In whose name do we offer salvation?
(John 20:21-22; Matthew 28:19-20; Revelation 14:6-7) Blog Oct. 8-14, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Humanity was created for fellowship with Deity. God desired an eternal relationship with humanity based on his covenant of love. Before the creation of this earth God had a restoration plan in place should humanity break its relationship with God. When Adam broke God’s covenant of life, God came looking for him and offering forgiveness based on the death of a divine Substitute, for it is his continual desire to be God with us.
Its Origin
1. Who was involved in the creation of this earth and humankind? God, the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit worked together in the creation of this earth & humankind (Gen. 1:1-3; 2:26-27).
2. How does the creation of humankind reflect the interpersonal relationship of the Deity? Humankind was created male, female, & offspring, reflecting the interpersonal relationship of the Deity who worked together in creation (Gen. 2:26-28; John 1:1-3).
3. When humankind fell, which member of the Godhead reached out for their restitution? All three members of the Godhead working in harmony, reached out to restore humankind. While the roles of the Father, Son, & Holy Spirit are distinct, their purpose & goal is the same. The Spirit convicted the guilty pair of sin, the Father, in love, gave his only begotten Son, & Jesus pledged himself as a sacrifice for sin (John 3:16; 16:8; Heb. 9:26).
4. Seeing that the Father sent him to be the Savior of the world, who did Jesus send to proclaim salvation? Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim salvation to the world (John 20:21-22; 1 John 4:14).
5. According to John 20:21-22 who is involved in sending us to proclaim salvation? The Father, the Son, & the Holy Spirit are each involved in our commission to proclaim salvation (John 20:21-22).
Its Purpose
6. When Matthew records Jesus’ commission to his disciples, in whose name are they to offer salvation? Salvation is only offered in the name of the Father, Son, & Holy Ghost for they are one God working in harmony for the restitution of humankind (Matt. 28:19).
7. What are we to do in fulfilling our mission to humanity? Our commission is to teach all nations & to baptize them into the family of God (Matt. 28:19).
8. What are we to teach all nations as we fulfill our divine commission? We are to teach all nations the whole counsel of God: all that Jesus has commanded us (Matt. 28:20; Acts 20:27).
9. What do we call those who are taught? Those who are taught we call students or disciples (Mark 9:31; Luke 11:1; Acts 11:26).
10. What, then is the goal of our mission? Our goal is to make disciples, bringing them into the fellowship of the church by baptism (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).
11. What characteristics of a true disciple did Jesus give? Jesus said that true disciples continue in his word, have love one for another, & bear much fruit (John 8:31; 13:35; 15:8).
Its Message
12. What two core beliefs are essential to all disciples? The Law & the Gospel are the two essential core beliefs for all disciples of Christ (Isa. 8:16, 20; Rev. 12:17; 14:12).
13. What must a person believe before they can become a disciple? A person must believe that they are undeserving of life & that the gospel of Jesus is their only hope (Luke 18:13-14; John 1:12; Acts 16:30).
14. What is the gospel? The Gospel is the story of Christ’s incarnation, life, death, resurrection, & ascension (Acts 20:24; Rom. 1:16-17; 1 Cor. 1:17; 15:1-8; 2 Tim. 2:8).
15. How does belief in what Jesus did on earth make one a disciple and child of God? What Jesus did on earth was done as Surety & Substitute for sinners & when we present that to God as our own, we are counted righteous & our sins are forgiven & we desire to learn more & more about him (Rom. 5:1-11; 2 Cor. 5:17, 21).
16. What place is given to the gospel at the end of earth’s history? Revelation says that at the time of God’s final judgment the everlasting gospel is to be preached for it is our only hope to pass the judgment (1 Pet. 4:1-6; Rev. 14:6-7).
17. How extensively are God’s people to proclaim the gospel in the last days? Our mission is to the whole world: every nation, kindred, tongue & people (Matt. 24:14; 28:19; Acts 1:8; Rev. 14:6).18. How aggressive should God’s people be in sharing the Gospel? If Paul is a good example then we are to be quite aggressive in pursuing our mission (1 Cor. 9:22-24; Col. 1:23).