It is only Jesus who can satisfy the yearning within our soul. It is only Jesus who can take our bondage and set us free, inviting us into His liberty. (Galatians 5:1) He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 1:8,11)
Note that apostle Paul was commissioned by God to tell the Gentiles about Jesus Christ, and this mission established when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. Note also that even though Saul/Paul recognized Jesus as Lord at that time, he had a lot to learn, and thus, the reason whey he was taken to see a certain disciple named Ananias. Why is this important? Because too often we leave new believers with very little understanding of the scriptures, and what Jesus had to say, so that these do not get grounded in His Word.
In fact, the Lord said to Ananias about Saul.Paul, "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear My Name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel; for I will shew him how great things He must suffer for My Name's sake." (Acts 9:15-16) And as we see from Paul's ministry, it was the same message delivered by Peter standing with the eleven on the day of Pentecost. (Acts 2:1-47) That is:
"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory..." (Colossians 1:25-27)
In other words, Paul was saying -- God has given me the responsibility of serving His church by proclaiming His entire message -- the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ -- to you. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God's people. For God wanted them/us to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory" (Colossians 1:25-27).
In other words, Paul was saying -- God has given me the responsibility of serving His church by proclaiming His entire message -- the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ -- to you. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God's people. For God wanted them/us to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing His glory" (Colossians 1:25-27).
The only way that we can have the riches and the glory that the apostle Paul speaks about is by having Christ within us--by receiving the Holy Ghost (the Ghost, or Spirit of Christ). In his letter to the Corinthian church, apostle Paul's underlying message of the Spirit's identification within them remained the same [that Jesus Christ is in His believers]. This message is spelled out plainly: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Corinthians 13:5).
Though Christ's physical body could not be present in His believers, however, He could be present spiritually. Jesus fulfilled His promises ("For where two or three are gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them"--Matthew 18:20; and, "...lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world..."--Matthew 28:20) by manifesting Himself as the Holy Ghost!
"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you" (John 14:16-18).
Compare John's scripture "Even the Spirit of truth..." with that of the apostle Paul's "Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17). And we know that there is only One Lord who is Jesus Christ! (Acts 2:36) Jesus had been with His disciples physically, but He let them know that He would be going away and would soon be back with them spiritually. (Acts 1:2-3) Notice that Jesus told them "another" Comforter.
Does this mean another person would take Jesus' place? Not at all. Note what John states about this other Comforter: the disciples would know Him because He was already dwelling with them and would be IN them. Then, in verse 18 of John chapter 14, the writer John penned the identification of this Comforter as Jesus ("I will come to you"). Jesus, as the Comforter, would once again be with them, but this time, not in a physical relationship as before, but in a spiritual relationship, just as He is with us today.
Does this mean another person would take Jesus' place? Not at all. Note what John states about this other Comforter: the disciples would know Him because He was already dwelling with them and would be IN them. Then, in verse 18 of John chapter 14, the writer John penned the identification of this Comforter as Jesus ("I will come to you"). Jesus, as the Comforter, would once again be with them, but this time, not in a physical relationship as before, but in a spiritual relationship, just as He is with us today.
Jesus' command to His disciples, found in Matthew 28:19, was for them to baptize individuals in the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost's name. Note: all four (4) Gospel writers and the other disciples were present, stood behind, and supported the Apostle Peter as He delivered that name of Matthew 28:19 to the crowd at Pentecost, Acts chapter 2.
"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" (Acts 2:38).
Why did they declare only ONE name to the crowd that day? Simple! Jesus had given them detailed information during His ministry as to His identification, and there could be no room for error on their part as they delivered the anointed message of Salvation to the Jews at Jerusalem in Acts 2:38 (see also Luke 24:47). They fully comprehended the commission Jesus had given them. They understood that the name of the Father is Jesus....they understood that the name of the Son is Jesus....they understood that the name of the Holy Ghost is Jesus, and hence, their response of "...in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." (Acts 2:38).
The disciples' understanding of who Jesus was is the same as the apostle Paul's. Link Matthew 28:19 with Acts 2:38. Note that there is complete harmony among all Scriptures by understanding who Jesus is -- Almighty God in the flesh. The fullness of the Godhead dwelling bodily in Him.
This explains why if you compare verse with verse and cross-reference passages in the Bible, then God will open your understanding of who He is. He is wanting you to know Him personally...He wants you to receive Him. The Holy Ghost is none other than Jesus Christ in Spirit form and He can be IN you if you allow Him. Give yourself that hope and peace and joy spoken of by the apostle Paul, by receiving the Holy Ghost power, which is the Spirit of truth, which is the Spirit of Christ in you, the hope of glory!
His Name is Jesus and He loves you beyond measure! Stand in the offering plate.
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