OCTOBER 19

IMMERSED INTO HIS NAME

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy spirit.” (Matt. 28:19)

From the Greek text we learn that in this phrase “baptize them in the name…” that the word “in” is actually the word “INTO.” Williams gives a footnote in his translation, to explain that “this expresses transfer of relationship.”

As we are baptized, literally, IMMERSED into Christ, it brings a transfer of relationship, so that which is IN HIM becomes a part of us also; till His name is our name, and that because His nature is our nature, and His character is our character. This is a progressive development into a STATE OF BEING. For the word “baptize” used here refers not just to an act, but to a state of being. Thus we become IMMERSED ONES, into the sphere, realm of His name.

It is readily understood that a name is without value except for who and what it stands for, and His name bespeaks of all His character, attributes, nature behind that name.

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death?” (Rom. 6:3). Paul makes it clear that our immersion into Jesus Christ is a sharing of HIS experience, both His death, and His resurrection. That all of this is a progressive working, he also stated, “I die daily,” and in another place, that “the inward man is renewed day by day.” An immersion into Jesus Christ until we have experimentally died out to all of self and its deviations, and are alive unto His will in all things. “As many as have been baptized INTO CHRIST have put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:27).

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” (Deut. 5:11). As we are immersed into all of His nature and character, “let every one who names himself by the name of the Lord give up all iniquity and stand aloof from it.” (2 Tim. 2:19, Amp.). Immersed, identified in Christ Jesus.

Ray Prinzing