I repented and received the Holy Ghost in the spring of 1974. I was not attending any Church as I was a Hippie at that time. I noticed several scriptures that connected water baptism to salvation so I felt I had better do it.
I went to the Church of Christ where I had attended as a young boy and was baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. I was content with that but after a while realized the COC was sorely lacking in spiritual life and left there to search for more.
My Cousins husband heard about the change in my life and stopped by about that time. He was the first one to mention baptism in the name of Jesus to me. He gave me a few scriptures about it and got me thinking on it.
In a short time I became part of a street ministry and was so happy with that I gave everything to it and for some time never thought much about the difference.
Then I met a fellow at work who was Oneness. He also shared baptism in Jesus name. Again I thought it sounds right but I was not fully convinced it was important enough to be rebaptized.
After I was married one night my wife suggested we visit a certain Charismatic Church. We did and found out the Pastor had recently rebaptized everyone in the Church in Jesus name! By now I was convinced this was the way the Apostles baptized so down we went into the name of Jesus!
I was very happy with this but at the same time I had also been fellowshipping with a satellite Church of The Ceylon Pentecostal Mission a Trinitarian group out of the Far East. As far as Christian zeal and living they were very attractive to me. They had Churches worldwide and I was truly blessed to hear the testimonies and also the teachings of perfection and holiness.
I shared baptism in Jesus name with the Pastor. He flatly rejected it but nonetheless appointed me an Elder in our Fellowship. Several times we discussed it but to no avail. I was greived because I really was coming attached to the group there.
I had been seriously praying about what the Lord would have me do. Was it important enough to choose over a Church that I loved and felt like family with?
I was thinking on this deeply one day at work unloading trucks. I was pulling a large pallet of Paper (worked in a Paper Mill) off a Truck. I noticed the Secretary said "Jesus Christ". Knowing she was an ungodly Woman I continued pulling the pallet of paper through the aisle.
Then again the woman exclaimed "Jesus Christ". This time I had to see why. I turned and saw on the whole side of this large stack of paper this was written in black marker.
Jesus Christ Acts 2:38!
Now friends this happened
JUST AS I THOUGHT what should I do about this?
Oh was I thrilled in my spirit! Jesus had heard my prayers and showed me this was the truth and that
HE was confirming it!
It was my turn to teach that coming Sunday. I taught a message on "Full New Testament Salvation". I concluded by saying
Acts 2:38 was what the Apostles taught to those seeking to be saved.
I was amazed when one of the other young Ministers came to me and said what a great message it was! Then the Pastor came and said "you cannot teach that here".
That was the beginning of the end of my ministry there but I was now aware of just how important being baptized in Jesus name was. Since that experience in 1980 many times I have heard of people who question if its really worth contending over.
I can speak as one who knows. Rejoice in this truth! Rejoice that YHWH has opened your eyes to see it! He desires that all his elect Children partake of his whole plan of salvation. Michael Gibson 4/24/09
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