11/01/2022
Dear Friend,
I share with you today a Bible Study that may change your life forever.
This Bible Study was written after much study, prayer and meditation in the word of God. What I am about to share with you can be verified not only with much Bible scripture but also with historical documents found in Christianity (we will only use the bible in this study).
This Bible study examines the Great Commission given by the Lord Jesus Christ to His Apostles and how they carried out and fulfilled that Great Commission in the Book of Acts of the Apostles, and how it all relates to us as believers in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Interestingly enough our journey for truth will begin at the end of the New Testament in the book of Revelation.
In Revelation chapter 7 after the opening of the sixth seal in verse 9 John writes “I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
For any astute bible reader there can be no doubt that this great multitude is the New Testament Church, which verse 13 and 14 make quite clear.
Revelation 7:13-14 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, what are these which are arrayed in white robes and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, these are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
In this Bible Study you will learn that by believing the Gospel and obeying the Great Commission given by Jesus Christ to His Apostles we literally wash our robe in the blood of the lamb. So the only question that will remain when finished is; Will We Be Washed In The Blood?
Let's start with the Great Commision found in Matthew 28:19-20
Matthew 28:19-20 states " Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:" This is known as the Great Commission.
Let's examine this command in detail. The phrase "teach all nations" is rendered by many translations as "make disciples of all nations” (how do we make disciples?) According to Jesus by baptizing them in the "NAME" (notice the singular use). “The singular phrase name” implies a single name for all three titles of Father, Son, Holy Ghost. The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 2:9 For in him (that is Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. The early Apostles and Disciples interpreted this command to baptize in the "NAME" of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by using the singular name of the Lord Jesus Christ, which according to Acts 4:12 is the only saving name. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other NAME under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (see Acts 4:10 for context).
Remember Jesus told them to observe all things commanded. Matthew 28:19 is a command to be obeyed, not repeated. There is no biblical reference in scripture of anyone being baptized using the title formula, only in the “NAME of the Lord Jesus (see Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:1-7, 22:16).
Matthew 28:19 is not the only record we have of the Great Commission, it's also found in the Gospels of Luke and Mark.
Looking at Luke 24:46-48. The key verse is 47 "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his NAME among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem ''. Notice again you have the singular use of his "NAME" for repentance and remission (which means forgiveness) of sins among all nations (same as found in Acts 2:38).
If we compare scripture with scripture like Matthew 28:19 with Luke 24:47 the Great Commission becomes more clear. Together they tell us in order to become a disciple of Jesus Christ and to receive remission of sins we need to be baptized in the "NAME" of JESUS CHRIST. In other words without the NAME of Jesus Christ there is no remission of sins. This is why in Mark 16:16 Jesus states ``He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." The simple understanding is, if we believe the Gospel we will obey the Great Commission by being baptized in the NAME of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who don't believe the Gospel won’t obey the Great Commission (see 1 Peter 3:21). In 1 John 2:12 The Apostle John states our sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. This is what the Apostle Peter said in Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins.” These verses of scripture all equate baptism in the NAME with receiving forgiveness of sins. Remember we become Jesus’ disciple by being baptized in the NAME (Matthew 28:19, Luke 24:47, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38). We should always interpret scripture with scripture to prevent error.
In John 14:15 Jesus said If ye love me, keep my commandments. This includes obeying the Great Commission by being baptized in the “NAME”. The following scriptures stress the importance of possessing the NAME; John 20:31 states “and that believing ye might have life through his NAME”. Acts 2:21 “whosoever shall call on the NAME of the Lord shall be saved” (we call on His name by taking on His name in baptism). Acts 10:43, “that through his NAME whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins' (synonymous with Luke 24:47, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16). Acts 15:17 “and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called'' (when is his NAME called upon us? Why, when we are baptized in the name of Jesus according to Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:1-7, 22:16). Romans 1:5 states “we have received grace and apostleship, for OBEDIENCE to the faith among all nations, for his NAME:” (if we truly believe the Gospel we will obey the Gospel which includes the Great Commission). Romans 10:13 & 16 “For whosoever shall call upon the NAME of the Lord shall be saved”. [16] “But they have not all obeyed the gospel” (The Apostle Paul equates believing with obeying, just like Jesus did in Mark 16:16). Ephesians 3:14-15 “I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named” (we must be named with the name to belong to the family). 2 Timothy 2:19 “The Lord knoweth them that are his. And Let everyone that nameth (assign or given) the name of Christ depart from iniquity”. When we are baptized in the saving name of Jesus Christ we are literally surnamed (or given) the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness and washing away of our sins.
Water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ is the process by which God washes away the remitted sins of the believer according to the scriptures.
In Acts 22 the Apostle Paul testifies about his own conversion. Verse 16 records Paul's obedience to the Great Commission to be baptized "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and WASH away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord". Notice that baptism in the name of the Lord washes away remitted sins. Also notice that he called on the name of the Lord by being baptized in the Lord's name. Paul later commanded husbands in Ephesians 5:25 to “love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the WASHING of WATER by the WORD ''. Let me ask a question, When is a believer ever washed in water? When they obey the Great Commission to be baptized in the NAME of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, who is the WORD of God. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [14] “And the Word was made flesh (Jesus)”. Revelation 19:13 “and his name is called The Word of God”. Again the Apostle Paul wrote in Titus 3:5 that God “saved us by the WASHING of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Notice he said the WASHING of regeneration AND renewing of the Holy Ghost, signifying that both WATER and SPIRIT are necessary (this is the NEW BIRTH Jesus talked about to Nicodemus in John 3:1-8). It also states in Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies WASHED with pure WATER”.
The evidence becomes crystal clear from scripture that WATER BAPTISM is essential to fulfilling the Great Commission. That WATER BAPTISM is for WASHING away sins that have been remitted in the SAVING NAME of JESUS CHRIST. Without baptism in the NAME how can one receive FORGIVENESS, and WASHING away of their sins?
IN Matthew 26:28 Jesus said (concerning the cup) “this is my BLOOD of the new testament, which is shed for many for the REMISSION of sins. Paul wrote in Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [25] Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his BLOOD to declare his righteousness for the REMISSION of sins that are past through the forbearance of God; (both Luke 24:48 and Acts 2:38 declare REMISSION of sins through the NAME of JESUS). Again, no name, no blood, no remission of sins. Romans 5:9 states we are “JUSTIFIED by his BLOOD”, and in 1 Corinthians 6:11 Paul states “ but ye are WASHED, but ye are sanctified, but ye are JUSTIFIED in the NAME of the Lord Jesus'' (linking the NAME of Jesus to his BLOOD). The Apostle John does the same thing in Revelations 1:5 “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and WASHED us from our sins in his own BLOOD” (this verse links baptism with the blood of Jesus, just as Paul testified in Acts 22:16). This great multitude in Revelation 7:9 which no man could number, of all nations, who were clothed with white robes, [14] were all WASHED and made white in the BLOOD of the Lamb.”
Once again all these scriptures together point to baptism in the single name of Jesus Christ, which remits our sins and washes us in the blood of the lamb. 1 John 5:8 states “ And there are three that bear witness in the earth, the SPIRIT, and the WATER, and the BLOOD: and these three agree in one” (1 Cor. 6:11).
This is why Peter preached what he preached on the Day of Pentecost (which is the birthday of the church) when the multitude asked him and the REST of the APOSTLES, “Men and brethren, what shall we do? 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” (Jesus, Peter, and Paul all preached that the New Birth consists of both WATER and SPIRIT John 3:1-8, Acts 2:37-39, Acts 19:1-7).
What about John 3:16?
John 3:16 explains that God loved us enough to sacrifice His only begotten son for us, so if we choose to believe the good news we can receive salvation through the NAME of Jesus Christ. John 3:18 states “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the NAME of the only begotten Son of God.” John 1:12 also states “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his NAME:” If we believe in the SAVING NAME then we will take on the name of Jesus just like He commanded us in the Great Commission (Matt 28:19, Mark 16:16, Lu 24:47 Acts 2:38). We must believe the Gospel before we can obey the Gospel. 1 Peter 4:17 poses a very important question “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that OBEY NOT the gospel of God?” (Notice he said obey the gospel not just believe the gospel) And the Apostle Paul answers Peters question in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 “Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that OBEY NOT the gospel of our lord Jesus Christ:’ We must believe before we can obey! Hebrews 5:9 states “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY him;”
In Matthew 7 Jesus warns us, not everyone who calls him Lord and master is going to enter into the kingdom of heaven. He even goes on to say many will prophesy in his name, and in his name cast out devils, and in his name do many wonderful works. Yet he will profess unto them I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (those who are lawless). In other words many will know His name, they will confess in His name and they will use His name. But they will not possess the name, because they were never obedient to the Gospel and His command to be baptized in the NAME, because they are lawless. John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
In Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus tells a parable about a marriage in the kingdom of heaven. Starting in verse 11 something very startling happens “And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: [12] And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless (indicating he knew why). [13] Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [14] For many are called, but few are chosen.
I have one question for you friend, who is this man without a wedding garment? Could it be that he was never washed in the blood of the Lamb?
How about you, do you believe? ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD of the Lamb.
Feel free to contact me at New Beginnings Apostolic Church for further information on this bible topic and many more.
God Bless
Pastor Larry
New Beginnings Apostolic Church
345 W. Main Street Lake Butler Fl. 32054
386-496-0096
