Within religious circles, we hear a lot of dialogue concerning the "great commission" -- a point in time when Jesus charged believers to preach the good news gospel. Specifically, the great commission is associated with going forth and teaching all nations, baptizing them in the Name, and similarly, teaching hem to observe all things whatsoever Jesus commanded us -- that He, Jesus -- "am with you alway, even unto the end of the world!" (Matthew 28:18-20)
Some attribute this great commission as a personal transition -- a form of spiritual growth and maturity in one's faith, whereby those who believe move from believing in the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ to putting faith into action, and sharing the gospel with others.
It is important to note that Jesus made a similar statement in Mark 16, when He said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature: he that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe -- In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." (Mark 16:15-18)
Note that this instruction was given specifically unto the eleven (in a mountain where Jesus had appointed them) and as they sat at meat. The risen Jesus appears. He tells them that "All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth" proceeding to tell them to "go ye therefore and teachable nations.
Immediately following, and after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. As a consequence, they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. (Mark 16:15-20)
From Mark's account, we move directly into Acts, wherein "until the day in which He [Jesus] was taken u, He [Jesus] through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom He [Jesus] had chosen; to whom also He [Jesus] showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." (Acts 1:2-3)
And being assembled together with them, Jesus commanded the disciples that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but "wait for the promise of the Father, which," saith He, "ye have heard of Me." (Acts 1:4-5)
Sadly, however, the gospel preached by these same eleven in the book of Acts is not the great commission promoted in religious circles. Further, as we see in Acts 2, Peter (standing with the eleven) preached repentance and baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and the first 3,000 souls in the New Testament church saved. (Acts 2:36-41)
Did you catch this? From the 1599 Geneva translation:
"Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for a surety, that God hath made Him both Lord, and Christ, this Jesus, [I say] whom ye have crucified. Now when they heard it, they were pricked in their hearts, and said unto Peter and the other Apostles, "Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?"
Then Peter said unto them, "Amend your lives, 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. For the promise [is made] unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words he besought and exhorted them, saying, "Save yourselves from this [froward] generation."
Then they that gladly received His Word, were baptized, and the same day there were added to the Church about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:36-41)
From the authorized King James version:
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Then they that gladly received His Word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:36-41)
So did the apostles get the message wrong, particularly when we know that every single person water baptized in the New Testament side (after the cross) was baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So then, the question must be asked. Why do modern day religious circles circumvent the specified "Name" -- the name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ?
Because the lie that has been told to all of us is that God is tri-une, a triad, a God in three persons. But what does God say? That He is One. In the beginning, God. And we are to worship Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and with His love abiding within, to love one another. (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29-31)
Don't be duped by modern day religious traditions that have not diligently searched the scriptures for truth. Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes unto the Father but by Me." (John 14:6)
What does Jesus say to His disciples immediately after this statement? That if ye have seen Me, ye have seen the Father and know Him. (John 14:7-12)
Much more to come on this subject in the days ahead. Stand in the offering plate.
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