What Should We Call the Church?
As the disciples traveled around preaching what they’d seen and heard, baptizing people in Jesus' name, they gathered together for intense prayer and fasting. Jesus appeared to them again while they were praying to the Father in his name. He stood among them and asked, 'What do you want me to give you?' They said, 'Lord, we need you to tell us what to call this church. People are arguing about it.'
The Lord said, 'Why are people complaining and arguing about this?' 'Haven’t they read the scriptures? You must take on the name of Christ—my name. That’s what you’ll be called on the last day.' 'Whoever takes on my name and stays faithful to the end will be saved on that day.' 'So whatever you do, do it in my name. Call the church by my name. And when you pray to the Father in my name, he’ll bless the church for my sake.' 'How can it be my church if it’s not called by my name? If a church is called by Moses' name, it’s Moses' church. If it’s named after a man, it’s that man’s church. But if it’s called by my name, then it’s my church—as long as it’s built on my gospel.' 'You are built on my gospel. So call everything you do by my name. When you pray to the Father for the church in my name, the Father will hear you.' 'And if the church is built on my gospel, the Father will show his own work through it.' 'But if it’s not built on my gospel—if it’s built on human effort or the devil’s work—they’ll enjoy themselves for a while. But then the end comes. They’re cut down and thrown into the fire, and there’s no way back.' 'Their actions follow them. It’s their own deeds that destroy them. So remember what I’ve told you.'
The Gospel Explained
'I’ve given you my gospel. Here it is: I came into the world to do my Father’s will, because my Father sent me.' 'My Father sent me to be lifted up on the cross. And after I was lifted up, I drew all people to me. Just as I was lifted up by men, so everyone will be lifted up by the Father to stand before me and be judged by their works—whether good or evil.' 'That’s why I was lifted up. By the Father’s power, I’ll draw everyone to me so they can be judged by what they’ve done.' 'Whoever repents and is baptized in my name will be filled. And if they stay faithful to the end, I’ll declare them innocent before my Father on the day I stand to judge the world.' 'Those who don’t endure to the end will be cut down and thrown into the fire. They can’t come back, because of the Father’s justice.' 'This is the word he’s given to all people. He keeps his promises. He doesn’t lie—he fulfills every word.' 'Nothing unclean can enter his kingdom. Only those who’ve washed their clothes in my blood—through faith, repentance, and faithfulness to the end—will enter his rest.'
'Here’s the command: Repent, all you people everywhere. Come to me and be baptized in my name so you can be made holy by receiving the Holy Spirit. Then you’ll stand pure before me on the last day.' 'This is my gospel. You know what you need to do in my church. Do the things you’ve seen me do. Follow my example.' 'If you do these things, you’re blessed. You’ll be lifted up on the last day.'
Write Everything Down
'Write down what you’ve seen and heard, except for the things that are forbidden.' 'Record what happens to this people, just like past events have been recorded.' 'From the books that have been written and will be written, this people will be judged. Those books will reveal their deeds.' 'Everything is written by the Father. The world will be judged from the books that are written.' 'You’ll be judges of this people, according to the judgment I give you—and it will be just. So what kind of people should you be? I tell you: be like me.'
'Now I’m going to the Father. Whatever you ask the Father in my name will be given to you.' 'Ask, and you’ll receive. Knock, and the door will open. Whoever asks, receives. And to the one who knocks, the door opens.'
Joy Now, Sorrow Later
'My joy is complete because of you and this generation. The Father rejoices, and all the holy angels rejoice, because of you and this generation. Not one of you is lost.' 'I’m talking about those who are alive right now, in this generation. None of them are lost. They bring me complete joy.'
'But my heart breaks for the fourth generation after this one. They’ll be led captive by Satan, just like the son of perdition was. They’ll sell me out for silver and gold and things that rust and rot, things that thieves can steal. When that day comes, I’ll visit them and turn their own deeds back on their heads.'
When Jesus finished speaking, he said to his disciples, 'Enter through the narrow gate. The gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and only a few find it. But the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to death, and many walk that path—until the night comes when no one can work.'
Influences
- 27:1 — Acts 8:12 (KJV)But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
- 27:1 — Luke 8:4 (KJV)And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
- 27:2 — Luke 24:36 (KJV)And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
- 27:2 — Matthew 20:32 (KJV)And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?
- 27:3 — Acts 4:12 (KJV)Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
- 27:6 — Mark 13:13 (KJV)And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
- 27:9 — Matthew 5:39 (KJV)But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
- 27:10 — 2 Timothy 2:8 (KJV)Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
- 27:11 — 1 John 3:8 (KJV)He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
- 27:11 — Matthew 7:19 (KJV)Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
- 27:12 — Revelation 14:13 (KJV)And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
- 27:12 — Matthew 7:19 (KJV)Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
- 27:13 — 1 Corinthians 15:1 (KJV)Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
- 27:13 — John 6:38 (KJV)For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
- 27:14 — John 19:31 (KJV)The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
- 27:14 — Revelation 20:12 (KJV)And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
- 27:14 — Ecclesiastes 12:14 (KJV)For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
- 27:15 — Revelation 20:13 (KJV)And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
- 27:15 — Revelation 20:13 (KJV)And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
- 27:16 — Matthew 10:22 (KJV)And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
- 27:16 — Matthew 10:32 (KJV)Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
- 27:17 — Matthew 10:22 (KJV)And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
- 27:17 — Matthew 13:20 (KJV)But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
- 27:17 — Matthew 3:10 (KJV)And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
- 27:17 — Job 10:21 (KJV)Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;
- 27:18 — 1 Peter 1:25 (KJV)But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
- 27:18 — Hebrews 9:15 (KJV)And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
- 27:19 — Revelation 21:27 (KJV)And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
- 27:19 — Hebrews 4:3 (KJV)For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
- 27:19 — Revelation 7:14 (KJV)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.
- 27:20 — 1 John 3:23 (KJV)And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
- 27:20 — Romans 15:16 (KJV)That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
- 27:22 — 2 Peter 1:10 (KJV)Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
- 27:22 — John 6:40 (KJV)And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- 27:23 — Luke 7:22 (KJV)Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.
- 27:28 — John 14:28 (KJV)Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
- 27:28 — Luke 13:35 (KJV)Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
- 27:28 — John 16:23 (KJV)And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
- 27:28 — Luke 6:38 (KJV)Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
- 27:29 — Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV)Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
- 27:29 — Matthew 7:8 (KJV)For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
- 27:30 — Matthew 25:31 (KJV)When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
- 27:32 — John 17:12 (KJV)While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
- 27:33 — Matthew 7:28 (KJV)And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
- 27:33 — Matthew 7:13-14 (KJV)Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
- 27:33 — John 9:4 (KJV)I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.