How Many Gods Are There?
The Bible identifies ONE King, ONE Lord, and ONE name. The apostles believed that name was Jesus.
Again: Jesus took the Old Testament scriptures and taught his apostles their meaning and fulfillment. Notice remission of sins (baptism) MUST be preached in his name (Jesus), among all nations beginning at Jerusalem.
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
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. (KJV)
Let’s examine an old testament prophecy Isaiah 45:21-23 ; the Lord God makes an oath to himself that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that he is the Lord. In verse 21 God is careful to identify himself as being ONE.
22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
The Apostle Paul references this verse twice in the new testament. In Romans 14:11 clearly he uses the verse and identifies God in Judgement of all men:
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
In Philippians 2:9 Paul sets those who choose to deny his name, back on their heals by saying that Jesus is the greatest name in Heaven, Earth and beneath the Earth. Clearly identifying the God of Romans 14:11 and Isaiah 45:23 by the name of Jesus.
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This has great significance because Paul clearly asserts his belief that Jesus is the revealed name of God. It is to the Lord that has the name Jesus that every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess. The Apostle also testifies that this is to the Glory of the Father. It is the Father that we honor by using the name of Jesus.
Jesus said go cast out devils in my name:
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
This is a big leap of faith for some Christians. Have you ever read anywhere in the scriptures of his disciples casting out devils in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost? It didn’t happen. They did however cast devils out in Jesus’ name. Here is the leap of faith, Do suppose that the apostles really used the actual name of Jesus when they baptized their converts?