Baptism in the name of JESUS CHRIST!

Our Lord Jesus Christ stayed on earth for almost 33 years teaching His disciples about the Kingdom of God and how could we become one His children and inherit everlasting life. Jesus Christ suffered and died for us but was raised from the dead and before He ascended to Heaven, this is what He told to His apostles, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)

Now, let’s find out the fulfillment of this, when the day of the Pentecost came all the apostles are in one place and the Holy Spirit of God came all upon them and Peter which is also full of the Holy Spirit reminded the crowd what’s written on the Scriptures and Jesus crucifixion and resurrection and when the people understand those things, they asked what they should do and this was what Peter said, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Act 2:38). This is the fulfillment of Matthew 28:19. We can’t say that Peter contradicts God’s commandment for the keys of the kingdom of heaven was given to him (Matthew 16:18-19).

On the scriptures who were baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST!

1. Acts 2:41 (three thousand)
2. Acts 8:12 -17 (Simon and others)
3. Acts 8:26-38 (eunuch)
4. Acts 9:17-18 (Saul)
5. Acts 10:1-48 (Cornelius and his household)
6. Acts 16:13-15 (Lydia and her household)
7. Acts 16:29-33 (jailer and his family)
8. Acts 18:8 (Crispus and his household)
9. Acts 19:1-7 (twelve believers at Corinth)

None from the Bible where you can read that the apostles baptized those who accept the word of God using “the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” but instead “in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST” because that’s the name Jesus referring to in Matthew 28:19. I hope this clears the one of the most controversies topic in the Holy Scriptures, the true baptism.

Tithes and Offerings! The Purpose

Like any organizations or group, church also needs financial support from its members in order to grow, and that's where enters the tithes and offerings. We use those money to build and maintain chapels and buy instruments for the church. We also need to support dedicated missionaries and pastors with their basic necessities like food and clothing. We need to have also budgets for the church programs and activities. One more very important purpose of these is to help members who are less fortunate. Look what did first apostles did with their properties to help their brethren (Acts 2:45, 4:34-35). There are really many purpose of the material things that each member is willing to contribute in order for one church to grow and if we don't neglect these obligations we do help in building the kingdom of God on earth.

God knows everything about these that's why He said on Malachi 3:10, "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house." He even challenge the believers as we continued to read it.. "Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."

There's also big warning to those who plan to lie infront of God. Read the story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) who both died because they lie to God about about money. But great blessings awaits those who obey the word of God and do their obligations on tithes and offerings (Heb. 6:10).