The Name of God in the New Testament is
Jesus—Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the
culmination of all the Old Testament Names of God. It is the Highest, Most
Exalted Name ever revealed to mankind. The Name of Jesus is the Name of God
that He promised to reveal when He said, “Therefore My people shall know My
Name” (Isaiah 52:6). It is the one name of Zechariah 14:9 that encompasses and
includes all the other Names of God within its meaning.
To Jesus is given “the
Name which is above every name; that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow
… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-10). This is a fulfillment of a Messianic
prophecy in Isaiah 45:23 in which Yahweh says, “I have sworn by Myself, the
Word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back. That
to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. They will say of
Me, ‘Only in Yahweh are righteousness and strength.’”
Jesus is Almighty God.
He is Jehovah (Yahweh).
God’s Name is
manifested by Christ. Jesus said in John 17:6, “I manifested Thy Name …”, where
Name embraces the whole Divine Nature revealed by the Son.
The Name “Jesus” was a
very common name. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states: “It is
not the name ‘Jesus’, but the ‘Name of Jesus’ (Lightfoot), i.e. the Name (LORD)
received by Jesus. The Greek name Yeshua traces back to the Old Testament Name
of God, Jehovah (or Yahweh).
Jesus means Jehovah is
Salvation. This is why the angel said, “And she shall bring forth a Son, and
thou shalt call His Name JESUS; for He shall save His people from their sins
(Matthew 1:21).”
Through the Name of
Jesus, God reveals Himself fully. Why is the Name of Jesus the full revelation
of God? Simply because Jesus is Jehovah and “in Him dwell all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians
2:9). This is the wondrous mystery of the incarnation. “God was manifest in the flesh” (1 Timothy 3:16).
Jesus is not just any
name, but it carries with it all the power, authority and glory of God. Let us
consider what is in His Name.
§ The Name of Jesus is a
saving name (Matthew 1:21; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:13).
§ The Name of Jesus is a
healing name (Mark 16:17-18; Acts 3:6,16; 4:7-10,30; James 5:14-15).
§ The Name of Jesus is a
delivering name. With the authority of the Name of Jesus, demons are cast out
(Matthew 7:22; Mark 16:17; Acts 16:18). Those bound in chains are set free.
§ The Name of Jesus is
above every other name (Philippians 2:5-11; Ephesians 1:19-21).
§ The Name of Jesus is
the name with all the answers to prayer (John 14:13-14, 15:16, 16:23-24).
§ The Name of Jesus
accomplishes all of God’s purposes. The book of Acts is full of the use of His
Glorious Name.
§ We teach and preach in
the Name of Jesus (Luke 24:47; Acts 4:17-18, 5:28, 9:15,27).
§ We prophesy in the Name
of Jesus (Matthew 7:22).
§ We speak with new
tongues in the Name of Jesus (Mark 16:17).
§ We receive supernatural
power and protection in the Name of Jesus (Psalms 91:14; Luke 10:17).
§ We gather together in
the Name of Jesus (Matthew 18:20).
§ We baptize in the Name
of Jesus (Acts 2:38) or Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Matthew 28:19).
§ The New Testament
church is identified by the Name of Jesus. Jesus said we would be hated among
all men for His Name’s sake (Matthew 10:22). The early Church was persecuted
for the Name of Jesus (Acts 5:28, 9:21, 15:26), and they considered it a
privilege to be counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name (Acts 5:41), or
even martyrdom (Acts 21:13).
Because of the exalted
position of His Name, we are exhorted to rely upon the Name of Jesus in all we
do or say: “Whatsoever ye do in word or
deed, do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17).
For the Name of Jesus
to be effective, we must have faith in His Name (Acts 3:16). We must know and
have faith in the One represented by that Name (Acts 19:13-17).
The Name of Jesus
represents God’s presence, power and work. When we speak the Name of Jesus in
faith, Jesus Himself is actually present and begins to work and meet the need.
The most common title
given to Jesus is “Lord”. This title indicates His Deity, Sovereignty and
Exaltation (Acts 2:36). The Greek word for Lord is kurios. When the Old Testament was translated into Greek (a version
called the Septuagint) they used the word kurios
as a substitute for the Most Holy, Sacred, and unpronounceable Name of God YHWH
(which we pronounce as Yahweh or Jehovah). When Jesus was called “Lord”, in
most instances it was a reference to His Deity and Him being the Master.
Christ means “Messiah”
or “Anointed One”. Jesus is the Messiah.
The Name of Jesus is
revealed in the Trinity:
Lord = Father, Deity,
God
Jesus = Son, Jehovah is
Salvation
Christ = Holy Spirit,
Anointed One, Messiah
The Scriptures indicate
that the Son proceeds out of the Father (John 1:18, 14:10-11) and they are one
(yet two), and the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father (Matthew 10:20; John
15:26) and the Son (Galations 4:6; Philippians 1:19).
Scriptures also make it
clear that Jesus is fully God (John 1:1) and fully man (1 Timothy 2:5).
Therefore, He is the Great High Priest who understands our feelings and
infirmities (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Salvation is in the
Name of Jesus (Acts 4:12). If you are reading this and you would like to
receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, just pray this simple prayer:
“Dear Lord Jesus, I
invite You to come into my heart. I accept You as my Lord and Savior. Wash away
all of my sins and make me clean by Your Blood. I give my life to You. Fill me
with Your Holy Spirit. Help me to live for You all the days of my life. In Jesus’
Name, Amen.”
If you prayed this
prayer for the first time, where is Jesus right now? Do you feel His Presence
in your heart? If so, you are now a child of God and you are accepted in the
Beloved. I would encourage you to get into a good, Bible-based church to grow
in your faith. I would also encourage you to be water baptized as a public
declaration that you are now following Jesus Christ.
Many blessings to you!
