A Good Name Is More Desirable Than Great Wealth - Part 1515

In the beginning, God. (Genesis 1:1) In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2) [Note that John 1:2 does not state that "He was in the beginning with God" as some might profess but rather -- the SAME was in the beginning with God. There is a reason for this.

Throughout the old and new, God always attributed to Himself a Name. Each Name had a particular meaning, given primarily according to the circumstance. Indeed, when you do a quick search for the Name of God, we find that there are more than 600 references of Names God used in the scriptures. Some of His Names are readily known, while others are not as popular. Many of His Names are referenced on the old covenant side -- which we will address in a separate blog.

For this day, we as believers in the good news gospel by faith, should also understand that God also has given us a Name in this current dispensation of grace. That Name is Jesus.

"And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, meaning, God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23; Luke 1:31; John 1:29; Isaiah 7:14)

" ... thou shalt call His Name Jesus!"

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour, that He -- by the grace of God -- should taste death for every man. For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory and honour; to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, "I will declare Thy Name unto My brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto Thee." And again, "I will put My trust in Him." And again, "Behold, I and the children which God hath given Me." (Hebrews 2:6-13)

What does this mean, particularly for those just new to the gospel?

The scriptures state: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy Him that had power of death (that is the devil) and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage -- for verily, HE TOOK NOT ON HIM THE NATURE OF ANGELS, BUT HE TOOK ON HIM THE SEED OF ABRAHAM." (Hebrews 2:14-16; John 1:10-11, 14; Colossians 2:15; II Timothy 2:10; Luke 1:74)

God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) He prepared Himself a body -- becoming clothed in sin-prone flesh, without ever having submitted to sin. But He did so because He loved us.

"Wherefore, in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto [His] brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things [pertaining] to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people ...for in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession Christ Jesus ..." (Hebrews 2:17-18; Hebrews 3:1; Philippians 2:7; Hebrews 4:15-16; Hebrews 5:1-10)

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15; Isaiah 53:3-5; Luke 22:28; II Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:18)

God Himself became our Saviour. (Titus 3:4-7)

"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)

This explains why Peter (standing with the eleven) on the day of Pentecost told those present that this same Jesus whom ye have crucified is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) The Lord had come forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13)

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.

For David speaks concerning Him, "I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. Therefore, did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: because Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance." (Acts 2:22-28)

Peter, standing with the eleven in one accord continues, saying: "Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on His throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.

This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore, being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make Thy foes Thy footstool."

Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard [this] they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, "Men [and] brethren, what shall we do?"

Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even] as many as the Lord our God shall call."

Jesus -- whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. (Colossians 2:9)

"Wherefore, God hath highly exalted Him and given Him a Name which is above every Name, that at the Name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of [those/things] in heaven, and [those/things] in earth, and [those/things] under the earth .... [that] EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER." (Philippians 2:5-11)

"This is the stone which was set at ought of you builders, which is become the Head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:11-12)

"And God said unto Moses, "I AM THAT I AM" and He said, "Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you." (Exodus 3:14)

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

Jesus said, "I Am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending," saith the Lord, "which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)

Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is our All in all. A Prince and Saviour.

"And for this cause, He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance ..." (Hebrews 9:15; Romans 3:25; Hebrews 3:1)

Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me." Then Jesus goes on to tell Philip and the other disciples, "If ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also; and from henceforth, ye know Him and have seen Him." (John 14:6-7)

Thus, "whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it ..." (John 14:13-14; Matthew 7:7; John 13:31)

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. (Ephesians 4:5)

Stand in the offering plate.