The Name of Jesus Christ

Nehemiah 13; Malachi 1, 2; Acts 4 

“…It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed..Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:10, 12

What happens when we are publicly baptized ‘into’ the name of the Lord Jesus Christ?

We publicly identify with Christ’s death and resurrection, and our life is now in him. He has given his name to those who belong to him, to proclaim his Gospel of salvation and demonstrate the power of his resurrection through healing and delivering those in need, in his mighty name.

Do we fully appreciate the gift we’ve been given in the name of Jesus Christ?

The seven sons of Sceva were using the name of Jesus to caste out demons, despite not knowing Christ personally. It worked for some time, but then a demon challenged them to express Christ’s presence in the Spirit’s power and they were unable to do this. Jesus’ name is not a talisman or good luck charm, but rather, the representation of God’s healing, delivering, saving Gospel found in a person we can invite to live within us through the Holy Spirit so that we, too, become ‘Christ-ones’/ Christians.

“Thank you, Jesus, for your name and saving power. Glorify your name this day.”