A Trinity Without Jesus?

The Formula The Catholic Church says baptism must contain three elements to be valid: 1. The correct form. 2. The correct matter. 3. The correct intention. The Papacy also says with regards to baptism, that the correct intention is to do what the Church does as a matter of tradition. The tradition of the Catholic church is to baptise by aspersion (sprinkling water over the head) or affusion (pouring water over the head) in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures states that: 1. Baptism is a burial, and therefore the correct form (supported by histories) is immersion. 2. Baptism must be performed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. The correct intention is with repentance Furthermore, the Greek word for baptize ( ) means to fully immerse something in a fluid. Baptism in the Trinitarian Formula is not in the word of God, and was added by men whose words are not included in the Holy Scriptures. Jesus said that the worship of the Pharisees was in vain because they were teaching for commandments the doctrines of men. The same can be said about anyone who baptises in the Trinitarian Formula. Historical Accounts We all know that nearly all trinitarians baptize in the threefold titles or names (as they desire to call them) of the father, and the son and of the Holy Ghost. If I baptized into the name of the Father of lights, the son of righteousness and the Holy One of Israel, would it be the same thing? Justin Martyr baptized in this manner. "For they are washed (and regenerated) in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit." This formula is somewhat similar to the one used by today's trintarians (and to Oneness, who hold only to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ), but Justin still had the name of the Savior Jesus in the middle of his. He was the first recorded individual to replace the apostles formula of baptism in the name of Jesus, the Lord Jesus or the Lord Jesus Christ. His baptism was a baptism that began a transition into something more trintarian, and less Oneness. Nevertheless, Justin links baptism to regeneration, illumination and eternal salvation, along with the forgiveness of sins. Therefore, one should have the proper and original method when before baptism. Tertullian who introduced the notion of the trinity in 200 A.D., derived from Plato's Timaeus, states this on the necessity of baptism. "When, however, the prescript is laid down that 'without baptism, salvation is attainable by none' (chiefly on the ground of that declaration of the Lord, who says, 'Unless one be born of water, he hath not life.'" (John 3:5) There arise immediately scrupulous, nay rather audacious, doubts on the part of some, 'how, in accordance with that prescript, salvation is attainable by the apostles, whom (Paul excepted) we do not find baptized in the Lord?' Nay, since Paul is the only one of them who has put on the garment of Christ's baptism, either the peril of all the others who lack the water of Christ is prejudged, that the prescript may be maintained, or else the prescript is rescinded if salvation has been ordained even for the unbaptized. I have heard-the Lord is my witness-doubts of that kind: that none may imagine me so abandoned as to ex-cogitate, unprovoked, in the licence of my pen, ideas which would inspire others with scruple." Here Tertullian only speaks of the name of Christ in reference to baptism and salvation, but he also spoke of baptism being in the name of the father, son and Holy Ghost. "Go, teach the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." His trinity was an unequal one, he saw a father (Creator) and a son (begotten) without a third equal partner (his view was Father-Logos only, Arian or binitarian; it would take almost another 200 years before the Holy

Spirit was a approved third and equal person). He left the Catholics and went to Marcion (who baptized in the name of Jesus), but later left him also to begin his own movement. The Shepherd by Hermas 140 A.D. writes, "These are they that heard the word, and would be baptized unto the name of the Lord." Jesus is Lord of all, thus baptism in His name. In the imagery used by Hermas shows that baptism not only brought a forgiveness of sins, but also the embarking on a life of sinlessness. Hermas had an incredibly high view of baptism which included the notion of baptismal regeneration as well as the time when the Holy Spirit entered into the life of the believer. The Didache 180 A.D. (which is an admitted fraud by the Catholics themselves) records the following, "But let no one eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless they have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, "Give not that which is holy to the dogs." The writer of "On the Holy Theophany" (in the third century) says of baptism: "For he who comes down in faith to the layer of regeneration, and renounces the devil, and joins himself to Christ; who denies the enemy, and makes the confession that Christ is God; who puts off the bondage, and puts on the adoption, he comes up from the baptism brilliant as the sun, flashing forth the beams of righteousness, and, which is indeed the chief thing, he returns a son of God and joint-heir with Christ. Hence the vital importance of baptism is reflected, along with the name of Christ (who is God). The following is a true record of the earliest known baptism (outside of the scriptures and even earlier than the Didache) which took place in Rome A.D. 100 and was reproduced in Time magazine, December 5, 1955. "The deacon raised his hand, and Publius Decius stepped through the baptistry door. Standing waist-deep in the pool was Marcus Vasca the woodseller. He was smiling as Publius waded into the pool beside him. Credis? he asked. Credo, responded Publius. I believe that my salvation comes from Jesus the Christ, Who was crucified under Pontius Pilate. With Him I died that with Him I may have Eternal Life. Then he felt strong arms supporting him as he let himself fall backward into the pool, and heard Marcus voice in his ear ---- I baptize you in the Name of the Lord Jesus ---- as the cold water closed over him." Catholic Cyprian admits baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus was the original method used by Peter and thus a valid one. Though he desires the the one of the trinity to be initiated for the gentiles. "For the case of the Jews under the apostles was one, but the condition of the Gentiles is another. The former, because they had already gained the most ancient baptism of the law and Moses, were to be baptized also in the name of Jesus Christ, in conformity with what Peter tells them in the Acts of the Apostles, saying, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For this 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. Peter makes mention of Jesus Christ, not as though the Father should be omitted, but that the Son also might be joined to the Father. Finally, when, after the resurrection, the apostles are sent by the Lord to the heathens, they are bidden to baptize the Gentiles in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. How, then, do some say, that a Gentile baptized without, outside the Church, yea, and in opposition to the Church, so that it be only in the name of Jesus Christ, everywhere, and in whatever manner, can obtain remission of sin, when Christ Himself commands the heathen to be baptized in the full and united Trinity?" (Cyprian, Epistle 72, 17-18) No matter what Cyprian says, the apostle Paul who himself was baptized and only baptized into the name of of the Lord Jesus Christ, there's only one Gospel way to baptize, and that's into the only saving or commanded name of Jesus. According to Paul (who was the apostle to the gentiles), he only baptized into Jesus Christ. Even as did Peter (the apostle to the Jew) and the rest of the apostles. Yes, if there were three gods, you might very well baptize for a Father, and a Son, and a Holy Ghost. But the revelation given to John was that there is one God and His Name is Lord Jesus Christ, and you baptize for one God and only one. That is why Peter baptized the way he did at Pentecost. He had to be true to the revelation which was, "Let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God has made that same Jesus, Whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ." There He is, "The Lord Jesus Christ."

If Jesus is both Lord and Christ, then He (Jesus) is, and cannot be else but "Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" in one Person manifested in the flesh. It is not "God in three persons, blessed trinity," but One God, one Person with three major Titles, with three offices manifesting those Titles. Hear it once more. This same Jesus is "both Lord and Christ." Lord (Father) and Christ (Holy Spirit) are Jesus, for He (Jesus) is both of them (Lord and Christ). The Records Speaking on baptism formula, "In the name of Jesus Christ or of the Lord Jesus. The former expression is used in Acts 2:38 and 10:48. The latter is used in Acts 8:16 and 19:5. See also Acts 22:16... From these passages, and from Paul's words in the 1st Corinthians 1:13 ('Was Paul crucified for you, or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?), it is natural to conclude that baptism was administered in the earliest times 'in the name of Jesus Christ', or that 'of the Lord Jesus.' This view is confirmed by the fact that the earliest forms of the baptismal confession appear to have been single--not triple, as was the later creed." (Encyclopedia Biblica Volume 1, page 473--1899 edition) "The triune and trinity formula was not uniformly used from the beginning, and up until the third Century, baptism in the Name of Christ only was so widespread that Pope Stephen, in opposition to St. Cyprian, said that baptism in the Name of Christ was valid. But Catholic missionaries, by omitting one or more persons of the Trinity when they were baptized, were anathematized by the Roman Church. Now the formula of Rome is "I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Edition., Vol. 3, p. 365-366). "Everywhere in the oldest sources, it states that Baptism took place in the Name of Jesus Christ" (Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol. 3. p. 82). "Whoever has received this sacrament bares indelible to all eternity the mark of Christ" (Ibid, Vol. 3, p. 84). "The early church always baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus until the development of the Trinity doctrine in the 3rd Century; afterward they were baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" (Canney Encyclopedia of Religion, p. 53). Christian baptism was administered using the words, "in the name of Jesus." Baptism was always in the name of Lord Jesus until time of Justin Martyr when Triune formula used. Name was an ancient synonym for "person." Payment was always made in the name of some person referring to ownership. Therefore one being baptized in Jesus name became His personal property. "Ye are Christs." Vol. 2, pg. 377, 389 on Acts 2:38 (Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion) The Trinity doctrine of the Catholic faith is this: "We worship one in trinity, but there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost. The glory equal - the majesty co-eternal." The doctrine is not found in its fully developed form in the Scriptures. Modern theology does not seek to find it in the Old Testament. At the time of the Reformation, the Protestant Church took over the doctrine of the Trinity without serious examination" (New International Encyclopedia, Vol. 22, p. 476). "The doctrine of the Trinity did not form part of the Apostles' preachings, as this is reported in the New Testament" (International Encyclopedia, 1st Edit. Vol. 18, p. 226). "No record of the Trinitarian formula can be discovered in the Acts of the Apostles" (New International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 396). "The term "Trinity" was originated by Tertullian, a Roman Catholic Church Father" (New International Encyclopedia. Vol. 22, p. 477). "The Catholics made this statement concerning their doctrine of the Trinity to defend the dogma of the

assumption of Mary in an article by Graham Green: 'Our opponents sometimes claim that no belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in the Scripture, but the Protestant churches have themselves accepted such dogma as the Trinity for which there is no conformity in the Gospels'" (Life Magazine, October 30, 1950, Vol. 29, No. 18, p. 51). You cannot have it both ways, either you accept the scriptures (which plainly state only the name of Jesus is for all things such as exorcism, healing and baptism) or the traditions of men (made equal to the truth of God's word by them). There's no Jesus in the trinity. There's a father, son and Holy Ghost but no Jesus. Of whom you are baptized unto is your God, it's that simple. I belong to Christ Jesus, but many do prefer a triune god of compromised (and pagan) origin. So yes, there's a trinity that claims the name of Jesus (in many things, in fact in all areas of life except where it counts the most in baptism) but fails to actually belong to Him. Final Thoughts Water baptism is a burial. Romans 6:4 says, "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." When our earthly body is sown in the water by baptism in the name of Jesus, the new heavenly body comes out of the water. We are "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," (Colossians 2:12). I believe our heavenly body is born or created when we are baptized. (Jesus said we must be "Born Again" of the water (most scholars agree that it refers to water baptism) and of the (His Holy) Spirit. He also said that if we are not born of the water and the Spirit, we cannot see the Kingdom of God. See John 3:3-5. That is the only way we can go to heaven when we die. Our old body will not yet be resurrected from the dead. We must have our new heavenly body in order to go there. And it will only come through the saving name of Jesus or Yeshua. No other name, title or god can, will or is able to save you. The visual difference between iron pyrite (fool's gold) is slight, but the value between it (being virtually worthless) and real gold (expensive) is immense. It's too easy. Are you willing to sell all that you have to buy a cheap and worthless imitation? Before I took my son home from the hospital (after his birth), I had to give him the family name. In like manner before Jesus (the groom) returns for his bride (the true church), you will have to apply His name or be left behind!