Matthew 28:19? When you read it in context, using scripture to interpret scripture, then you see the clear truth, and it is beautiful!
What is the reason that Christ instructed the disciples to "baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"? (Matthew 28:19). Let's read Matthew 28:18-20 in context and you will see some interesting points:
Matthew 28:18-20 ...'And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME in heaven and in earth. Go ye THEREFORE, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, even unto the end of the world. Amen.'
Did you notice the connection? Let's take note of what Jesus said. He said that "ALL POWER" is "GIVEN" to Him. And what did He say next? "THEREFORE ... go and baptize in the name of ..." What does the word "therefore" mean? It means that what is said next is BASED ON what was said before. So the baptizing in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is based on Jesus "receiving ALL POWER." Do you see that? Now what is that 'POWER' which Jesus was to receive? Well, Jesus finishes Matthew 28 with the words ... "I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS." Interesting! So let us see what this 'power' is that Jesus RECEIVED. What did Jesus tell the disciples before He ascended to heaven?
Luke 24:49 ...'And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.'
Acts 1:4-5 ...'And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.'
Do you see what the 'POWER' and 'promise of the Father' is? It is the Holy Spirit, which the disciples were to wait for the 'outpouring' of in Jerusalem. Peter even furnishes us with very clear information as to what happened and what was given at Pentecost. Let's take a look at what the apostle Peter said:
Acts 2:32-33 ...'This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, HE hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.'
Wow! Do you see what happened here? Jesus was raised from the dead by God the Father. He then ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father on His throne (Rev.3:21). And then what? Did you see what happened? Jesus received THE PROMISE [the POWER] of the Holy Spirit FROM the Father. Then Jesus HIMSELF 'shed forth' the Spirit upon the disciples. So it is Jesus HIMSELF (in Spirit) that comes to us as the Holy Spirit, because He received the Holy Spirit FROM the Father, which was the promise and power that was to be given - the very LIFE of the Father, given to His Son, to give to us.
"All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father's LIFE flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life." (Desire of Ages, p.21)
Take another look at Matthew 28:18-19:
Matthew 28:18-20 ...'And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER IS GIVEN UNTO ME in heaven and in earth. Go ye THEREFORE, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, even unto the end of the world. Amen.'
Do you see how the disciples would have understood Matthew 28:19? Let me share with you some verses from the apostle Paul and show you how he understood this.
1 Corinthians 8:6 ...'But to us there is but one God, the Father, OF whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, BY whom are all things, and we by him.'
Is the Holy Spirit included in "all things"? Yes! The Holy Spirit is OF the Father and BY Jesus Christ. Look:
Titus 3:4-6 ...'But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour.'
Do you see? 'Baptize in the name of the Father' - He is the SOURCE of all - 'and of the Son' - He is the BY WHOM the Father gives all - 'and of the Holy Spirit' - The very LIFE and POWER of the Father, given THROUGH His Son Jesus Christ. Now please understand this vital point - Christ wrought out in human flesh a perfect, sinless life through suffering and complete dependence upon God the Father. When He went back to heaven, He received the Holy Spirit FROM the Father to give to us (Acts 2:32-33), so that Christ, in the Spirit, can help us overcome all sin. This is why it is so important to understand this truth. The Father comes to us WITH HIS SON, IN THE SPIRIT - with that HUMAN EXPERIENCE of Christ, to give us POWER to overcome the world and sin. This is all part of the righteousness of Christ message.
John 14:18,21-23 ...'I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you ... He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.'
The apostle John even saw this in vision! In Revelation chapter 5, we read the following ... "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals ... And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." (vs.1,6) - Do you see? The Father is the one sat on the throne and Jesus is that 'Lamb' standing in the midst of the throne. John sees the humanity of Christ (the slain lamb). But what does John also see? He sees that Lamb (Christ) WITH the Spirit of the Father (seven Spirits), as part of Christ (seven horns and eyes), to send to the earth - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - The Father as the 'one true God' and 'source of all' (1 Cor.8:6). Jesus as the SON OF God (Romans 8:3, John 3:16). And the Holy Spirit as the Father's own power and life, given to His Son, to give to us. "ALL POWER IS GIVEN unto ME" Christ said.
Now if Jesus said to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, why did the disciples call for baptism in the 'name of Jesus Christ'? It is simply because Jesus had received the Holy Spirit from God the Father and Jesus is the one that has 'ALL POWER' to give unto His disciples (Matthew 28:18). Christ is the one WITH the Spirit of the Father - perfect humanity, united with divinity, to give unto us, enabling us to live sin free, victorious lives. We are also baptized into the death of Christ and receive HIS LIFE [Spirit].
Christ is the one that reveals the Father to the world and He is the one who brings the power and life of God the Father to us.
Galatians 4:6 ...'And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.'
2 Corinthians 3:17 ...'Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.'
Philippians 1:19 ...'For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.'
"Christ gave his followers a positive promise that after his ascension he would send them His Spirit. 'Go ye THEREFORE,' he said, 'and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father [A PERSONAL GOD], and of the Son [A PERSONAL PRINCE AND SAVIOUR], and of the Holy Ghost [SENT from heaven to REPRESENT Christ]: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I AM WITH YOU ALWAY, even unto the end of the world ... THERE IS NO COMFORTER LIKE CHRIST, so tender and true. HE IS touched with the feelings of our infirmities. HIS Spirit speaks to the heart ... The influence of the Holy Spirit is THE LIFE OF CHRIST in the soul." (Review and Herald, October 26, 1897, par. 9, 15)
Remember, there is 'ONE GOD' .. AND .. 'ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus' (1 Timothy 2:5). The Father gives and does ALL THINGS, yes ALL THINGS through His Son Jesus, including giving of His Holy Spirit - His power and life!
For more about the Holy Spirit, please see our page WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?