18
The Acts of the Apostles
The disciples were to carry their work forward in Christ’s name.
Their every word and act was to fasten attention on His name, as
possessing that vital power by which sinners may be saved. Their
faith was to center in Him who is the source of mercy and power.
In His name they were to present their petitions to the Father, and
they would receive answer. They were to baptize in the name of
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Christ’s name was to be
their watchword, their badge of distinction, their bond of union, the
authority for their course of action, and the source of their success.
Nothing was to be recognized in His kingdom that did not bear His
name and superscription.
When Christ said to the disciples, Go forth in My name to gather
into the church all who believe, He plainly set before them the necessity
of maintaining simplicity. The less ostentation and show, the greater
would be their influence for good. The disciples were to speak with the
same simplicity with which Christ had spoken. They were to impress
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upon their hearers the lessons He had taught them.
Christ did not tell His disciples that their work would be easy. He
showed them the vast confederacy of evil arrayed against them. They
would have to fight “against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in
high places.”
Ephesians 6:12
. But they would not be left to fight alone.
He assured them that He would be with them; and that if they would
go forth in faith, they should move under the shield of Omnipotence.
He bade them be brave and strong; for One mightier than angels would
be in their ranks—the General of the armies of heaven. He made full
provision for the prosecution of their work and took upon Himself
the responsibility of its success. So long as they obeyed His word,
and worked in connection with Him, they could not fail. Go to all
nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe
and be assured that My presence will be with you even there. Labor in
faith and confidence; for the time will never come when I will forsake
you. I will be with you always, helping you to perform your duty,
guiding, comforting, sanctifying, sustaining you, giving you success
in speaking words that shall draw the attention of others to heaven.
Christ’s sacrifice in behalf of man was full and complete. The
condition of the atonement had been fulfilled. The work for which
He had come to this world had been accomplished. He had won the