Over the last several posts I have been making a distinction between the Gospel (salvation) and Christianity (discipleship). The Gospel is about what Jesus has done; Christianity is the response of a born-again believer to what Jesus has done. The message of the Gospel is what turns a heart towards the Lord! Trying to preach or teach how to live as a Christian to people who have not been converted or born-again simply makes people religious and dutiful, but not born-again. Remember, Jesus said in John 14, “no one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus also told Nicodemus, in John 3, that one must be born-again to see and enter the Kingdom of God! As born-again Christians, our responsibility is to first “know Jesus and then make Him known!”Show More
In previous messages, I’ve talked about the Gospel as the Kingdom, the Cross, and the Blood. Jesus came preaching the Kingdom of God on earth residing in the hearts of true believers. The Cross is a powerful symbol and reality of the forgiveness available to all sinners. The Blood is the seal and symbol of the New Covenant made available to those who believe. Today I will look at the Gospel in terms of the “Name of Jesus”!
Our Identity is in Him.
The name of Jesus is about the authority (exousia, Gk.) and power (dynamis, Gk.), these two terms are often interchanged in the New Testament. As Believers, we have, by faith, the right to use Jesus’ authority and power against spiritual forces of darkness! The name of Jesus is not a “magic spell” or enchantment to ward off evil but is used as a proclamation that, as believers, we have the authority and power to speak and act as representatives of Jesus. We also believe that we are Ambassadors of Christ (2Corinthins 5:20) and therefore act as His representative. Jesus has given us authority to use His Name to represent Him and do what He would do on earth. Using the “Name of Jesus” means that we are speaking for and wielding the power and authority of our King, King Jesus (Luke 9:1, 10:19)! In using the name of Jesus, we are identifying with Jesus Himself, that we belong to Him, and He belongs to us! We are not ashamed to name Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
We use that authority to further the Kingdom of God, not our own personal desires. Too often Believers will try to use the Name of Jesus to further their own kingdom. We are to use the Name of Jesus to seek His face not just His hands or provision. If you have Him, you have everything you will ever need!
While all power and authority have been given to you, that authority and power are only effective when you believe! Remember Hebrews 11:1 and 11:6
Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is needed when there is no physical evidence. If you can see it, you don’t need faith!
Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Someone once said, “Faith is impossible unless the will of God is known!” How do we know the will of God? We learn through His will through His Word, the Bible, and through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Paul’s proclamation of Jesus.
Philippians 2: 9, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name, 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, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit, in the Believer, is evident in the book of Acts. The book of Acts is a model of the early church which all Believers have available to them. Therefore, it makes sense that the phrase “the Name of Jesus” should be so prominent in this book.
Examples of the Name of Jesus being used in the book of Acts.
Remember the Book of Acts represents the beginning of the Christian Church, in Acts Jesus ascends to heaven and the Holy Spirit descends on the Believers. So, it is not surprising that the early Christians understood the significance of ministering in the Name of Jesus!
1. Peter preaches the Gospel for the first time, three thousand accepted Jesus Christ…
Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
2. Peter preaches the Gospel to an individual and heals the lame man…
Acts 3:6, “Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
3. Peter preaches the Gospel to the Sanhedrin
Acts 4:10 10, “let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.”
4. The Name of Jesus Forbidden
Acts 4:13 & 18, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. So, they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.”
5. The Apostles are arrested for preaching the Gospel…
Acts 5:40, “And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.”
6. Phillip preaches the Gospel to Simon the sorcerer and he comes to Christ.
Acts 8:12, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.”
7. Barnabas testifies to Saul’s (Paul) preaching in the name of Jesus in Damascus.
Acts 9:27, “But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.”
8. Paul commands the spirit of divination out of the slave girl in the name of Jesus.
Acts 16:18, “And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.”
Conclusion:
What has been demonstrated for us in the Book of Acts is a model of how the Body of Christ should advance the Kingdom of God, with the power and authority that has been given to us by our Lord!
Let me remind you again of the great proclamation in Philippians 2: 9, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 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, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
We serve the King of kings and the Lord of lords, there is no other like Him. As the scripture testifies every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord of all. Thankfully we have chosen to accept all that Jesus accomplished on the Cross and He now calls us friends.
