What's In A Name - By Grant Phillips -
There is one name given among men that is either loved or despised. It is the name "Jesus." Those who despise it only allow it to pass their lips as a curse word, while others have died for the One who bears that name.
I have noticed that when speaking to another about a spiritual matter, most are not too uncomfortable when using the word "God," but be more specific and mention "Jesus," and they start to squirm, looking for an exit.
In speaking of "God" they may be thinking "god," the "god" they have formulated in their own mind. The "god" they control. The "god" they keep in a box that neither offends their senses nor makes demands.
These "gods" are nothing more than idols man creates to avoid dealing with the one true God. When Jesus is brought into the discussion it gets really personal. It's decision time. It's time to cut the cord and decide where you stand. Oh yes, this Jesus actually claims to be the only sinless man who has ever lived, and if that were not enough, He actually claims that He is God in the flesh.
"I and the Father are one." (John 10:30)
Now that gets man's attention, and he doesn't like it, but that isn't all. This One bearing the name "Jesus" even has the audacity of saying that the only way to get to Heaven, to God, is through Him and there is no other way.
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)
So obviously, all who do not believe and follow Him are lost and will accompany Satan, the fallen angels, the Antichrist and the False Prophet in hell.
Yes, the world hates the name "Jesus" and the world hates His followers. Keep in mind that if you are loved by the world maybe you are not a follower of Jesus. Don't think so? Listen to these words of Jesus:
"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me." (John 15:18-21)
(Keep in mind that if the world hates you because you are a religious, self-righteous jerk, you're on your own. The world will hate us because we are of Christ. Read these verses very carefully.)
We are living in a world that does not want to recognize Jesus as the only path to God. Neither does it want to recognize Him as God. This world is proud and resents being told it is a sinner and needs a Savior. It resents being told it is helpless to save itself. However, there is only one name, Jesus Christ of Nazareth that is truly God. Consider the following very few verses that follow.
"but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:31)
Jesus is the Messiah. He is the Son of God, and eternal life can only come through Him.
"Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)
No man not identified with Jesus can be forgiven their sins and receive God's gift of the Holy Spirit.
"let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by this name this man stands here before you in good health." (Acts 4:10)
Only Jesus has the power to heal.
"They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them." (Acts 5:40)
The world is no different today. Many are suffering for speaking the name of Jesus. We may not know that type of suffering in the United States yet, but it is coming.
"men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 15:26)
As mentioned earlier, those who have Jesus in their heart will die for that precious name.
"Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."" (Acts 21:13)
Paul was willing and did die for his Savior. Millions more have done the same.
"Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:11)
Only in Jesus' name are we washed, sanctified and justified.
"always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" (Ephesians 5:20)
Everything we have to be thankful for has been made possible because of Jesus.
"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." (Colossians 3:17)
Are what we speak and what we do done in His name, and do we give thanks in His name?
"so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 1:12)
Is Jesus glorified in our lives, and do we glorify Him?
"Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us." (2 Thessalonians 3:6)
Do we support the sins of others (also keeping in mind our own)?
"This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us." (1 John 3:23)
Do we believe in Jesus? Do we love each other?
These are just a very few of many, many Scriptures that speak of Jesus. There are so many more from Genesis through Revelation. The Bible is about Jesus. It tells us how God came down to mankind and took upon Himself man's flesh, and then through that sinless flesh became His Savior (for those who will believe).
Is Jesus Christ the Lord of your life or have your knees become so stiff you refuse to bow to Him? Are you so blinded by Satan's lies you refuse to confess His name as Savior and Lord?
Man can be very stubborn, but even the demons who followed Satan know Jesus is God.
"Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ." (Luke 4:41)
It is too late for them. It isn't too late for you if you will come to Him now. I close with one final verse of Scripture.
"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)
The day is soon coming when the name Jesus will be honored by everyone. Every knee will bow and everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. To some, the Lord Jesus will judge and transfer to their place in the lake of fire, but to those who have believed in Him, He will draw close to Him in Heaven for all eternity. Now is the time to decide whether Jesus will be your judge or your Savior.
Grant Phillips
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