The Ballestero Blog

Repeating, But Not Obeying!

There’s a difference between repeating a command, and obeying it. If the drill sergeant gave an order and the soldier simply repeated it back to him, something uncomfortable will surely happen to the soldier to improve his comprehension.

If a parent gave their child a command to ‘Eat your veggies,’ or ‘Pick up your clothes,’ and the child just looked at the parent, smiled and repeated the command back to them and didn’t obey. Things might get ugly.

What if the math teacher said, “Turn to page 73 in you textbook.” And all the students said, “Turn to page 73 in you textbooks.” And then they just sat there and did nothing else?

Imagine the pastor saying, “You may be seated.” And the crowd answered him back, “You may be seated.” And they all just stood there and looked at the preacher and never thought that something might wrong with their response.

• This type of thinking is not really far-fetched all.
• This kind of twisted response happens around the world.
• This lack of understanding is resident in most churches in America.
• Repeating and not obeying, places the souls in jeopardy every day.

Jesus looked at His disciples and gave them instructions for evangelism and baptism. He said:

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

That’s what He said. So, on the day of Pentecost, Peter didn’t repeat the command, he obeyed the command.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Philip obeyed the command. He didn’t just repeat it.

Acts 8:16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

At the household of Cornelius, Peter made sure the command was obeyed, not just repeated.

Acts 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

Even the Apostle Paul understood the difference between repeating and obeying.

Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

Acts 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

If, when the preacher baptized you he said, “I now baptize you In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,” he did not obey the command. He just repeated it, because he didn’t say what the name was.

To be obedient to the command of Jesus, you must be baptized in the NAME (singular) of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. That NAME, is Jesus.

• Only those baptized in Jesus name have obeyed Matthew 28:19.
• All others just repeated the command without obeying it.

What did your preacher do? Did he obey, or did he just repeat? You’ve got make sure!