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
Email: Phillip5769@twc.com
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
