Connections and Comparisons is an ongoing weekly series that deals with many scriptures in the Bible, some of which are not commonly addressed. The purpose of this series is to examine the scriptures at hand comparing what is said and looking at the connections within.

John 17:20
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

Jesus, while praying, to his Father, makes a petition for not only his Apostles, “but for them also which shall believe on me through their word“. It is of the utmost importance that you realize that Jesus has let us know that it is through their word that we will believe on him. We are to be obedient to their word or we are not being obedient to Jesus Christ.

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Speaking with the Jews who desired to know if Jesus was the Christ, Jesus spoke these words.

John 10:25-33
25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
30 I and my Father are one.
31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

Jesus told the Jews that “I and my Father are one” claiming to be God. Jesus was God manifested in the flesh. However, the Jews even after Jesus told them the answer to their question of whether he was the Christ saying, “I told you, and ye believed not” after hearing Jesus say, “I and my Father are one” “took up stones again to stone him” because they said it was “for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.”

Jesus made absolutely certain that the Apostles understood who he was.

Matthew 16:13-20
13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

The Apostle Peter who by revelation of the Father made the proclamation that “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” was given by Jesus “the keys of the kingdom of heaven“. The rest of the Apostles also understanding that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus also made sure that the Apostles understood that he was the Holy Spirit.

John 14:15-18
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Jesus just revealed plainly to his Apostles that he is the Comforter, “Even the Spirit of truth” saying, “but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” Jesus was the one with them and has now said to them, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” It is Jesus that is the indwelling Spirit of God, the Comforter, “Even the Spirit of truth“. So the name of the Holy Spirit is Jesus as was just stated by Jesus.

Jesus also made sure that the Apostles understood that he was the Father manifested in the flesh.

John 14:8-11
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

Jesus also made sure that the Apostles understood that he had both manifested and declared the name of his Father

John 17:6-8
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

John 17:26
26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Jesus also received his name by inheritance.

Hebrews 1:4-5
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

In the time of Jesus there were not any last names given to a person. Therefore Jesus receiving his name by inheritance, while also telling us that he was the Holy Spirit, while also telling us that I and my Father are one, while also telling us he that hath seen me hath seen the Father, while also telling us I have manifested thy name and I have declared unto them thy name, reveals to us that the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is Jesus.

The Apostles had full understanding of this as Jesus opened their understanding to all the scriptures in the Old Testament concerning himself.

Luke 24:44-49
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

After Jesus opened their understanding of the scriptures pertaining to himself he told them to preach repentance and remission of sins in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem and that, “I send the promise of my Father upon you“. Jesus also tells them that after receiving the Holy Spirit which is the same as the Holy Ghost that the Holy Ghost would bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Notice that Jesus said, concerning the Holy Ghost, that “the Father will send in my name” also said, “I send the promise of my Father upon you“. This is because Jesus is the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost as we have already seen in the scriptures above.

After the Holy Ghost was poured out upon the believers when the day of Pentecost had fully come the multitude that was there desired to know what was taking place because when the Holy Ghost is received by a believer they will speak with other tongues as the Spirit gives them the utterance. The Apostle Peter who was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven by Jesus Christ when it was revealed to him that Jesus was the Christ, answered the multitude concerning what was taking place as well as answering the most important question that all people who desire to be saved want to know, that is how to be born again.

Acts 2:36-39
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 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.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Remember that the Apostles had their understanding opened to all the scriptures concerning Jesus Christ and that now having received the Holy Ghost which Jesus said would bring to their “remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” told everyone, including you and me, what they must do to be born again. “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“. The promise was to “even as many as the Lord our God shall call.“

This was their word and Jesus said, “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” (Jn 17:20) The Apostles correctly understood “the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” as Jesus revealed the name to them and to us. This name was Jesus and we see that through their word we now know how to be born again.

Through their word we continue to see that baptism was in the name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:14-16
14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

The Apostle Paul who was not among the twelve Apostles also taught the same thing. We learn that the Apostle Paul received his understanding by revelation of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 1:11-12
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Acts 19:1-6
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

So it is of the utmost importance that you are obedient to what the Apostles taught which they had of God. To fulfill all that Jesus spoke of concerning salvation we, through their word, are told, “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. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:38-39)

The Apostle Paul instructs us concerning baptism in Jesus name.

Romans 6:3-6
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Colossian 2:8-12
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

The Apostle Peter again stresses to us that water baptism in Jesus name saves us.

1 Peter 3:20-21
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

This is their word!!

Ephesians 2:16-20
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Jesus Christ was both a Prophet and an Apostle.

Acts 3:22-23
22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

Hebrews 3:1
1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

To obey Jesus is to obey, through their word, what is commanded of us.

To be born again we must obey their word.

Acts 2:38-39
38 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.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Colossians 3:17
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

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