We have probably heard and read questions
explained such as: Where is the Church that Jesus Christ founded (Mt
16:18; Col 1:18)? What identifies a Christian (Rom 8:14; Jn 10:27; 13:35;
17:3,26)?
Whatever each of us might call ourselves,
most will admit that it is the children of God, those who
have the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:14-17), who hunger and thirst after righteousness
(Mt 5:3-12), who experience growth in the grace and knowledge of Jesus
Christ (2 Pet 3:18), who overcome (Rev 21:7), who love those who are likewise
begotten (1 Jn 5:1-2) - these are the ones, scattered around the earth
(Jer 23:1-3; Isa 1:9; Joel 2:32; Rom 9:27-29), who are the children of
God, i.e., Christians. Yet despite general agreement on such Scriptures
there are man-made traditions, contradictions, power games, petty disagreements,
organisational castles, doctrinal differences, additions to and omissions,
misrepresentations, even distortions of Scriptures, that separate
and keep separate people of God from other people of God.
God will ultimately bring all the remnant together (Rom
9:27-29; 11:1-5; Isa 10:21-23; Ezk 5:1-17; Ps 66:8-12; Jer 39:17-18; Dan
11:32-35).
N.T. prophecies regarding the end-time
speak of rampant deception (Mt 24:4; Mk 13:5; Lk 21:8; 2Th 2:3,11; 2Tim
3:1,5,13; 2Pet 2:1-3; Jude 17-19; Rev 22:18-19). And the most guilty of
these deceptions, lies, and rulers pretending to be benefactors (Lk
22:24-26) are the shepherds (Jer 23:1-6,20; Ezk 34:1ff). It
should be evident in the reading of the entire O.T. that the predominantly
threatening sin of too many people is idolatry - even to the end (Rev 18:4;
1Jn 5:21; Col 3:5; 1Cor 10:14). How often have we heard or read messages
about the commandments and recall these and associated topics: the Sabbaths,
parent-child relationships, murder, adultery, theft, false witness, and
covetousness! Are the churches of God free of idolatry! More importantly,
are we free of this sin? Do we know what it is? Denial of idolatry is common.
In Ezk 14:1-8 we read a unique account
that raises the level of understanding. Here are religious leaders who
claim to know the true God, recognize a prophet of God, but in God's view
are idolaters!
Dt 28:9-10 The LORD will establish
you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep
the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways. 10 Then all
peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the Name of the
LORD, and they shall be afraid [i.e., deeply respect and be in
awe] of you.
Dt 32:3-4 For I proclaim
the Name of the LORD: Ascribe greatness to our God. 4 He is the Rock,
His work is perfect; all His ways are justice; God of truth and without
injustice; righteous and upright is He. MORE ON "THE NAME
OF THE LORD"
The first misuse of God's Name is probably
in Gn 4:26:
The very next use of the phrase:
And what happens in human relationships
if we abuse, or use someone's name ignorantly, falsely, or maliciously?
Let's look at a prophetic Scripture, in
Joel 2, that is described in the N.T.
MORE FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT "IN THE NAME OF GOD"
With the beginning of the NT phase of God's
Church on the Day of Pentecost Peter has this to say:
Acts 4:5-12 It came to pass,
on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, 6 as well as Annas
the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of
the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. 7 And
when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what
Name have you done this?" 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said
to them, "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: 9 If we this day are
judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been
made well, 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.
11 This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become
the chief cornerstone (Ps 118:22).' 12 Nor is there salvation in
any other, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men
by which we must be saved." But multiple millions say the Name! To the church in Ephesus:
To the church in Pergamos:
To the church in Sardis:
Ezk 14:1-8 Now some of the elders
of Israel came to me and sat before me (Somewhere between 597-571 B.C.
and in Babylon; about 150 years after the Captivity of Israel in c.722
B.C. [See 2K17 for the supposedly 'final' captivity]). 2 The word
of the LORD [occurs 242 times in the O.T. "debirYHWH"]
came to me, saying, 3 "Son of man, these men have set up their idols
in their hearts, and put before them that which causes them to stumble
into iniquity. Should I let Myself be enquired of at all by them? 4 Therefore
speak to them, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Everyone of the
house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him
what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet,
I the LORD will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his
idols, 5 that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they
are all estranged from Me by their idols."' 6 "Therefore say to the
house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Repent, turn away from your
idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations. 7 "For anyone
of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who dwell in Israel, who separates
himself from Me and sets up his idols in his heart and puts before him
what causes him to stumble into iniquity, then comes to a prophet to inquire
of him concerning Me, I the LORD will answer him by Myself. 8 "I will set
My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, and I will
cut him off from the midst of My people. Then you shall know that I am
the LORD."
Let's read the first three commandments,
whose focus is idolatry, and develop emphasis on the third. [Read through
the verses first, then re-read with the additions].
Ex 20:1-7 (NIV; Dt 5:6-11) God
[Elohim; first use is Gn 1:1; 2570 times in O.T.]
spoke all these words: 2 I am the LORD [YHWH,
Yahweh, or Yahovah; the Tetragrammaton, or Memra; 5321 times; first in
Gn 2:4-3:23 as YHWH Elohim; then in Gn 4:1,4; YHWH]
your God [Eloheikah, singular form of Elohim for 'thy
God'], who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 You shall have no other ['other' is plural in the Hebrew
here] gods [Elohim] before
Me. 4 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in
heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall
not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD [YHWH]
your God [Eloheikah], am a jealous God
[El; 248 times; Gn 12:8], punishing the children
for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those
who hate Me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those
who love Me and keep My commandments. 7 You shall not misuse
the Name of the LORD your God. [YHWH Eloheikah],
for the LORD [YHWH] will not hold anyone guiltless
who misuses His Name.
GOD'S VIEW ABOUT USING "IN THE NAME OF GOD"
Lev 19 is full of wonderful laws
but briefly stated.
11 You shall not steal, nor deal
falsely, nor lie to one another. 12 And you shall not swear by My Name
falsely, nor shall you profane the Name of your God: I am the
LORD.
The profundity of other verses in
the Torah is expressed in:
(What does this mean? what are its implications?)Ex 19:6 You (and prophetically,
all the remnant of the tribes of Israel; Rev 7 & 14; Jas 1:1;
1Pet 1:1; Matt 10:6; 15:24) shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and
a holy nation.
Are we not reminded of Paul's words in
1Cor 1:26-31: not many wise, nor mighty, nor noble, but the foolish,
weak, even base are called to glory in the Lord - as we read from Deut
7:
Dt 7:6-7 For you are a holy people
to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for
Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
7 The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were
more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples;
Ps 102 has words to say about the ultimate
goal that Christians have:
[This principle Peter applies to Christian
women in 1Pet 3:1-6.]
Ps 102:12-13 You, O LORD,
shall endure forever, and the remembrance of Your Name to all generations.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Zion; for the time to favour her, Yes,
the set time, has come ["Oh, why has it not come, my Lord? When will
You revive Your Work? (Hab 3;2)]. 15 So the nations shall fear the
Name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth Your glory. 16 For
the LORD shall build up Zion; He shall appear in His glory. 21 To declare
the Name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem, 22 when
the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.
It would therefore seem quite evident that
for the nations to come to fear the Name of the Lord through the preaching
of the Gospel, those who claim to preach the Gospel would need to themselves
fear the Name of the Lord. Isa 18:7 tells us that Zion, i.e., the Church,
is the place which has the Name of the LORD of Hosts!
If we use God's Name ignorantly, carelessly,
or falsely we surely suffer for that. Notice more of what the Bible teaches
about the meaning of the LORD's Name.
Gen 4:25 Adam knew his wife again,
and she bore a son and Named him Seth for God
has appointed [or, compensated] another seed for me instead of Abel
whom Cain killed. 26 As for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named
him Enosh [Heb. man, mankind; weak, sick]. Then men [people;
they] began to call on the Name of the LORD [as noted in
Ezk 14].
Some translators seem to leave v.26 ambiguous
so that a positive or negative interpretation can be given by the Bible
student. However, biases in translation do occur: e.g., the Jewish commentary,
the Soncino Chumash, quotes Sforno (d. 1550) as saying: Then
did the righteous begin to teach the Name of the Lord. On the other
hand, Rashi (d. 1105) gives: Then the profane was called by the Name
of the Lord. As we look at the topic further, we should recognise that
the latter is more likely to be the correct understanding.
Gn 12:8 (Abraham) moved from
there (i.e., Shechem, having come there from Haran) to the mountain
east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai
on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the Name
of the LORD (For similar situations see: 13:4; 21:33; 26:25).
The phrase "Name of the LORD" is used
over 100 times. Elijah, in the reign of Jezebel's husband, Ahab (874-853
B.C.), contemporary with Jehoshaphat, King of Judah (1K 22), confronted
her 450 prophets:
1K 18:20-24 So Ahab sent word
throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah
went before the people and said, How long will you waver between two
opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow
him. But the people said nothing (Notice how productive indecision
is!). 22 Then Elijah said to them, I am the only one of the Lord's prophets
left, but Baal has 450 prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose
one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood
but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the
wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the Name of your god
[Elohim], and I will call on the Name of the LORD.
The god [Elohim] who answers by fire -- he is God [Elohim].
Then all the people said, What you say is good.
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD
Psalm 116 has Passover overtones with respect
to this subject.
Ps 116:13,17-19 I will take up
the cup of salvation, and call upon the Name of the LORD.
17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call
upon the Name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in
the presence of all His people, 19 in the courts of the Lord's House, in
the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
The Cup of Salvation reminds us
of the cup [of blessing] and the cup of the New Covenant (Mt
26:27-29; 1Cor 10:16,21; 11:25-27; Ps 16:5; 23:5; 36:8; Jn 4:4-15). And
in contrast is the cup [of the LORD's fury]; Ps 60:3; 75:8; Jer 25:15;
Ezk 23:32-34; Hab 2:16; Zech 12:2; Rev 14:10; 16:19). It seems that
the cup of salvation is thought as being integral to 'calling upon the
Name of the LORD'. This is consistent with the biblical teaching that only
those circumcised should take the 'Passover' bread and wine (Ex 12:48;
Dt 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; 9:25; 1Cor 11:27). So there is all the more reason
to be certain that the taking of the cup's contents is in the Name of the
true God - the God and Father of Jesus Christ (Jn 20:17; 2Cor 1:3; Eph
1:3; Col 1:3; 1Pet 1:3; Heb 1:8-9; Rev 1:6). If this is not clearly understood,
can one claim to be honouring and obeying the Father and His Son? Are we
ignorantly guilty of idolatry if our prayer, obedience, worship is to a
God who is not defined in Scripture as the LORD God? How long an we use
the Name of God ignorantly?
Joel 2:31-32 The sun shall be
turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the
great and awesome day of the LORD. 32 And it shall come to pass that
whoever calls on the Name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount
Zion (i.e., the Church; Heb 12:22) and in Jerusalem there shall
be deliverance, as the LORD has said, among the remnant whom the
LORD calls.
What does the N.T. say about v32 in Joel
2?
Acts 2:16,20-22 This is what
was spoken by the prophet Joel:
The apostle Paul develops this teaching
in his letter to the church of God in Rome:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day
of the LORD. 21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the Name
of the LORD shall be saved. 22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of
Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs
which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know; 36
Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made
this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.Rm 10:11-15a For the Scripture
says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there
is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is
rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the Name of
the LORD shall be saved." 14 How then shall they call on Him
in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom
they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And
how shall they preach unless they are sent?
What an incredible and painful dearth of
accurate, reverential, inspired Biblical teaching we've all had. We've
been had too long!
In Acts 9:10-15,21 we read:
There was a certain disciple at Damascus
named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, "Ananias." And he
said, "Here I am, Lord." 11 So the Lord said to him, "Arise and go to the
street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called
Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a
man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might
receive his sight." 13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from
many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who
call on Your Name. 15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen
vessel of Mine to bear My Name before Gentiles, kings, and the children
of Israel." 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, "Is this not he
who destroyed those who called on this Name in Jerusalem, and has
come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief
priests?"
In Jn 5:42-46 Jesus Christ is addressing
some of His 'favourite' characters:
I know you, that you do not have the
love of God in you. 43 I have come in My Father's Name, and you
do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will
receive. 44 How can you believe, who receive honour from one another, and
do not seek the honour that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that
I shall accuse you to the Father; there is one who accuses you; Moses,
in whom you trust. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me;
for he wrote about Me.
In the Good Shepherd chapter, during
the Feast of Dedication, December, probably 29 or 30 AD, Jesus spoke to
the Jews in Solomon's Porch:
Jn 10:25-29 I told you, and you
do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's Name, they bear witness
of Me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep,
as I said to you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they
follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither
shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them
to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My
Father's hand.
It would seem that to do the works of God
they would have to be done in the name of the true God. God wants to be
represented truly and gloriously.
Acts 2:38-39 Peter said to them,
"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ
(See also 8:12,16; 10:48; 19:5; 3:6; 4:18; 5:40; 9:27; 16:18) for
the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar
off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
FROM THE LAST NEW TESTAMENT BOOK OF
REVELATION
I was quite amazed to see how much is in
Revelation on the topic. Yet why should I be amazed since vital
subjects of the Bible have their conclusions in this mighty work written
by the apostle John.
Rev 2:3 you have persevered
and have patience, and have labored for My Name's sake and have not become
weary.
This implies proper representation of God.
What happens if children of a family misrepresent the family's name?
Rev 2:13 I know your works,
and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. You hold fast to My Name,
and did not deny My faith.
Knowing the significance of the name of
God and the Son of God is part of the Faith, i.e., being true to the true
God.
Rev 2:17 He who has an ear, let
him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will
give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone
(white, the symbol of righteousness; stone, symbol of being counted
and admitted with the righteous), and on the stone a new Name written
which no one knows except him who receives it [Isa 62:2 The Gentiles
shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You shall be called
by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name).
One's personal name given by the Father
probably signifies the gifts and promises given to the one whose name is
in the Book of Life.
Rev 3:5 He who overcomes shall
be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the
Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His
angels.
To the church in Philadelphia:
Rev 3:8 I know your works. See,
I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have
a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My Name.
Trinitarianism, Binitarianism, and all
false concepts of God deny the attributes of God revealed in His names.
Rev 3:12 He who overcomes, I
will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no
more. And I will write on him the Name of My God and the Name of the City
of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.
And I will write on him My new Name.
We are to be rewarded according to our
works, but notice the following also:
Rev 11:18 The nations were angry,
and Your wrath, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged has
come, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
and those who fear Your Name, small and great, and should destroy
those who destroy the earth."
The curses, as with the blessings, involve
this law:
Rev 13:6 Then he (the final
head of the Beast) opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme
His Name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 16 He (the
Anti-Christ and false prophet) causes all, both small and great, rich
and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their
foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark
or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
More about those who are victorious:
Rev 14:1 Then I looked, and
behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one hundred and forty-four
thousand, having His Father's Name written on their foreheads.
In Rev 7:3, which has a preliminary
section on the 144,000, one of the angels asks for a delay in the wrath
of God, and says:
Do not harm the earth, the sea, or
the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads,
i.e., with the Holy Spirit, which reveals God, reveals His attributes,
and reveals the nature of His Name.
Rev 15:4 records part of the song
of Moses and of the Lamb of God:
Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and
glorify Your Name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and
worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.
During the 4th bowl of the 7 last plagues:
Rev 16:9 And mankind was scorched
with great heat, and they blasphemed the Name of God who has power over
these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory.
Here is a graphic final description of
Christ's Coming:
Rev 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened,
and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and
True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like
a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a Name written
that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in
blood, and His Name is called the Word of God. 14 And the armies
in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white
horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should
strike the nations. And He will rule them with a rod of iron. He treads
the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has
on His robe and on His thigh a Name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
LORDS.
Finally, in the New Jerusalem, Rev 22:4
says to us that the firstfruits of God and all who have entry into the
City: They shall see His face, and His Name shall be on their foreheads.
This verse shows us that false doctrines about the nature of God, about the names of God, are condemned. This verse
is also the last mention in the Bible about the 3rd Commandment. It shows
us that Christ wants His friends in the Faith, His brothers and sisters
in the family of God (Eph 3:14-15) to know the Name of God, to live by
the Name of God, and to glorify His Name. That responsibility is made possible
by the grace of God which His Son gives to all who look to the Coming of
the Messiah and the Coming of the LORD of Hosts with the New Jerusalem.