THERE IS GREAT POWER IN A NAME. IT SAYS WHO WE ARE, IT’S WHAT WE ARE KNOWN BY TO ALL THOSE AROUND US. OUR OWN NAMES ARE IMPORTANT, BECAUSE THEY REVEAL WHO WE ARE. THEY DISTINGUISH US FROM EVERYONE ELSE. THEY IDENTIFY US.
NAMES IN THE BIBLE ARE VERY IMPORTANT, AS THEY REVEAL A PERSON’S CHARACTER:
Adam – earthy; Eve – living; Abraham – father of a great multitude or father of many nations; Sarai – argumentative and God changed it to: Sarah – happy because she would have a child at an old age and be the mother of nations; Jacob – deceiver because he deceived his father to claim Esau’s birthright and God changed it to; Israel – you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed; Moses – taken out or drawn forth; David well-beloved; Peter a rock or stone; Jesus savior or deliverer
AS WE READ THROUGH SCRIPTURE, WE SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF NAMES, ESPECIALLY THE NAMES OF GOD BECAUSE EACH OF HIS NAMES REVEALS HIM IN A DIFFERENT WAY. GOD’S NAMES REPRESENT HIS ATTRIBUTES AND HIS NATURE. GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO NEVER CHANGES. HIS CHARACTER, HIS NAME REMAINS THE SAME THROUGH ALL GENERATIONS.
EL, ELOAH God “mighty, strong, prominent”
ELOHIM God “Creator, Mighty and Strong”
EL SHADDAI “God Almighty,”
ADONAI “Lord”
YHWH/YAHWEH/JEHOVAH “LORD”
JEHOVAH -JIREH “The Lord Will Provide”
JEHOVAH -NISSI “The Lord Our Banner”
JEHOVAH -RAPHA “The Lord Who Heals”
JEHOVAH -M’KADDESH “The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy”
JEHOVAH -SHALOM “The Lord Our Peace”
JEHOVAH -ELOHIM “LORD God”
JEHOVAH -TSIDKENU “The Lord Our Righteousness”
JEHOVAH -ROHI “The Lord Our Shepherd”
JEHOVAH -SHAMMAH “The Lord Is There”
JEHOVAH -SABAOTH “The Lord of Hosts”
EL ELYON “Most High”
EL ROI “God of Seeing”
EL-OLAM “Everlasting God”
EL-GIBHOR “Mighty God”
NAMES ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD.
Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.”
Isaiah 43:1, 4 I have called you by name: you are mine…you are precious in my eyes”
Genesis 2: 19-20 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. So, Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
Isaiah 62:2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give.
Genesis 17:5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations.
Genesis 17:15 And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Hosea 1:6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all.
Ezekiel 48:35 The circumference of the city shall be 18,000 cubits. And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The Lord Is There.”
Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
GOD USES NAMES TO ESTABLISH SOMETHING TO SET IT IN STONE SO THAT IT WILL BE UNBREAKABLE. NAMES TO GOD ARE SACRED. THEY FORM A BOND, CONNECTION AND A COVENANT. THEY SET A STANDARD. THEY ARE A FOUNDATION OF TRUTH. GOD DECLARES IT IN THE NAME. GOD NAMES THINGS HE VALUES. THERE IS POWER IN A NAME!
OUT OF ALL THE NAMES OF GOD AND ALL THE NAMES GOD HAS DECLARED, THERE IS ONE NAME THAT IS ABOVE ALL THE OTHER NAMES. THERE IS ONE NAME THAT HAS AUTHORITY OVER EVERY OTHER NAME. THERE IS ONE NAME THAT HAS ALL POWER AND THAT NAME IS JESUS CHRIST.
Philippians 2:9-10 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 the Father.
Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, 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. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Luke 10:17-20 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
THE GREAT COMMISSION: 1st THE DECLARATION OF HIS AUTHORITY AND POWER – THEN CAME THE COMMAND
Matthew 28:18-19 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
THIS ONE SCRIPTURE IS A CAUSE OF MUCH CONFUSION BECAUSE ONCE THE DISCIPLES HEARD IT, THEY WENT OUT TO MAKE DISCIPLES BUT THEY BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME AND NOT IN THE TITLES (FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT)
DO WE BAPTIZE IN THE NAME OF JESUS LIKE THE DISCIPLES TAUGHT AND DID OR DO WE BAPTIZE LIKE IT IS WRITTEN IN MATTHEW 28:19, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT?
WE CANNOT MAKE A DOCTRINE OUT OF JUST ONE SCRIPTURE. WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE TOTALITY OF THE SCRIPTURES TO MAKE A DECISION.
WHY DO SOME BAPTIZE IN THE NAME OF JESUS?
Acts 2:38 (what Peter taught) 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.
Acts 10:48 (what Peter did) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
Acts 19:5-6 (what Paul did) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.
Romans 6:3-4 (what Paul taught) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore, we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
PETER AND PAUL’S TEACHINGS AND ACTIONS WERE TO BE BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME! BOTH PETER AND PAUL WERE BAPTIZING BELIEVERS IN JESUS NAME. THEY NEVER ONCE BAPTIZED IN TITLES. BECAUSE OF THIS THERE IS AN APPARENT CONFLICT WITH MATTHEW 28:19 AND THE REST OF THE SCRIPTURES THAT SUPPORT BEING BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME.
Acts 8:16-17 (unknown disciple) For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
SO, WE KNOW THAT AT THIS TIME THEY WERE TEACHING BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS. WE HAVE 5 SCRIPTURES THAT SUPPORT THIS BOTH IN THE TEACHING OF IT AND IN THE DOING OF IT. AND ONLY ONE SCRIPTURE TALKING ABOUT BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH ARE TITLES.
PETER WAS THERE WHEN THE GREAT COMMISSION WAS GIVEN B Y JESUS IN MATTHEW 28:19. HE WAS A FIRSTHAND WITNESS. WE KNOW PETER BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS, SO WHY WOULD HE DO THIS IF HE HEARD JESUS SAY BAPTIZE IN NAME OF FATHER, SON AND HOLY SPIRIT?
DID HE NOT LISTEN? WAS HE DISOBEDIENT? DID HE MISUNDERSTAND? I WOULD ARGUE AGAINST THAT. I WOULD SAY THAT THEY KNEW THE AUTHORITY AND POWER IS IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND NOT IN THE TITLES.
FOR ME AND MY UNDERSTANDING AS IT RELATES TO MATTHEW 28:19, THERE ARE A FEW SCRIPTURES I WANT TO UNPACK.
Colossians 2:8-9 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
WE ARE COMPLETE IN JESUS CHRIST; WE DON’T NEED ANYTHING ELSE. HE IS OVER ALL. IT DOESN’T SAY THE FATHER IS OVER ALL OR THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OVER ALL, IT SAYS JESUS IS OVER ALL.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: The Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.
THE FATHER, THE WORD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE ONE. WE KNOW THE WORD IS JESUS FROM JOHN 1:14 WHEN IT SAYS THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US. WHO BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US? JESUS. IT ALSO SAID IN JOHN 1:1 THAT THE WORD WAS GOD. JESUS IS GOD! FURTHER EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS IS FOUND IN ISAIAH 9:6
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
THE SUBJECT OF THIS VERSE OF SCRIPTURE IN ISAIAH 9 IS JESUS CHRIST, THE WORD THAT BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US. BOTH THE DESIGNATIONS “CHILD” AND “SON” REFER TO JESUS CHRIST IN THE FLESH AS HE WAS BORN IN A MANGER IN BETHLEHEM IN THE PHYSICAL REALM OF THE EARTH. ALSO, IN THIS VERSE, “MIGHTY GOD” AND “EVERLASTING FATHER” ARE USED TO DESCRIBE THE SAME SUBJECT JESUS CHRIST. JESUS IS BOTH “SON” AND “FATHER”. JESUS IS GOD! AN INVISIBLE GOD WHO IS SPIRIT REVEALING HIMSELF TO HIS CREATION IN THE PHYSICAL THROUGH THE INCARNATION OF JESUS CHRIST THE SON. THE FATHER MANIFESTING HIMSELF FROM THE SPIRITUAL REALM INTO THE PHYSICAL REALM AS THE SON OF GOD. THE DEFINITION OF MANIFESTATION IS THE ACTION OR FACT OF SHOWING AN ABSTRACT OBJECT. AN ABSTRACT OBJECT IS SOMETHING YOU CANNOT PERCEIVE WITH YOUR FIVE SENSES: TOUCH, TASTE, SMELL, SIGHT AND SOUND. GOD THE FATHER IS THE ABSTRACT OBJECT AND JESUS THE SON IS THE MANIFESTATION OF THAT ABSTRACT OBJECT.
JESUS IS GOD MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH AND HAS A NAME ABOVE EVERY OTHER NAME. IT IS THE ONLY NAME BY WHICH WE CAN SAVED. IT IS THE SACRED NAME GOD GAVE TO HIMSELF AS THE SON WHO CAME IN THE FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US. THAT NAME IS THE MOST SACRED OF ALL NAMES AND AT THAT NAME EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS AND EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW. THAT NAME IS JESUS.
REMEMBER THAT THE WORDS, “FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT” ARE TITLES OR TERMS OF RELATIONSHIP; THEY ARE NOT THE SACRED NAME!
JESUS IS GOD MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH AND HE CAME TO THE PHYSICAL REALM OF THE EARTH FROM THE SPIRITUAL TO CONDEMN SIN IN THE FLESH AND SACRIFICE HIMSELF TO SAVE MANKIND THROUGH HIS DEATH BURIAL AND RESURRECTION. THE NAME OF GOD IS JESUS OUR SAVIOR AND DELIVER.
Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior.
THE EXPRESSION “IN THE NAME OF” ACTUALLY MEANS “BY THE AUTHORITY OF”, “BY THE POWER OF” AND “ON BEHALF OF. IT IS AN EXPRESSION SHOWING THAT ONE INDIVIDUAL IS ACTING AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF ANOTHER, ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIS WILL AND INSTRUCTIONS, BY HIS AUTHORITY. WE HAVE HERE AN INSTANCE OF TWO SEPARATE INDIVIDUALS, BUT ONE REPRESENTS OR ACTS ON BEHALF OF THE OTHER. AS WE ARE BAPTIZING AND BEING BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS, I BELIEVE WE ARE ACTING ON THE BEHALF OF, IN THE POWER OF AND IN THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF.
I BELIEVE IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION AS STATED IN MATTHEW 28:19 MOST ACCURATELY, WE MUST HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT THAT PURPOSE AND WE ACQUIRE AND POSSESS THAT AUTHORITY WHEN WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO THE NAME JESUS CHRIST.
THIS IS WHY I WAS BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND WHY I BAPTIZE PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF JESUS! BY AND IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WE ARE BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH BURIAL AND RESURRECTION. WE ARE MADE ONE WITH HIM.