When the fullness of time came, God did satisfy the longings of His people and revealed Himself in all His power and glory thru the name Jesus. Jesus is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name variously rendered as Jehoshua (Numbers 13:16), Jeshua (Ezra 2:2), or Joshua (Exodus 17:9). Both Acts 7:45 and Hebrews 4:8 show that Jesus is the same name as Joshua.
Jesus means Jehovah-Savior, Jehovah our Salvation, or Jehovah is salvation. This is why the angel said, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Mathew 1:21). The identification of the name Jesus with salvation is particularly evident because the Hebrew for Jeshua is practically identical to the Hebrew for salvation, especially since ancient Hebrew did not use written vowels. In fact, Strong"s Exhaustive Concordance[/i] transliterates Jeshua as Yeshuwa and the Hebrew word for salvation as Yeshuwah. Although others have borne the name Jehoshua, Joshua, or Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only One who actually lived up to that name. He is the only One who is actually what that name describes.
Jesus is the culmination of all the Old Testament names of God. It is the highest, most exalted name ever revealed to humanity. (Later I can post proof that Jesus fulfills all the 11 compound names of Jehovah given in my previous post.) The name of Jesus is the name of God that He promised to reveal when He said, "Therefore my people shall know my name" (Isaiah 52:6). It is the one name of Zecharia 14:9 that encompasses and includes all the other names of God within its meaning.
The New Testament church is identified by the name of Jesus. In fact Jesus said we would be hated among all people for His name"s sake.(Mathew 10:22). The early church was persecuted for the name of Jesus (Acts 5:28; 9:21; 15:26), and they considered it a privilege to be counted worthy to suffer for His name (Acts 5:41). Peter stated that the lame man at the gate Beautiful was healed "by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (Acts 4:10). He then explained the supremacy and necessity of this name in receiving salvation: "Neither is there salvation in any other"for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"(Acts 4:12). The apostle Paul wrote, "Wherefore God also 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 things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-10).
Because of the exalted position of this name, we are exhorted to rely upon the name of Jesus in all we do or say: "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus " (Colossians 3:17). We teach and preach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:17-18; 5:28). Some of us believe in casting out devils, speaking in tongues, receiving supernatural power and protection, and pray for the sick- all in the name of Jesus (Mark 16; 17-18; James 5:14).Some of us still believe signs and wonders are done by the name of Jesus (Acts 4:30). We pray and make requests known to God in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14; 16:23). We gather together in the name of Jesus (Mathew 18:20). We baptize in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38).
Does this mean that the name of Jesus is a kind of magic formula? No. For the name of Jesus to be effective we must have faith in His name (Acts 3:16). We must know and have faith in the One represented by that name (Acts 19:13-17). The name of Jesus is unique because unlike any other name it represents the presence of its owner. It represents God"s presence, power, and work. When we speak the name of Jesus in faith, Jesus Himself is actually present and begins to work. The power does not come from the way the name sounds, but it comes because the utterance of the name in faith demonstrates obedience to the word of God and faith in the work of Jesus. When we call His name in faith, Jesus manifests His presence, performs the work, and meets the need.
Thru the name Jesus, therefore, God reveals Himself fully. To the extent that we see, know, honor, believe, and receive Jesus, to that extent we see, know, honor, believe, and receive God the Father (John 5:23; 8:19; 12:44-45; 13:20; 14:7-9). If we deny Jesus, we deny the Father (1John 2:23), but if we use the name of Jesus we glorify the Father (Colossians 3:17).
The Bible foretold that the Messiah would declare the name of the Lord (Psalm 22:22; see Hebrews 2:12). Jesus asserted that He had manifested and declared the name of the Father (John 17:6, 26). In fact, He inherited His name from the Father (Hebrews 1:4). How did Jesus manifest and declare the Fathers name? He did so by unveiling the meaning of the name thru the works that He did, which were the works of Jehovah (John 14: 10-11). Just as God in the OT progressively revealed more about His nature and His name by responding to the needs of His people, so in the NT Jesus fully revealed the nature and name of God thru miracles, healings, casting out of demons, and forgiveness of sins. Jesus declared the name of His Father by His works, for by them He proved that He was indeed the incarnation of His Father, the Jehovah of the OT. (See Isaiah 35:4-6 with Luke 7:19-22.) By demonstrating the power of God in accordance with the prophecies, He proved that Jesus was the name of the Father.
Why is the name of Jesus the full revelation of God? Simply because Jesus is Jehovah and in Jesus dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, including the role of Father (Colossians 2:9).
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
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"Jesus answered and said unto him; Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God" John 3:3
Ban Canned Hunting. If you don't speak up against it you are part of the problem.
The Name Jesus
