In this particular example (as told by both Luke and Matthew), Jesus answered and said unto them, "I will also ask you one thing, and answer Me. The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?" (Luke 20:3-4)
"I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell Me, I in likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? From heaven, or from men?" (Matthew 21:24-25)
As they reasoned with themselves, they surmised, "If we shall say -- from heaven, He will say, "Why then believed ye him not?" but and if we say, "Of men" all the people will stone us for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. And they answered that they could not tell whence [it was]. And Jesus said unto them, "Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." (Luke 20:5-8; Matthew 21:24-25)
Note that the apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ later faced the same scrutiny from the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducee's. "Being grieved that they taught the people and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead, they laid hands on them and put them in hold unto the next day for it was eventide." (Acts 4:1-3)
And when the next day came, the rulers, elders and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest were gathered together at Jerusalem, and when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power, or by what name have ye done this?" (Acts 4:4-7)
Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost said unto them, "Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole? Be it known unto you all and to all the people of Israel, that BY THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, [even] by Him doth this man stand before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders which is become the Head of the corner." (Acts 4:8-11; Psalms 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; I Peter 2:4-8)
This is why the name of Jesus is the authority name. This is why the name of Jesus is the power name, whereby we must all come if we are to inherit eternal life.
Remember the parable that Jesus told? This parable spake Jesus unto them but they understood not what things they were which He spake unto them. (John 10:6) That is, Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you. He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." (John 10:1-5)
Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, "I am the Door of the sheep." All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. By Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (John 10:7-11)
This is why there is only one name whereby we must be saved. This is why there is only one way to inherit eternal life.
Because "neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
The very same Jesus that had earlier asked the scribes and Pharisees, "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons and he came to the first and said, "Son, go work today in My vineyard." He answered and said, "I will not, but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, "I go sir" and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of [his] father?" (Matthew 21:28-30)
They say unto Him, "The first." Jesus saith unto them, "Verily, I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you ... for John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not, but the publicans and the harlots believed him, and ye, when ye had seen [it] repented not afterward that ye might believe him." (Matthew 21:31-32)
Indeed, as we read, these stood on the shore, desiring not to get wet. Remember, what John said to them, when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism? He said, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance, and think not to say within yourselves, "We have Abraham our father" for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham, and now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore, every tree which brings forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." (Matthew 3:7-10)
But John did not stop there. He continued, saying, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire ..." (Matthew 3:11)
The point being the publicans and harlots believed John's baptism unto repentance, whereby the cleansing from the water washed the outside. But John the baptist did not take the glory for himself. He pointed to the One who was to come after him. That is, Jesus the Christ.
So that later -- when the apostles commanded the first 3,000 to repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sin on the day of Pentecost -- they were acknowledging the One who did come after John.
And what happened? When they asked Peter (standing with the eleven) what they must do to be saved, the message of repentance and baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus was gladly received by the publicans and harlots. (Acts 2:37-42)
Gladly received.
Still, the rulers wanted to know by "what power" and by "what name" did the apostles do these things? (Acts 4:7) Of course, these already knew the answer because they commanded the apostles "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus." (Acts 4:17-18)
As it was then, and still today, it is the name of JESUS that gives offence.
"And they shall call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21-23)
The power and authority that can only come from repenting and being baptized in His precious name, as every individual water baptized (after Jesus was taken up) recorded in the scriptures had been. Note that those that gladly received the apostle's doctrine not only got wet (cleansing only the outer) but were buried and renewed in their hearts as they were baptized into the name of Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:3)
"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 ... for if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection." (Romans 6:1-10)
Yes, "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence, but of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that according as it is written, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:27-31)
"One Lord. One Faith. One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Stand in the offering plate.
Because "neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)
The very same Jesus that had earlier asked the scribes and Pharisees, "But what think ye? A certain man had two sons and he came to the first and said, "Son, go work today in My vineyard." He answered and said, "I will not, but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, "I go sir" and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of [his] father?" (Matthew 21:28-30)
They say unto Him, "The first." Jesus saith unto them, "Verily, I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you ... for John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not, but the publicans and the harlots believed him, and ye, when ye had seen [it] repented not afterward that ye might believe him." (Matthew 21:31-32)
Indeed, as we read, these stood on the shore, desiring not to get wet. Remember, what John said to them, when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism? He said, "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance, and think not to say within yourselves, "We have Abraham our father" for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham, and now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees; therefore, every tree which brings forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire." (Matthew 3:7-10)
But John did not stop there. He continued, saying, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear, He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire ..." (Matthew 3:11)
The point being the publicans and harlots believed John's baptism unto repentance, whereby the cleansing from the water washed the outside. But John the baptist did not take the glory for himself. He pointed to the One who was to come after him. That is, Jesus the Christ.
So that later -- when the apostles commanded the first 3,000 to repent and be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sin on the day of Pentecost -- they were acknowledging the One who did come after John.
And what happened? When they asked Peter (standing with the eleven) what they must do to be saved, the message of repentance and baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus was gladly received by the publicans and harlots. (Acts 2:37-42)
Gladly received.
Still, the rulers wanted to know by "what power" and by "what name" did the apostles do these things? (Acts 4:7) Of course, these already knew the answer because they commanded the apostles "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus." (Acts 4:17-18)
As it was then, and still today, it is the name of JESUS that gives offence.
"And they shall call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21-23)
The power and authority that can only come from repenting and being baptized in His precious name, as every individual water baptized (after Jesus was taken up) recorded in the scriptures had been. Note that those that gladly received the apostle's doctrine not only got wet (cleansing only the outer) but were buried and renewed in their hearts as they were baptized into the name of Jesus Christ. (Romans 6:3)
"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 ... for if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection." (Romans 6:1-10)
Yes, "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and things which are despised hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence, but of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that according as it is written, "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:27-31)
"One Lord. One Faith. One Baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all." (Ephesians 4:5-6)
Stand in the offering plate.
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