The name of Jesus - Part 2

THE NAME OF JESUS – Part 2

In Biblical times a name represented the very character or destiny of a person. And so the Bible often uses this type of phrase, “He / she was named ______ because …”

The angel says to Joseph that Mary “will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt 1:21, NIV) Jesus or ‘Yeshua’ in Hebrew: means ‘salvation’.

POWER OF THAT NAME

Prince Charles inherited a great name by virtue of the fact that he was born the son of the Queen of England.

Later a great name was bestowed on him – He was invested as Prince of Wales by The Queen on 1st July 1969 in a ceremony at Caernarfon Castle.

The title “Prince of Wales” is reserved exclusively for the heir apparent to the British throne.

Phil 2:9-11 (NKJV) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him, and GIVEN HIM THE NAME which is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God ...

Jesus was also born with a great name (inheritance)

Later on, a great name was given to him (bestowal).

THE NAME OF JESUS HAS SUPREMACY

Jesus has been given supremacy and a name above every other name.

Eph 1:20-22 (NKJV) ... He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

SALVATION, JUSTIFICATION & SANCTIFICATION IN THAT NAME

Only the name of Jesus Christ brings salvation.

Acts 4:12 (NKJV) Nor is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved.

We are washed, sanctified, justified in that name.

1 Cor 6:11 (NKJV) And such were some of you: But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

FORGIVENESS OF SIN IN THAT NAME

There is forgiveness of sin in the name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:43 (NIV) All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

1 John 2:12 (NIV) I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

ETERNAL LIFE IN THAT NAME

We must believe on his name.

1 John 3:23 (NKJV) And this is His commandment, that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ.

We then have the promise of eternal life.

John 20:31 (NIV) But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

1 John 5:13 (NIV) I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

NO CONDEMNATION IN THAT NAME

When we “believe in Jesus’ name,” we are trusting in the finished work of the risen Christ on the cross.

This will be the basis of our judgment.

John 3:18 (ESV) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

CALL ON HIS NAME

1 Cor 1:2 (ESV) To the church of God that is in Corinth … together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Geneva Study Bible: * He is correctly said to call on God who cries to the Lord when he is in danger, and craves help from his hands … it is taken for all the service of God: and therefore to call upon Christ's name, is to acknowledge and take him for very God.

* Originally printed in 1560, the Geneva Bible is the Bible with marginal notes authored by John Calvin, John Knox, Miles Coverdale, and many other leaders of the Reformation.

CALL ON HIS NAME

Barnes: * The expression "to call upon the name" … to invoke the name, implies worship, and prayer; and proves:

(1) That the Lord Jesus is an object of worship; and,

(2) That one characteristic of the early Christians, by which they were known and distinguished, was their calling upon the name of the Lord Jesus, or their offering worship to him.

* American theologian, Albert Barnes (1798-1870) is best known for his extensive Bible commentary and notes on the Old and New Testaments, published in a total of 14 volumes in the 1830s.

CONFESS HIS NAME

Heb 13:15 (NIV) Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess [homologountōn] his name.

Strong's Concordance: homologeó: Usage: (a) I promise, agree, (b) I confess, (c) I publicly declare, (d) a Hebraism, I praise, celebrate.

Give thanks in the name

Eph 5:20 (NKJV) Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Poole: * … in whose name, and by whose merit, all good things are given to us, and by whom we offer up all our prayers, and praises, and spiritual services, that they may be accepted of God.

* Matthew Poole (1624–1679) was an English Non-conformist theologian and biblical commentator.

PRAISE AND GIVE THANKS IN THAT NAME

THE NAME OF JESUS IS A THREAT TO THE ENEMY

Acts 4:17-18 (NIV) “But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”

Acts 5:40 (NIV) … They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

SUFFERING FOR THE NAME

Ananias was told of Paul, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:16, NIV)

Acts 21:13 (NIV) Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” [cf. Acts 9:14, 21; 15:26; 26:9]

The apostles considered it an honour to suffer for the name of Christ:

Acts 5:41 (NIV) The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Like the apostles, we should consider it an honour to suffer because of the name of Christ:

1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

1 Peter 4:16 (NIV) However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

SUFFERING FOR THE NAME

Jesus commends the churches that endure for his name’s sake.

Rev 2:3 (ESV) “I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.” (church at Ephesus)

Rev 2:13 (ESV) “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” (church at Pergamum)

SUFFERING FOR THE NAME

IN MY NAME: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

All believers have access to the name of Jesus. (Mark 16:17-18).

What gives us the right to this?

Inheritance! Every child, born into this world, has a legal right to a family name.

John 1:12 (NIV) Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

INHERITANCE

IN MY NAME: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The elders, the scribes, and Annas the high priest ask Peter and John by what authority they healed a sick man.

By what power, or in what name, have you done this? [Acts 4:7]

Note Peter’s reply:

… let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health.” [Acts 4:10, NASB]

AUTHORITY

Notice that the Jews wanted to know what power, or in what name, certain things were done. Peter said it was in the name of Jesus that the miracle had occurred. Therefore, we can clearly see that when someone speaks “in Jesus’ name” he is speaking about authority. *

AUTHORITY

Dictionary.com says of the term “in the name of”:

By the authority of, as in Open up, in the name of the law! [Late 1300s] *

A president can delegate powers for the executive branch including commanding the military, vetoes, enforcing laws, executive orders and pardons.

If the president gave you the right to use his name, the entire resources of the nation would be behind you and back you up.

The name of Jesus gives us the backing of all heaven - on earth.

AUTHORITY

AUTHORITY

ASKING IN MY NAME: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

John 16:23 (NKJV) In that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

The early North African church leader, Augustine (354-430 AD) wrote, “The Lord, by His promise, gave those whose hopes were resting on Himself a special ground of confidence, when He said, For I go to the Father; and whatsoever you shall ask in my name, I will do it. His proceeding, therefore, to the Father, was not with any view of abandoning the needy, but of hearing and answering their petitions.”

ASKING IN MY NAME: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

Asking in the name of Jesus captures the Father’s attention.

Jesus Christ endorsed the use of his name when approaching the Father. It gives us a dimension of boldness and confidence.

John 16:26-27 (NIV) ... In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you: for the Father himself loves you, because you have believed that I came from God.

BOLDNESS AND CONFIDENCE

ASKING IN MY NAME

We come to God in Jesus’ name, not in our own.

Believers are invited to pray in Jesus’ name with an expectation that God answers prayers (John 14:13–14). *

Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority (Luke 10:19) and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come by faith in the name of His Son, Jesus. *

Not “for Jesus’ sake”: But in the name of Jesus Christ! – As if he himself were in prayer, so are we to pray.

* https:// gotquestions.org/ power-in-the-name-of-Jesus.html

SIGNING IN HIS NAME

Importance of Prayer: Prayer is the act of making withdrawals from heaven’s resources. Every request is like a cheque.

Use the name: Unsigned cheques are not honoured. Sign every request or petition with the name of Jesus.

ASKING IN MY NAME: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

To ask in the name of Jesus Christ means “to ask in His merit. We come before God in Christ’s standing.” *

I come as his representative. When an ambassador goes to another country, he does not go in his own name. He goes in the name of his own government. He is a representative. * Paul said, “we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor 5:20).

Barnes: In my name - This is equivalent to saying on my account, or for my sake. If a man who has money in a bank authorizes us to draw it, we are said to do it in his name. If a son authorizes us to apply to his father for aid because we are his friends, we do it in the name of the son, and the favour will be bestowed on us from the regard which the parent has to his son, and through him to all his friends. So we are permitted to apply to God in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, because God is in him well pleased Matthew 3:17, and because we are the friends of his Son he answers our requests. *

ASKING IN MY NAME

ASKING IN MY NAME

To pray in Christ’s name, means something more than adding the term “in Jesus’ name” to our prayer request.

The Wesleyan Methodist minister, Samuel Chadwick (1860–1932) said: “The name expresses personality, character, and Being. The Person is in the name. Prayer in Christ’s name is prayer according to the quality of His person, according to the character of His mind, and according to the purpose of His will. To pray in the name of Christ, is to pray as one whose mind is the mind of Christ, whose desires are the desires of Christ and whose purpose is one with that of Christ.” *

* God Listens To The Crying Heart In The Secret Place

Chadwick continues, “When I was in Leeds a man came a long way to look at a factory in which he was interested. He wrote to the firm, and his request was politely declined. He went to the company and presented his card. It was returned, and he was refused. No argument could get him beyond the little shutter in the outer office.

He told his disappointment to a friend, who suggested I might be able to help him. He came to see me. I gave him my card, and wrote to the head of the firm.

Next day he presented his request, and handed in my card, and immediately every door opened to him. His petition was granted, but not for his own sake. The head of the firm saw me in him. In some such way we pray in Christ’s name. He endorses our petitions and makes our prayers His own, and "the Father hears Him pray."

We are not heard for our much speaking, nor for our loud shouting. Neither are we heard for our fine phrasing, nor our much weeping. Neither are we heard for our good works, nor for our self-denials. Prayer in His name is heard for His name’s sake.” *

* Ibid.

ASKING IN MY NAME

ASKING IN MY NAME: LIMITATIONS

1) BRING GLORY TO THE FATHER

“In my name” speaks of an endorsement (like a bank check) but with certain limitations.

Hence Jesus qualified his statement.

John 14:13-14 (NKJV) “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it.”

So asking in his name includes things that bring glory to the Father.

The next verse must be read with it:

John 14:14-15 (NKJV) “If you ask anything in My Name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

We must live in obedience to God to have our requests honoured:

1 John 3:21-23 (ESV) Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

2) DO WHAT PLEASES HIM

3) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE NAME

Asking in Jesus’ name includes asking for things in accordance with the character of Jesus (my words abide in you).

John 15:7 (ESV) If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Trench: * To ask ‘in His name’ or do anything ‘in His name’ argues a unity of mind with His, a unity of aim and of motive.

* Richard Chenevix Trench (1807–1886) was an Anglican archbishop and poet.

Barclay: * The test of any prayer is: Can I make it in the name of Jesus? No man, for instance, could pray for personal revenge, for personal ambition, for some unworthy and unchristian object in the name of Jesus.

* William Barclay (1907-1978) was a Church of Scotland minister, and Professor of Divinity and Biblical Criticism at the University of Glasgow. He wrote a popular set of Bible commentaries on the New Testament that sold 1.5 million copies.

In the old American West, before the days of credit cards, a shopkeeper would maintain a ledger book recording the activities of each customer’s account and the amount owed. The business owner knew his customers well and the work in which they were involved. *

A customer would at times send others to the shop for him to make purchases and bring back materials needed for his home or business. Those sent in the customer’s stead (e.g., his children) would be able to receive the goods “in the name of” the account owner. *

* https:// gotquestions.org/ whatever-you-ask-in-my-name.html

3) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE NAME

But, if they tried to purchase things not in line with what the shopkeeper knew the customer needed or wanted, the purchase would be denied. Coming to God in Jesus’ name is similar to those old financial transactions. Jesus holds the account, and we are welcome to come to the Father in Jesus’ name to receive what we need. The Father willingly grants our requests because of Jesus’ standing. Of course, if we are asking for things that we don’t need or that are contrary to the character or will of Christ, then we cannot expect to receive those things. *

* Ibid.

4) NO SELFISH REQUESTS

Asking in Jesus’ name does not include selfish requests. He didn't mean “whatever you want, just ask and I will make sure you get it.”

James 4:2-3 (NIV) You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

Augustine:

But what is to be made of the words, Whatsoever you shall ask, when we behold His faithful ones so often asking and not receiving? Is it, shall we say, for no other reason but that they ask amiss? For the Apostle James made this a ground of reproach when he said, You ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. James 4:3 What one, therefore, wishes to receive, in order to turn to an improper use, God in His mercy rather refuses to bestow. *

4) NO SELFISH REQUESTS

Nay, more, if a man asks what would, if answered, only tend to his injury, there is surely greater cause to fear, lest what God could not withhold with kindness, He should give in His anger. *

Do we not see how the Israelites got to their own hurt what their guilty lusting craved? For while it was raining manna on them from heaven, they desired to have flesh to eat. Numbers 11:32 *

4) NO SELFISH REQUESTS

Often, we are like the Israelites who, in Augustine’s words, “reject what wisdom was supplying, and ask for that which lust was craving”. *

They disdained what they had, and shamelessly sought what they had not: as if it were not better for them to have asked not to have their unbecoming desires gratified with the food that was wanting, but to have their own dislike removed, and be made themselves to receive aright the food that was provided. *

For when evil becomes our delight, and what is good the reverse, we ought to be entreating God rather to win us back to the love of the good, than to grant us the evil. *

As Augustine notes, would be prefer that God “withhold with kindness” or “give in His anger”?

Ps 106:13-15 (NKJV) They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.

GOD’S PERFECT & PERMISSIVE WILL

We see a case of God giving in anger what he had previously forbidden in the account of Balaam.

The Bible teaches the concept of God’s perfect will and permissive will. This is illustrated clearly in the story of Balaam, where due to his permissive will, God allows a situation to arise which contradicts his stated perfect will.

Scenario: Balak instructs the elders of Moab to request Balaam to come and curse Israel.

GOD’S PERFECT WILL

God’s stated perfect will is:

Num 22:12-13 (NIV) But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.” The next morning Balaam got up and said to Balak’s officials, “Go back to your own country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”

GOD’S PERMISSIVE WILL

So God’s perfect will is that Balaam shouldn’t go to Balak.

However the Bible indicates that Balaam was a man who loved money (Jude 1:11, 2 Pet 2:15). Thus when Balak offers Balaam money (22:17) he subsequently goes to Balak, seemingly with God’s approval (22:20).

NOT GOD’S PERFECT WILL

Yet, it soon becomes apparent that this is not God’s perfect will - as the subsequent events indicate that he is clearly displeased with Balaam’s decision to go to Balak.

Balaam encounters God’s angel who states, “I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me” (22:32). And the angel makes it clear that he had intended to kill Balaam, and would have done so, had he not been thwarted by the actions of an animal who repeatedly avoided the angel (22:33).

5) ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD

Asking in Jesus’ name includes things that are according to his (perfect) will …

When He said He would give “whatever you ask in my name,” Jesus was not delivering a magical formula for getting whatever we want. He was giving us a guiding principle to align one’s desires with God’s. When we pray “in Jesus’ name,” we pray according to the will of God; we pray for what will honour and glorify Jesus. *

* https:// gotquestions.org/ power-in-the-name-of-Jesus.html

… because that is how Jesus prayed.

John reaffirms this:

1 John 5:14-15 (NASB) This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

(Luke 22:42, NIV)

When we ask in Jesus’ name, in accordance with his Word (as revealed in Scripture), he makes sure that his name is good by keeping his word.

Jer 1:12 (NASB) Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”

6) ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD

We have no rights or inheritance or license for boldness OUTSIDE OF WHAT GOD HAS SAID. Moses prayed that God would not destroy Israel because of his Word.

Ex 32:9-14 (NIV) “I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that … I may destroy them ...” But Moses sought the favour of the Lord his God.

“Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? … Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.

Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ ”

Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

Terms and conditions (Ts & Cs) are the legal agreements between a service provider and a person who wants to use that service. The person must agree to abide by the terms of service in order to receive the offered service.

So “terms and conditions apply” to Jesus’ promise. The limitations when asking in Jesus’ name are:

We ask for things that bring glory to the Father.

Asked by those who please him.

Asking for things in accordance with the character of Jesus.

No selfish requests.

Asking for things that align with the will of God.