RESOURCES — SHORT ARTICLES

 

SHORT ARTICLES BY TOM ELSEROAD
	2020-08-13	Why Is There Emphasis On Jesus' Name?
		Why do we see in Scripture such an emphasis on praising and praying in the name of Jesus? Why is there a focus on 'name'? There is power in Christ's name because there is power in Christ's Person. Observation 1: In Scripture God went out of His way to make a connection between someone's God-given name by making it correspond. Abram's name was changed to Abraham (Ge.17:5). Significance as a father of many nations. Sarai's name was changed to Sarah (Ge.17:15).  Significance as she will give a son. Jacob's name was changed to Israel (Ge.32:28). Significance as one who struggled with God and men. Exo 3:13  Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" Exo 3:14  And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " Yahweh is built on the phrase, “I AM” Yahweh used over 600 times for God in the OT. This is usually spelled LORD (all caps) in our English version. Everytime we read the proper name of God, Yahweh (LORD), He wants us to remember His essence. God gave Himself a name that has a meaning. No beginning. No ending. No changing. I absolutely AM! Observation 2: When the Son of God came into the world as the presence of God, He was given a name, Jesus (Mt.1:21). Jesus means 'Savior'. He is more, but He is not less. He is “Immanuel” which means 'God with us' (Mt.1:23). He is called Christ because He is the anointed Son of God. (Mt.16:16) Php 2:10  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 Paul here places the very name of Yahweh from Isaiah 45:23 and calls Him Jesus! In the OT text of Isaiah every knee will bow to Yahweh. Very boldly, Paul is saying Jesus is Yahweh! So whatever was true of the name Yahweh is true of the name Jesus. Thus, the name stands in place for the defining essence of the person. The name and the Person are interchangable. Col 3:17  And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Paul is saying, “Him” and the Lord Jesus are interchangable. Observation 3: The word 'name' calls attention to the identity of a person. A name is a way of communicating with and a way of communicating about who you are talking about. Referring to the name of Jesus so often as Scripture does (E.g., Ro.1:5; 9:17; 10:13; 15:19, etc), is a way of saying this person is not to be dealt with in private. Because of the repeated use of “Jesus'” name some think it is magical. It is not magical. But it is a name that is above all names. The emphasis on the name of Jesus goes with a focus on His public and global claim on people's attention. He is not to be hidden. He is to be public and globally known. The name of Jesus goes hand-in-hand with the fame of Jesus. Jesus exists to be known, addressed, and praised all over the world. Pastor Tom Elseroad

 

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