Abraham’s Covenant and Baptism in Jesus name

The LORD appeared to Abram, saying to him, “walk before me, and be perfect”.

The LORD said he would make his covenant between him and Abraham. He promised he would multiply Abraham exceedingly, that Abraham would be a father of many nations, he would be exceeding fruitful, and nations and kings should come out of him. He told Abraham it would be an everlasting covenant between him and Abraham, and his seed, and that he would give him the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession.

What is Abraham’s covenant?

God told Abraham his covenant would be in Abraham’s flesh for an everlasting covenant. The “token” of this covenant would be circumcision.

Genesis 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Genesis 17:10-11 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

The covenant of circumcision is fulfilled in water baptism in Jesus name.

Colossians 2:11-13 ¶In whom [Christ] also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

While circumcision removes the flesh of the foreskin, baptism removes the sins of the flesh.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

When we are baptized in Jesus name, we bury the “old man” of sin in our life.

Romans 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Just as with circumcision the flesh is cut off, when we have repented and been baptized in Jesus name we put off the sins of the flesh, the old man with his deeds and lusts.

Colossians 3:8-9 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

The LORD told Abraham,

Genesis 17:14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

If we do not believe and are baptized, we are cut off from the people of God; we are damned.

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

When the LORD made his covenant with Abraham, he changed his name. He changed it from Abram to Abraham.

While the token of the covenant – circumcision - was only possible for the men to observe, water baptism, the fulfilment of the covenant of circumcision, is for both men and women. At the time of the giving of the covenant of circumcision, God changed the names of both Abraham and Sarah. In water baptism, we are given a new name, the name of Jesus.

Genesis 17:5, 15 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

When we are water baptized, we are given the name of Jesus.

James 2:7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? (Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?)

Abraham is an example to us, that when God commanded him to be circumcised, he did not delay.

Genesis 17:26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

When the Lord sent Ananias to baptize Paul, Ananias did not want to delay to baptize him. He said to Paul,

Acts 22:16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

Likewise Peter, when Cornelius and his household received the Holy Ghost, commanded them to be baptized in Jesus name.

Acts 10:47-48 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 

“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

“For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:1-6 KJV

“The Binding of Isaac” takes place when God tested Abraham, telling him to take his son Isaac and offer him as a burnt offering on a mountain that God would tell him of.

When Abraham was about to slay his son Isaac with a knife, the angel of the LORD called to him out of heaven, telling Abraham to stop and do his son no harm.

God provided a ram – which is an adult lamb – caught in a tree to take the place of Isaac as the sacrifice, setting him free (Jubilee).

We can see the ram as a type and shadow of Christ. Jesus is the Lamb of God that was caught by love on a tree, taking our place when we were destined to die.

Instead, we, like Isaac, were set free. Isaac is a type and shadow of us – we too are "a living sacrifice," set free by Christ.

https://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3104&t=KJV

The Jubilee year was the fiftieth. Then by the Mosaic law, lands which had been sold reverted to their first owner, and slaves were to be set free.

יובל (yo•bāl') means BOTH "ram's horn" AND "Jubilee year." Yowbel (Strong’s 3104).

This Hebrew word for “ram's horn” is the same Hebrew word for “jubilee year”. The ram's horn was used as a trumpet, calling God's people to return to Him. It traces back to the ram caught in the thicket - a type and shadow of Christ, the Lamb of God (ram is a male sheep), that took our place on the tree to set us free. The ram caught in the thicket took Isaac's place as a sacrifice, ("the binding of Isaac") setting him free. (Jubilee). Isaac is a type and shadow of us - we are "a living sacrifice", set free by Christ.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. [The Jubilee Year]" - Luke 4:18-19 KJV

"Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ... Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." - 1 Peter 2:22, 24 KJV

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1 KJV

Some people say, “I’m pretty sure I’ve been baptized in Jesus name…”

If there is any uncertainty as to whether or not the name of Jesus was called over you in water baptism by immersion, this is a reason to get re-baptized in Jesus name.

It is by baptism in Jesus name that our sins are remitted. If we were not baptized in Jesus name, our sins have not been remitted– we have not applied the blood of Jesus to our life.

Some say, “The pastor that baptized me did everything in Jesus name. I’m sure he baptized in Jesus name as well”. This is not necessarily true. I once asked a pastor if he baptized in Jesus name. He said, “We do everything in the name of Jesus.” I asked again, “Do you baptize in Jesus name?” His answer, “We do everything in the name of Jesus EXCEPT baptize in the name of Jesus.”

Find a pastor that believes, preaches, and obeys Acts 2:38, and you will find a pastor that baptizes in Jesus name.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12

Don’t risk your salvation to uncertainty. It is Biblical to be re-baptized in the name of Jesus if you know you weren’t baptized in Jesus name. (Such as being baptized in TITLES - “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost” instead of the NAME – “JESUS”) If you are not certain how you were baptized, be SURE of this most important decision in your life!! Be RE-BAPTIZED in JESUS name!!

"And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." - Acts 19:3-6

When a person is baptized (immersed in water) in Jesus name, the name of Jesus is called upon them.

If titles (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) are called upon a person, they are not baptized in Jesus name.

We are to be baptized in the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, which is JESUS. (Matthew 28:19, John 5:43, John 14:26, John 17:6, John 17:11-12, John 17:26, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:12, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5, 1Corinthians 1:13-15).

We take on His name Jesus by baptism. By baptism, we become called by His name. (Acts 22:16, Acts 9:14, Acts 9:21, Acts 15:14, Acts 15:17, Romans 10:13, 1Corinthians 1:2, 2Timothy 2:19, James 2:7, Galatians 3:27).

It is by the name of Jesus that we have remission of sins. (Acts 10:43-48, 1John 2:12, Acts 22:16, 1Corinthians 6:11, Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38). His blood is applied to us by baptism in Jesus name. (1Corinthians 1:13-15, Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12-13, Revelation 1:5)

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." - Acts 2:38

If a person is baptized in another way besides in Jesus name, we find in the Bible people were re-baptized in Jesus name.

"And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." - Acts 19:3-5

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 KJV

Devices of satan

Jesus said we need to be born of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

We need His Spirit to belong to Him.

Romans 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

If we want to please God, we must walk in the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit, we must STAY FULL of His Spirit.

Galatians 5:16-17 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

It is by the power of His Spirit that we overcome sin, live a holy life, and become witnesses.

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The Spirit of Jesus acts as our Defense Attorney against satan, the Prosecutor. “Counsel for defense” is a meaning of the Greek word that is translated as “Comforter”.

John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Jesus gives us His Spirit to "plead the blood of Jesus", reminding satan that the blood of Jesus washed away our sins when we were baptized in Jesus name. Because we are now living a holy and overcoming life, satan has nothing to accuse us with!

Jesus gives us His Spirit to teach us and to remind us of what He said.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

His Spirit guides us into all truth and will show us things to come.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

It is by the power of His Spirit that we will be resurrected. It is His Spirit that will raise us up from the grave.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Because we need the Spirit of Jesus to be saved, there must be no confusion as to whether or not we have received His Spirit.

It makes sense that satan would try to deceive people as to whether or not they have received God's Spirit!

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Satan, the deceiver, would like a person to think they have received the Spirit of Jesus when they have not.

Thankfully, Jesus makes it clear when a person has received His Spirit: they speak in tongues (a language they have not learned) as the Spirit gives them the ability to speak.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (the Spirit of Jesus) we speak in tongues. We speak in tongues as Jesus speaks through us in a language we have not learned.

A key to why God chose tongues to be the sign of a person receiving His Spirit is found in James 3:3-8.

James 3:3-8 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

In these verses, the tongue is described as an “unruly evil” among the members of the body. James declares, “The tongue can no man tame”. No man can tame the tongue, but by a repentant heart and our desire to receive the Spirit of Jesus, God can tame our tongue. With words of praise, worship, and thanksgiving, Jesus will baptize a person with His Holy Ghost and they will speak in another tongue (language) as the Spirit of Jesus speaks through them.

The tongue is the last thing to surrender to God when we are allowing Him to fill us with His Spirit. When the Lord controls our tongue, it is a sign that we have given Him full control of our life! Because the tongue is the last to surrender, it makes sense that tongues are the sign for being FILLED with the Holy Ghost.

Some people say, “I have the Holy Spirit, but I haven’t spoken in tongues – I don’t have the gift of tongues”.

This confusion comes from lack of knowing the Word of God. The Word shows that Jesus uses tongues for more than one purpose.

First of all, Jesus uses tongues when a person is filled with the Holy Ghost. Tongues are a sign. When a person is filled with God’s Spirit for the first time, they may speak only a few syllables, or may speak for a long duration. Because it is by God’s grace that Jesus gives us His Spirit, it is called the GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.

Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

When Peter preached the gospel to the Gentiles for the first time, Peter knew they received the Holy Ghost because he heard them speak in tongues.

Acts 10:45-48 And they of the circumcision [Jews] which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Peter testified to Jewish Christians in Jerusalem:

Acts 11:15-18 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

When disciples of John the Baptist were re-baptized in Jesus name, Paul laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. When they received the Holy Ghost they spoke in tongues.

Acts 19:1-6 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

Second, God uses tongues as one of the spiritual gifts. This gift is called, “divers kinds of tongues.”

1 Corinthians 12:4-7 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

1 Corinthians 12:8-10 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

The gifts are given to individuals for the profit of ALL. (1 Cor. 12:7) Thus, divers kinds of tongues is used to give a message to the whole church body.

This gift, or “manifestation of the Spirit” needs to be combined with the gift of interpretation of tongues in order for the church to understand the message and to receive edifying. Otherwise, only the person speaking is edified (built up, strengthened).

1Corinthians 14:5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1Corinthians 14:17-19 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

The Bible gives rules of order for this.

1Corinthians 14:27-28 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

1Corinthians 14:39-40 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.

Everyone speaks in tongues when they receive the Holy Ghost, but not everyone speaks with the gift of diverse tongues.

This can be compared with faith and the GIFT of faith.

Everyone that comes to God must have faith.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

However, not everyone is used in the GIFT of faith.

The key that distinguishes the GIFT OF TONGUES is that it is for the purpose of ministering to the church body, rather than to an individual.

This holds true for all nine gifts of the Spirit. They are designed to operate when the whole church is come together.

For example, the gift of prophecy includes anointed preaching, which is ministered to the “whole church” body.

1Corinthians 14:23-25 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

Thirdly, God uses tongues in prayer.

When we have a feeling (“burden”) to pray for a person or situation and we do not know exactly what to pray, we can allow God to intercede in our prayer with tongues, speaking the words for us according to what God knows needs to be prayed.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Praying in tongues is also called praying “in the Spirit” and “praying in the Holy Ghost.”

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Jude 1:20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

When we have prayed all the words we can think of, the Lord can pray through us in tongues as the Spirit of God speaks through us in languages we have not learned. The Lord can speak through us precisely what the person or situation needs and that only Jesus may know about! What a blessing to ourselves and others!

Receiving the Holy Ghost is necessary to be saved. When we receive the Holy Ghost, we speak in other tongues as the Spirit gives us utterance. Satan would rather have us confused about this so that we would be lost, and not receive the promises and blessings God has for every one of us.

But we are not ignorant of satan’s devices!