Interestingly, when it comes to the great commission disseminated by the modern day religious culture -- there is only one scripture referenced, even though God Himself has declared that He is not the Author of confusion. As well, the Lord God confirms that all scripture is written and confirmed in heaven. Thus, in spite of man's lack of wisdom in discerning the scriptures, God does not make mistakes.
"It is written ..."
So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen." (Mark 16:14-20)
In Luke's account, Jesus said, "Thus it is written, and behooved Christ to suffer and rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name. beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:46-47; Acts 2:36-41)
It is important to recognize that this latter scripture points to the day of Pentecost when 120 believers were tarrying in the Upper Room. Previously, Jesus had told His disciples to tarry in Jerusalem until the power from on high had come -- the Comforter -- the Holy Ghost. And when this happened, and the first 3,000 souls saved, it was because of the people's willingness to repent and be water baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins so that these also would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:36-41)
Jesus had earlier told His disciples that they would see Him no more. Acts 1:2-3 goes onto state that "after He [Jesus] was taken up, He [Jesus] through the Holy Ghost gave commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen." (acts 1:2-3) Not Jesus and the Holy Ghost but Jesus through the Holy Ghost. We also understand this from Paul's writing in I Corinthians 15:1-8 when Paul declares that he was the last to see Jesus, as one born out of due time.
But the account we are told most often comes from Matthew 28:19. This is when Jesus tells His disciples to "Go ye and teach all nations, baptizing them in THE NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19)
Even though the scripture clarifies -- singular -- in the Name, people are led to believe that this means in the names -- plural -- of the Father, Son and of the Holy Ghost [Spirit]. Obviously, these have not read the scripture wherein Jesus said, "I and My Father are ONE!" (John 10:30) Nor are these familiar with John 14:6-12, when Jesus tells His disciples that if they "have seen Me, ye have seen the Father and know Him." This is what the scriptures refer to as the doctrine of Christ -- acknowledged in both Hebrews 6:1-2 and II John 1:9. But I digress.
For clarity, let's consider each of the instructions Jesus gave to His disciples from the individual perspective of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Luke and Mark use the verb preach while Matthew says teach. While Matthew says all nations, Mark says all the world. Luke confirms Jesus' instruction that informs us that the beginning of the New Testament church would be in Jerusalem.
Matthew and Mark refer to baptize in their writings. Luke goes one step further by defining baptism as repentance and remission of sins. Or, as I Peter 3 alludes -- baptism is the answer of a good conscience toward God.
In terms of how to baptize, Mark writes that Jesus said to baptize "IN MY NAME." Luke says Jesus said to baptize "IN HIS NAME!" And Matthew wrote that Jesus said to baptize IN THE NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, or as used now -- Holy Spirit. Still, how would one baptize "in My name" -- if you were not familiar with His Name. The same principle applies to trying to baptize someone "in His Name." Or in Christ's name? Or even in the Father's name, or the Son's name or the Holy Ghost's name?
Why? Because in all of the above examples, there is no "name" given whereby we must be saved. There is no name indicating that His Name in this current dispensation of grace is the Name above every other name. (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9)
But Peter (to whom Jesus had given the keys to the kingdom in Matthew 16:19) knew the truth when he stood with the eleven apostles on the day of Pentecost and said, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and receive you the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:36-38)
Note that Matthew was in attendance on the day of Pentecost. And, as the scripture states, the first 3,000 souls that were saved were in one accord. No division. Matthew was not there screaming and causing division. Indeed, Matthew agreed with what Peter was saying. (Acts 1:13; Acts 2:14) But in many of today's congregations, we are told that Matthew's account is the only scripture concerning water baptism that is accurate. And this statement, even when Jesus states in the verse before -- "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18)
How could Jesus say this? Because after He was glorified, the Son of man became once again the Lord of glory, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending, Alpha and Omega. (Revelation 1:8)
As the first commandment so clearly states, and confirmed by Jesus when He walked on this earth, "Hear O Israel the Lord thy God is one Lord." (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31) "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. (Ephesians 4:5-60
Study the scriptures to show thyself approved unto God. Hide His Word in your heart and so much so that the cares of this world cannot take the Bread of Life away from being our sustenance. He is the Great I AM. Let those with eyes to see, see, and ears to hear, hear.
Stand in the offering plate.
No comments:
Post a Comment