Lesson 690

(Lesson 690)(07-10-13) Today's lesson is found in Acts 8:9-17 and concerns the next two applications of the term "baptized, "But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done."

In both of these two applications, the term baptized is used in reference to, and defines repentance, or conversion from one doctrine, or lifestyle, to another. More explicitly, in this example, the repentance of those who had believed Philip's message concerning the "kingdom of God" and his doctrine, "the name of", or concept of, Jesus Christ, as in the following quote, "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ," they were "baptized".

It behooves us to remember that "the name of Jesus Christ" is something that can be taught, seeing that Philip did just that, he preached, or taught, "the name of Jesus Christ". In other words, the "name of Jesus Christ" was considered a lesson that could be taught, or a concept that could be adopted. The term "baptized" as it is applied in this lesson, defines the acceptance of that lesson by those who heard Philip preach. They were, in fact, "baptized" within that message by acceptance of it.

To more firmly establish my analysis, we refer back to what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them IN THE NAME OF the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:". Therein, again, we find that the "NAME OF" the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, IS that intity into which Jesus required all who would follow Him, to be baptized.

Therefore, when one accepts or converts to a particular doctrine or concept, that one has effectively been "baptized" into, or has taken on, that doctrine or concept.

Water is in no way referenced by these two usages of the term "baptized".~