Jesus Teaches About His Church’s Name
The disciples of Jesus were traveling and preaching the things they had heard and seen. They were baptizing people in the name of Jesus. The disciples came together for a time of strong prayer and fasting. Jesus appeared to them again. They were praying to the Father in his name. Jesus came and stood in the middle of them. He said: “What do you want me to give you?” They said to him: “Lord, we want you to tell us the name we should call this church. The people are arguing about this.”
The Lord said to them: “I tell you the truth. Why are the people complaining and arguing about this? Haven’t they read the scriptures? The scriptures say you must take on the name of Christ. That is my name. You will be called by this name at the last day. Anyone who takes on my name and stays faithful to the end will be saved at the last day. So whatever you do, you must do it in my name. You will call the church in my name. And you will call on the Father in my name. Then he will bless the church because of me. How can it be my church if it is not called in my name? If a church is called in Moses’ name, then it is Moses’ church. If it is called in the name of a man, then it is the church of a man. But if it is called in my name, then it is my church. This is true if they are built on my gospel. I tell you the truth. You are built on my gospel. So you will call whatever things you do in my name. If you call on the Father for the church, and you do it in my name, the Father will hear you. If the church is built on my gospel, then the Father will show his own work in it. But if it is not built on my gospel, and is built on the works of people or on the works of the devil, I tell you the truth. They will be happy in their works for a short time. Then the end will come. They are cut down and thrown into the fire. They cannot return from there. Their works follow them. They are cut down because of their works. So remember the things I have told you.”
Jesus Explains His Gospel
“I have given you my gospel. This is the gospel I have given you. I came into the world to do the will of my Father. My Father sent me. My Father sent me so I could be lifted up on the cross. After I was lifted up on the cross, I could draw all people to me. I have been lifted up by people. In the same way, people will be lifted up by the Father. They will stand before me to be judged for their works. I will judge if their works are good or if they are evil. I have been lifted up for this reason. So I will use the power of the Father. I will draw all people to me. Then they can be judged by their works.”
“This will happen. Anyone who turns away from sin and is baptized in my name will be filled. If he stays faithful to the end, I will hold him guiltless before my Father. I will do this on that day when I stand to judge the world. Anyone who does not stay faithful to the end is cut down and thrown into the fire. They cannot return from there because of the Father’s justice. This is the word he has given to people. For this reason he keeps the words he has given. He does not lie. He keeps all his words. Nothing unclean can enter into his kingdom. So nothing enters into his rest except for those who have washed their clothes in my blood. They wash their clothes because of their faith. They have turned away from all their sins. They are faithful to the end.”
“This is the command. Turn away from sin, all you people of the earth. Come to me and be baptized in my name. Then you can be made holy by the gift of the Holy Spirit. You can stand spotless before me at the last day. I tell you the truth. This is my gospel. You know the things you must do in my church. You have seen the works I do. You must also do them. You will do what you have seen me do. If you do these things, God blesses you. You will be lifted up at the last day.”
Jesus Gives Commands to Write
“Write the things you have seen and heard, except for the things that are forbidden. Write the works of this people. Write them just as it has been written about what has been before. This people will be judged from the books that have been written and that will be written. Their works will be known to people from those books. All things are written by the Father. So the world will be judged from the books that will be written.”
“You will be judges of this people. You will judge them by the judgment I will give you. This judgment will be fair. So what kind of people should you be? I tell you the truth. You should be just like me.”
Jesus Promises to Answer Prayers
“I am going to the Father now. I tell you the truth. Whatever things you ask the Father in my name, it will be given to you. So ask. You will receive. Knock. The door will be opened to you. Anyone who asks will receive. To anyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Jesus Speaks About Future Groups
“My joy is great, even full, because of you and also this group of people. Yes, the Father is happy too. All the holy angels are happy because of you and this group of people. None of them are lost. I want you to understand. I mean the people who are now alive in this group of people. None of them are lost. I have full joy in them. But I am sad about the fourth group of people from this group. They will be led away captive by him. It will be just like the son of perdition. They will sell me for silver and for gold. They will sell me for things that moths can ruin and that robbers can break in and steal. On that day I will visit them. I will turn their works back on their own heads.”
When Jesus finished saying these things, he said to his disciples: “Enter in at the narrow gate. The gate is narrow. The way is narrow that leads to life. Few people find it. But the gate is wide. The way is wide that leads to death. Many people travel on it. They travel on it until the night comes. At that time, no man can work.”