In furtherance of the study of the import of names, today, we will look at the name “Jesus”.Scriptures declare that There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”(Acts 4:12).
A name gives identity or character to a person. Thus, it’s impossible to separate a person from his name. If a man is of worth, his name is of worth. By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? The disciples were asked.
You see, Jesus is now with us in the power of that Name — His name takes his place. All that Jesus was, his name is; and salvation is only in Jesus or in his name. Salvation in the above text originates from the Greek word “Soteria”… But to all who have received him — those who believe in his name — he has given the right to become God’s children (John 1:12).
Soteria also speaks of safety, and of deliverance and preservation from harm. Hence, Proverbs 18:10,avers, The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. International Standard Rendering says, The name of the LORD is a strong tower; a righteous person rushes to it and is lifted up above the danger.
But you might ask, who is a righteous person? The new creation or believing ones are “the righteous”. “Therefore, being justified (declared righteous) by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans5:1).
Righteousness means right standing with God or the ability to stand in the presence of God without the sense of sin, guilt and inferiority. Jesus was made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”(2 Cor5:21).
Jesus is our righteousness. We have the same righteousness or right standing with God that Jesus has. We are in Christ and He is righteous. The church is his body; every single believer is a member of his body, and since Christ, the head, is righteous, we, the body, are also righteous…We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.
Put differently, Proverbs 18:10 reads, The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the new creation or believing ones rushes to it and are lifted up above the danger. There is safety, deliverance, and preservation from harm in the name of Jesus. Hallelujah!!!
While reading the novel Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, I stumbled upon a noble quote that stirred my heart. Excerpt of the quote reads, “…but be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.”
Men are either born to a great name, make their name great by achievements or have great name conferred on them. The name Jesus, the most excellent name, the name above all name, came by all three means.
Put differently, the name of Jesus is great because he inherited a great name. His name is great because of his achievements . His name is great because it was conferred on him .
Regardless of how men acquire their greatness, their names are only recognised and operational or effective in this world. But the name of Jesus, the more excellent name, is recognised and operational or effective in three worlds. The name of Jesus is operational in heaven. It is recognised on earth, and beneath the earth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!!!
By Emmanuel Emeke Asiwe
