Messiah’s chosen apostles were assembled with him after his resurrection when they received a very important command that is recorded in Acts 1: 4- 5:
“And being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. [John 14: 16] For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence.”
The apostles were faithful and assembled together on the day of Pentecost as commanded. This was a very important day and the promise that Yahweh kept is a blessing to the whole world. How the apostles responded to Messiah’s command is how we should follow Yahweh’s requirements for baptism. This important account of what happened on Pentecost is recorded in Acts 2:1- 4:
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting: And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
In addition to the 12 apostles, 3,000 others received the word, and were baptized. (Acts 2: 40) The instructions they received came from Peter in Acts 2: 38: “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of YahwehShua Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” These 3000 were not required to attend classes, pass a test or wait for a period of time. They simply followed the words of Peter and were baptized in the name of YahwehShua.
Let us also examine the calling of the apostle Paul as well. Up until the time Messiah appeared to him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9: 3- 4), Paul was persecuting the firstfruits or saints. Paul was not prepared for his encounter with Messiah. There was no required period of instruction, classes, or any form of preparation. At the appearance of Messiah, a bright light blinded Paul. Messiah then spoke to him in Hebrew and Paul offered no resistance. He immediately followed Messiah’s instructions, and was led into Damascus by his companions. Once there, he met Ananias who placed his hands on Paul, and at that moment his sight returned and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. After receiving the Holy Spirit, he was baptized.
In both situations, two very important elements were present: baptism in the name of YahwehShua, and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. But note that the first and primary requirement was baptism in the inherited name of Messiah, not his human name.
The leadership of any assembly or group does not have the authority to call anyone to baptism. This is reserved only for the Father, as declared in John 6:44: “No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
No mortal can call or even choose who is to be a firstfruit. Only the Father has the exclusive right to call people to become firstfruits. But it is the Messiah who has the exclusive right to choose from those who are called, as revealed in John 15:16: “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit.” The word ordained used in this verse has a very theological or ecclesiastical sound to it. A better translation would be to appoint or place in a position. That did not just happen to the apostles, but it also happens to each person being called and chosen to be a firstfruit. Your reading of this website could be the beginning of your appointment or placement in the body of Messiah.
We of the Light of YahwehShua are here to receive those who are called and chosen. The only requirement is that you desire to be baptized in the name of YahwehShua, and present yourselves for that purpose. Once baptized, you will freely receive the Spirit of the Father, as well as the down payment of the Spirit of the Son, YahwehShua.
The apostle Peter specifically said you had to be baptized in the name of YahwehShua. Your translation will have the name of a man. That name is not consistent with the Scriptures.
Why YahwehShua instead of the birth name of the Messiah? The man’s name, Yahshua, was blotted out when Messiah died in sin (Deuteronomy 29: 20) This name change was revealed to us in Hebrews 1:4: “He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name then they.” Messiah had to die to inherit the more excellent name of Yahweh. (Psalms 148:13)
Messiah’s human or birth name was the name that was defiled at the time of his death. He was resurrected in the undefiled name of YahwehShua. This resurrected name of faith is also the name of salvation. Anytime you pray, teach or baptize in a man’s name, Yahweh is not pleased.
It is of interest that in chapter 2 of Acts, where the day of Pentecost is described, we are also reminded of what we are told in Joel 2: 32: “Whosoever shall call on the name of Yahweh shall be saved.” This verse is very clear in what it says. The name of Yahweh is used three times in that verse. From the very beginning, the name of Yahweh was the name of salvation, and not the name of any man. Messiah Yahshua had to die to bear the sin of all mankind, and then be resurrected to inherit the name of salvation, YahwehShua.
The apostle Paul confirms the significance about the death and resurrection of Messiah. Consider what he tells us in Romans 5:10: “We were reconciled[our sin was covered and removed] by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Reconciliation or removal of our sin was the first step. However, it cost Messiah his birth name, Yahshua. It was only after his resurrection that he was able to inherit his Father’s name, Yahweh. His birth name is associated with his death. His resurrected name is the name of life. When we are baptized, we are seeking life not death. Therefore, we must choose his inherited name and not his human name, the name of death.
Before you can choose life, you must be baptized in the inherited name of life. It is appropriate at this time to remember what Moses said to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:19: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”
The apostle Paul has set before you the name of death and the name of life in Romans 5:10. It is Yahweh who reveals this choice to you. It is not by your power or your might that you have discovered it. However, youmust choose life through baptism in the inherited name of YahwehShua.
So many people are stuck with a baptism in a man’s name. They are fearful of challenging the validity of that baptism. Much of this has to do with tradition and the fear of being ostracized by family, friends, and the religious establishment. By remaining with their worthless baptism, they are unable to receive the free gift of the Spirit of the Father, and therefore the down payment of the Spirit of the Son. Without Messiah’s Spirit formed in you (Galatians 4:19), you will not be resurrected when Messiah returns. Think about what Paul tells us in Romans 8:9: “Now if any man have not the Spirit of Messiah, he is none of his.” Who are “His“? Paul provides an answer in 1 Corinthians 15:23: “But every man in his own order: Messiah the firstfruits; afterward they that are Messiah’s at his coming.” Please review the benefits of being resurrected when Messiah returns as told to us in Revelation 20: 6:
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of Yahweh and the Messiah, and the shall reign with him a thousand years.”
Recently, I spoke with a gentleman who contacted our website. He admitted to having been baptized four times. He had been baptized in a man’s name as a Christian, and also as a member of a sacred name group. However, his study and experience revealed to him something was missing. He admits that baptism in the name of YahwehShua is consistent with how he has come to understand the Scriptures. I believe he is being called. Now, the path to life or death has been revealed to him. It is his decision now to choose life. I say to whomever is reading this article and is not baptized in the name YahwehShua; you also are facing a similar decision. The words of Moses as recorded in Deuteronomy 30:19 apply to you as well. Anyone who truly desires to become a firstfruit must choose life through baptism in the name of life.
Once you have the Spirit of the Messiah being formed in you, that Spirit will be able to teach you all things. (John 14:26) Once baptized, you will have the opportunity to overcome into the better resurrection. The process of overcoming requires that you be obedient to the commandments of the Son. Your baptism in YahwehShua allows you to be a member of the body of Messiah. It is among your brethern in the faith that you can be nurtured and encouraged. We are here to love you and help you develop your spiritual potential.
Paul reveals even more to us in Titus 3:5: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit.” The Greek word from which regeneration is derived is Strong’s number 3824, palingenesia. Palin means again and genesia is related to genesis or birth. This is a linguistic connection to John 3:3, where Messiah tells Nicodemus he must be born from above. Baptism is the fulfillment of Messiah’s revelation to Nicodemus.
What about the second part of that verse where the newly baptized person experiences a renewing of the Holy Spirit? Paul provides this insight in Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of Yahweh.”
Without baptism in YahwehShua, you cannot experience a renewing of your mind by the Spirit of Messiah. Without this baptism, you retain your carnal mind that is at enmity against Yahweh. (Romans 8:7) Only with the mind of Messiah (Philippians 2:5) being formed within you, can your mind be renewed where you are able to draw close to Yahweh and even attempt to overcome.
Many have told me that they are satisfied with their baptism. However, if you are baptized in the name of a man, your belief is at odds with Scripture. You may be satisfied, but Yahweh is not. Consider what the apostle John tells us in 1 John 4:15: “Whosoever shall confess that YahwehShua is the Son of Yahweh, Yahweh dwelleth in him and he in Yahweh.”
When you repent and are baptized in the name of YahwehShua, you are confessing that he is the Son of Yahweh. John develops this even further in 1 John 3:23: “And this is his commandment, that you should believe on the name of his Son, YahwehShua Messiah.“ Also consider what John tells us in 1 John 5:3: “For this is the love of Yahweh, that we keep his commandments:” Hehas commanded us to confess the name of his Son, which is the inherited name and not the name that was blotted out. Yahweh revealed this truth through Peter, as quoted in Acts 2:38. We place our future in peril if we choose to ignore the command given to Peter.
It is time to reevaluate the value of your baptism. If it is not in the name of life, YahwehShua, it is worthless. Please consider carefully. You have had the names of death and life both revealed to you. Choose life!
You will find the name of death in the scriptures, but never the name of life. The name of life is revealed only and it is based on faith. It is not based on what you see, but on what is revealed to you. Consider the truth in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” These words are consistent with what the prophet Habakkuk revealed to us long before the Pentecost when the name of faith became required. This is what he tells us in Habakkuk 2: 4: “The just shall live by his faith.”
The apostle Paul repeats this critical revelation in 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Galatians 3:11., and therefore must be important. Paul also tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
All mankind has been reconciled. All will be resurrected and all will be in the new heavens and earth. But not all will have life in the kingdom of Yahweh. Now you have an opportunity to choose a path that can lead to life in the kingdom. The alternative is life outside the walls of the kingdom. (Revelation 22:15)
Review your baptism now. Whether you have never been baptized or baptized in the name of a man, you have a critical decision to make, now. We are here to help you through this very important opportunity in your life. This may be your invitation to join Messiah when he returns. Please consider allowing us to be of assistance.
Go to Yahweh in prayer. Pray for His truth. You can contact us without obligation. If you wish to submit a question or comment, please email our Elder at john12e4567@gmail.com.