What’s in a name?
Your name embodies who you are: your personality, reputation, family, vocation — your identity. It is shorthand for you.
Here is a quick overview of the names of God in the Old Testament.
- “In the beginning, God (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth.” Gen. 1:1
- “But Abram said, ‘O Lord (Adonai) God (Elohim), what will you give me, for I continue childless…'” Gen. 15:2
- “So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The Lord will provide” (Yahweh Jireh); as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’” Gen. 22:14
- “Joseph is a fruitful bough… yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One (El Shaddai) of Jacob.” Gen. 49:24
- “‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: “I am (Yahweh) has sent me to you.”‘ Ex. 3:13-14
- “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God… I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer (Yahweh Rapha).” Ex. 15:26
- “And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The Lord Is My Banner (Yahweh Nissi).” Ex. 17:15
- “Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you (Yahweh M’Kaddesh).” Lev. 20:8
- “Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace (Yahweh Shalom).” Judges 6:24
- “The Lord is my shepherd (Yahweh Rohi); I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1
God progressively made Himself known to His people, revealing more of His nature, purpose and identity. The Jews came to worship the Name of the Lord (Ps. 7:17), to trust in His Name (Ps. 20:7), to proclaim reverence for His Name (Ps. 102:15) and to call upon His Name for blessing (Ps. 105:1).
“And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Joel 2:32
Paul summed up the gospel with reference to this verse from Joel.
“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved… For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
Romans 10:9,13
This is our confession. This is our message: Jesus is Yahweh. The rabbi from Nazareth is the covenant God of Israel. Only by calling on His Name can you be saved.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:12
“Then he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’”
Acts 16:30-31
So what’s in a Name? Everything. All of theology and the essence of the gospel are bound up in the beautiful Name of Jesus.
“I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world… Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me.”
John 17:6,11-12
Check out this song we will introduce to Oakwood Sunday (11/3/24).