TUESDAY 26th
Reading – Philippians 2
Today we will move into the letters of the New Testament and discover some of the verses that mention the ‘name’ about the Lord Jesus Christ. Again, I will add a summary of references here which you can view if you wish to find the context in which they are written.
‘for the sake of his name among all the nations’ (Romans 1:5), ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ (Romans 10:13), ‘call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Corinthians 1:2), ‘by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (1 Corinthians 1:10), ‘assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus’ (1 Corinthians 5:4), ‘justified in the name of the Lord Jesus’ (1 Corinthians 6:11), ‘in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Ephesians 5:20), ‘bestowed on him the name which is above every name’ (Philippians 2:9), ‘at the name of Jesus every knee should bow’ (Philippians 2:10), ‘do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus’ Colossians 3:17), ‘so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you’ (2 Thessalonians 1:12), ‘we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (2 Thessalonians 3:6), ‘who names the name of the Lord’ (2 Timothy 2:19), ‘as the name he has inherited’ (Hebrews 1:4), ‘blaspheming the honourable name by which you were called’ (James 2:7), ‘anointing with oil in the name of the Lord’ (James 5:14, ‘if you are insulted for the name of Christ’ (1 Peter 4:14), ‘glorify God in that name’ (1 Peter 4:16), ‘your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake’ (1 John 2:12), ‘we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ’ (1 John 3:23), ‘who believe in the name of the Son of God’ (1 John 5:13), ‘for they have gone out for the sake of the name’ 3 John 1:7), ‘bearing up for my name’s sake’ (Revelation 2:3), ‘you hold fast my name’ (Revelation 2:13), ‘and have not denied my name’ (Revelation 3:8), ‘who had his name’ (Revelation 14:1), See also Revelation 19:11-16, 22:4.
As we have looked over this subject for the last three days, we have seen or read so much concerning his name.
When I was a child, I attended a little Church in Madley, Herefordshire and the national Church, used to produce every year for the national Convention what we called a chorus sheet. It would be used to introduce new songs or choruses which would be used during the convention week. Following on from the convention, these sheets would be used in the local Church. I do not remember which year but possibly the late 60’s or early 70’s one of the choruses became my favourite for a long time and it was lethal for whoever was leading to ask for a choice as I would ask for the same one all the time. The words are: (if I have remembered them correctly)
His name, is the best name, is the best name of them all,
Jesus, precious Saviour, at his pierced feet I fall,
Healer, Sanctifier, on the living Christ I gladly call,
For his name is the best name is the best name of them all.
And it is, it is the best name and the highest name that heaven and earth proclaim, it is the only name by which we can call on and be saved.
In our Scripture reading for today, we are re-reading what we looked at earlier in the week, 2:9-11 ‘Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’
There are two things stated in these verses relating to mankind’s response to Jesus being highly exalted, and his being given the name that is above every name. 1) Is that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee should bow 2) Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
We are living in a time when men and women, and society in general are either rejecting God, or denying God. There are those who would be very definite in their atheistic view, there is no God, there are others who don’t care whether or not there is a God, why should it matter, they would say, each to his or her own. The reality is that God has revealed himself in so many ways, the very design of the universe and the intricate detail in everything that exists points clearly to a designer or architect who must at least be bigger, better and more powerful than everything we see around us. The sadder reality is that the day is coming when there will be no such thing as an unbeliever or an atheist because every knee in heaven, on earth or under the earth is going to have to bow the knee and confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ. But for those who refuse to believe now, in time, when that moment in eternity comes when they will have to bow and confess, it will be too late, spending an eternity languishing with regret, ‘if only’.
Thank God, that we have come to the place where we are already willingly bowing the knee and confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. We have come to know him as Saviour, and as Lord, and as the best friend that anyone could wish for in this life.
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem,
and crown him Lord of all.
Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
ye ransomed from the fall,
hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Hail him who saves you by his grace,
and crown him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget
the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at his feet,
and crown him Lord of all.
Let every kindred, every tribe
on this terrestrial ball,
to him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe,
and crown him Lord of all.
Crown him, ye martyrs of your God,
who from his altar call;
extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod,
and crown him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod,
and crown him Lord of all.
O that with yonder sacred throng
we at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song,
and crown him Lord of all.
Edward Perronet CCLI788682