Lesson 3251

 (Lesson 3251)(11-27-20) 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.”

   In my opinion, the total misunderstanding of the actual meaning, and intent, of today’s lesson has caused many a lost soul to condemn themselves to an eternal hell through misplaced faith.                    The misunderstanding stems from a widely accepted, although erroneous, definition of the word ‘baptize’ and it’s grammatical variations. I’ll try to explain this error as best I can.

    The word ‘baptize’ was transliterated from the Greek word ‘baptizo’. (To transliterate is to replace a word with a sound alike word in another language. A transliterated word DOES NOT necessarily carry with it into the new language, the meaning or intent of the original word.) 

    Baptizo, as that word is defined in ancient Greek, simply means to place one thing into another, leaving it there INDEFINITELY to achieve a desired transformation, purpose, or affect. The ancient Greek word baptizo DOES NOT define the act of dipping or sprinkling someone, or something, in water. The ancient Greek word for dip is an entirely different word, ‘bapto’. 

    In today’s quote, the word “baptizing” implies that the apostles of Christ, as well as ourselves today, are to ‘baptize’, or immerse, all willing souls INTO, the “NAME”, (identity , or persona), of The Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

NOTE: We will talk more about this very important lesson tomorrow.~