Lesson 2734

(Lesson 2734)(06-19-19) Acts 8:9-12
    “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.”
 
  As was established with yesterday’s lesson Philip “preached” the name of Jesus Christ after which many believed and were baptized; Therefore, the phrase “the name of”, as the author applied it in the quote, identified something that could be taught. In the above application it refers to, or stands for, the very essence of Jesus Christ crucified. In simpler, more modern terms, Philip preached the life, death, burial, resurrecion and ascension of Jesus Christ whereafter, his listeners believed and were saved.
    This clarification is very important to remember because that same phrase is applied in Matthew 28:19-20 wherein Jesus told His apostles to baptize (immerse) those who would believe “in the name of” The Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Those apostles were, in reality, instructed to immerse the believers into the full concept and amazing grace of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
    The term “baptizing” as it was applied in the Matthew quote, just as the term “baptized” is applied in the reference to those to whom Philip preached, is a reference to the learning about Jesus Christ. The variations of the term baptize as applied in both the Matthew quote as well as today’s quote, are a reference to an immersion INTO Jesus Christ, NOT and immersion into water.~
NOTE: There will be more discussion of this subject in tomorrow’s lesson.