Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 

Matthew 28:19 "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."

Although it is expressed as baptizing in the name of the three, this word has the meaning of the father baptizing, the son baptizing, and the Holy Spirit baptizing, respectively.

First, baptism is performed in the name of the Father. The Father's name is Jehovah, and Jehovah is the Savior (Jesus). The Father symbolizes the Word. The Father gives the words of the covenant. The covenant is the promise of land and seed.

Second, the Son is Christ. The Son's name is also Jesus. Jesus Christ is symbolized by a stone. A rough stone becomes a smooth stone. The rough stone is cut, symbolizing death on the cross, while the smooth stone signifies the resurrected Jesus Christ. The two stone tablets of the covenant symbolize Jesus Christ, his death on the cross, and his resurrection.

Third, the Holy Spirit's name is Jesus, the One who comes as the Counselor. The Holy Spirit inscribes God's word on two stone tablets. Thus, the Father, the Son, and the saints become one in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit inscribes on the stone tablets of our hearts, like a seal, the fact that we are God's covenant people.

Ultimately, baptism is given through Jesus Christ. Baptism is a ritual of union with Jesus Christ. The existence of "I" disappears (a change in identity), and only Jesus Christ exists. He alone is king, and the physical existence of "I" is denied. As we look into the mirror, the ever-changing flesh disappears, and we recognize the eternal, unchanging spiritual existence. The spirit becomes one in the Holy Spirit. This means that the spirit within me is one with the Holy Spirit, and therefore, I am in the Holy Spirit.

The old covenant was engraved on stone, but the new covenant is written on the heart. Deuteronomy 4:9 "Only take heed to yourself and guard your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or depart from your heart all the days of your life. Teach them to your children and your grandchildren."

The new covenant we must engrave in our hearts is love for God and love for our neighbors. Love for God means uniting with Jesus Christ and being crucified. Thus, sin is eradicated and we become God's people. Love for our neighbors means spreading the gospel, thereby enabling them to become part of God's kingdom.

The saints die to the flesh and become alive to the spirit. The New Jerusalem temple descends from heaven, and Jesus returns and dwells in that temple (Parusian). When Jesus Christ dwells in the heart of the saint, the Father creates the new man through His Word, and the Holy Spirit inscribes a name within the soul. That name is Jesus.

Hebrews 9:4 states, "Which contained the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which was the golden jar that had manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant." This is what is in the temple within the hearts of believers. The delicious Christ, Aaron's rod that budded, symbolize the Holy Spirit, and the stone tablets of the covenant symbolize the Father.

The saints are the people of the covenant. Now, as a new covenant, those who are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit become those who have died and become new. The temple comes down from heaven, where two stone tablets are placed, the Word is present, and the Holy Spirit inscribes their names on the stone tablets.

Saints who participate in the New Covenant participate in the sacraments. Baptism signifies their belief in dying with Jesus Christ and rising again with Him. Therefore, they engrave the two stone tablets of the New Covenant given by God on their hearts.

The Eucharist commemorates this by drinking wine and eating bread. Matthew 26:26-29 "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, 'Take, eat; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. But I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

At the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus filled a cup with wine and offered it to them. He said, "This is my blood that atones for sins, the blood of the covenant." The blood of the cross flows to the earth because it contains the sins of humanity. That's why he tells us not to drink it with the blood, because it would mean drinking sin.

When Jesus offered the cup to the disciples, the cup they received became the drink of life from heaven. Therefore, the disciples drank in advance of the drink of eternal life. Jesus said, "I tell you I will not drink from this fruit of the vine again until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." Jesus drinks at the wedding feast in heaven. When he returns and dwells in the hearts of the saints, they will drink the wine from heaven together. This becomes the drink of eternal life.

And the breaking of bread symbolizes Jesus' death on the cross, pierced by a spear. And when Jesus gives bread to his disciples, the bread they receive transforms into his resurrected body, and by eating it, the disciples participate in the resurrection. Believing that we have died with Jesus and been resurrected with him is what makes us partakers of the new covenant.

Those who participate in the new covenant have the name of Jesus in their hearts and become new people who look forward to the new heaven. The number "144,000" expresses this. This is not a number of people, but a symbolic expression.