The Name of Jesus

[KayScarpettaFan]

In the last year, due to many difficult circumstances I am facing, I have transitioned from a classical Pentecostal church, where I found no answers to my pressing questions (with all the respect to Pentecostal churches. Most of them are amazing. This one was just my case, due to many personal circumstances, I do not intend by no means to disrespect this kind of churches, I am just saying that mine was no good for me in that moment) to a Baptist Church. I had to review many of my convinctions about many concepts. Here I ask you, brothers, if you could spend a little time by telling me whatever you think is necessary for me to know about the name of Jesus. I don't want to use it like I have seen before, like a sort of magical spell or magical wound. I want to understand more, because I realize I know nothing about this topic. If you have books to recommend, I will be happy to read them. Thank you in advance.

 

[AvgJoe]

Question: "Is there power in the name of Jesus?"

Answer: Any power attributed to the name of Jesus originates in the Person of Jesus. When we “believe in Jesus’ name,” we are trusting in the finished work of the risen Christ on the cross (1 John 5:13). Jesus is not a magic word. There is nothing special about the arrangement of the letters in His name. Had Jesus not been God in the flesh who lived a perfect life, died for the sins of all who would believe, and rose again, we wouldn’t even be talking about His name. Any power that Christians access in Jesus’ name comes from true faith in who Jesus is and what He does for sinners.

There is no magical power in the name of Jesus—there is only power in Jesus Christ, Himself. By simply calling out the name of “Jesus,” one cannot expect a special power, outcome, or better standing with God. The name of Jesus is precious, however, and brimming with meaning. From Pastor Kevin DeYoung: “What about Jesus? ‘And you shall call his name Jesus,’ the angel told Joseph, ‘for he will save his people from their sins’ (Matt. 1:21). More than a great teacher, more than an enlightened man, more than a worker of miracles, more than a source of meaning in life, more than a self-help guru, more than a self-esteem builder, more than a political liberator, more than a caring friend, more than a transformer of cultures, more than a purpose for the purposeless, Jesus is the Savior of sinners.”

The saving, healing, protecting, justifying, redeeming power of God resides in the Person of Christ, and Jesus is His name. And how did the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent Creator of the universe choose to wield His power? Through His Son, born in humble circumstances—a Babe with all the power of the King (Luke 2:11–12). Jesus lay down His life to save sinners, and He exercised His authority to raise it up again (John 10:18) so that any who call on His name in faith can receive forgiveness of sins and salvation for all eternity (Romans 10:13). That is the resurrection power of the Savior—He alone is the force behind His name.

It is in Jesus’ name God instructs us to pray (John 16:23–24). Believers are invited to pray in Jesus’ name with an expectation that God answers prayers endorsed by Jesus’ name (John 14:13–14). Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority (Luke 10:19) and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come by faith in the name of His Son, Jesus. Praying in Jesus’ name demonstrates our faith in God’s power to act when we believe that Jesus’ name is more than just a grouping of letters but a representation of who He actually is.

Jesus was a very common name in first-century Israel. The only thing that sets apart the name of Jesus of Nazareth is the Person it belongs to and what He did for us. In Christ “all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9). Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being” (Hebrews 1:3). But where there is no faith, no relationship, or no submission to His lordship, the name Jesus is nothing but a word.

We are wise to guard ourselves from the temptation to misuse the name of Jesus. The Bible tells the intriguing story of a group of seven Jews in Ephesus who attempted to cast out demons using the name of Jesus. These men did not know Jesus. They were not believers. Instead they sought the admiration of others and an opportunity to make names for themselves. They had not submitted to God and thus failed to cause the spirits to flee (James 4:7). Once, a demon mocked the seven exorcists, who were essentially trying to perform magic tricks using “Jesus” as their incantation of choice: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” the evil spirit taunted. Then the evil spirit empowered the man it possessed to beat the would-be magicians until they were bloody and naked (Acts 19:13–16). These seven men attempted to misuse the power in the name of Jesus for their own gain, but we serve a God who will not be manipulated and cannot be fooled (Job 12:16).

The name of Jesus, the one who saves His people from their sins, denotes all the power of the mighty Creator Himself. Jesus gives believers the authority to serve, work, and pray in His name when we do so believing in Jesus’ saving power and desiring God’s will. Jesus, with the authority of the Father, exercised power to save sinners, and His name is the only name we can call on for salvation (Acts 4:12). As adopted sons and daughters into God’s family, Christians experience God’s saving grace through faith in the Person of Jesus. When we call on Him, we participate in His power and find that “the name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10).

Like many truths of the Bible, man can and will attempt to misuse and thwart what is good for his or her own gain—but our God cannot be deceived. We encounter God’s holy power when we place our faith in Jesus Christ.

www.gotquestions.org/power-in-the-name-of-Jesus.html

 

[KayScarpettaFan]

Thank you. Very useful.

 

[Carl Emerson]

The phrase "In the name of Jesus" is a positional statement. We can speak in the authority of His name if we are in His will and under His authority.
It is important to note that Jesus sent out the Seventy to minister against the demonic using His name before the Crucifixion. At this point He saw Satan fall like lightening. Hence the teaching that using His name is only associated with the finished work of the cross is not scripturally accurate. His faithful followers were kept in His name both before and after the cross and this is confirmed in John 17:12. A problem we have in some modern churches is that folks are 'taught' to minister 'by numbers' without learning to see when He requires the use of His name. The assumption is that the church has the authority to make such proclaimations, when even Jesus could only do what He saw the Father doing. Lots of young leaders are taught to do this, when seeing what He is doing first, is critical. Gifts of discernment are rare these days as is the ability to see into the spiritual realm. Without this one is what I call 'shadow boxing' the demonic.

I hope something of this is helpful.

Blessings,

Carl Emerson.

 

[LoricaLady]

There is no J in Hebrew. Consequently we can know for sure that Messiah's mother, the Apostles and early believers, never called Him "Jesus." His actual name is Yahushuah, often shortened to Yeshuah. Yahushuah means "Yah saves." Guess Who Yah is? Well, He is the One in the word HalleluYah, which means "Praise Yah."

The word God is apparently a derivation of the word Gad, a tribe of Israel. However, ancient Hebrew documents use YHWH, never God. There is debate as to how YHWH is pronounced since in ancient Hebrew scrolls vowels are left out. My personal opinion, after research, is that it is pronounced Yahuah. However, one can always simply say "Abba." You might want to check out Messenger of the Name vids on You Tube. He looks a bit odd, to me, but his Biblical and historical facts are spot on.

Now I know that the Father and His Son answer to names that are not Biblical because they are merciful to us in a time and place around the world where the true names have mostly been forgotten. As for me, I prefer to not use mistranslated names. The Lord's prayer does say "Hallowed" or holy "be thy Name" and His Name is not God.

If you want to research things in the Bible from a different perspective than mainstream Christianity, in a highly scholarly but not boring way, I suggest Psalm 119 Ministries, maybe starting with The Pauline Paradox.

 

[Joined2krist]

It's a name that commands authority in this world and in the astral realm. I will update with more information in this shortly

 

[crossnote]

In the last year, due to many difficult circumstances I am facing, I have transitioned from a classical Pentecostal church, where I found no answers to my pressing questions (with all the respect to Pentecostal churches. Most of them are amazing. This one was just my case, due to many personal circumstances, I do not intend by no means to disrespect this kind of churches, I am just saying that mine was no good for me in that moment) to a Baptist Church. I had to review many of my convinctions about many concepts. Here I ask you, brothers, if you could spend a little time by telling me whatever you think is necessary for me to know about the name of Jesus. I don't want to use it like I have seen before, like a sort of magical spell or magical wound. I want to understand more, because I realize I know nothing about this topic. If you have books to recommend, I will be happy to read them. Thank you in advance.

I've been in both for a considerable time.
Baptist- more doctrinal/cross centered, redemption/justification (or at least they use to be)).
Assemblies of God/Foursquare- also love the Word (or at least they use to) but more emphasis on 'personal' power and holiness, sanctification.
I think both are needed, the Baptists offer more of the foundational stuff, while the AOG more of the walls and ceilings.

As far as the name of Jesus goes, I prefer the Baptists approach as the core of Scripture centers around Jesus and His redemptive work for our sins, and I believe this is more honoring to His name. IOW should we center on the gifts or the Giver?

 

[AWorkInProgress]

Here I ask you, brothers, if you could spend a little time by telling me whatever you think is necessary for me to know about the name of Jesus. I don't want to use it like I have seen before, like a sort of magical spell or magical wound. I want to understand more, because I realize I know nothing about this topic. If you have books to recommend, I will be happy to read them. Thank you in advance.

Hello Brother,

I too am from the Pentecostal camp, but the Lord has me on the path of the Reformed faith(Sovereignty of God) at this time. I don't think I could really answer your question well, but it did make me think of a few lectures. Links below. Second link (edit) only 19 minutes long. Enjoy!

What Is the Name That Is above All Names?

Who is this Jesus?

 

[AvgJoe]

Thank you. Very useful.

You're welcome & God bless.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Dear friend,

I am unclear as to what aspects of this subject are of particular interest to you.

You may be aware that Josephus the Jewish historian made references to John the Baptist, Jesus, James and others.

He wrote in Coptic Greek which was the global trade language at the time.

We can be sure that the Name of Jesus in the Greek was in fact the name that was used by the early church and this was the name referred to in John 17:11.

Blessings,

Carl Emerson.

 

[LoricaLady]

Dear friend,

I am unclear as to what aspects of this subject are of particular interest to you.

You may be aware that Josephus the Jewish historian made references to John the Baptist, Jesus, James and others.

He wrote in Coptic Greek which was the global trade language at the time.

We can be sure that the Name of Jesus in the Greek was in fact the name that was used by the early church and this was the name referred to in John 17:11.

Blessings,

Carl Emerson.

Anyone is free to research this. Like they can check and see whether or not there is any J in Hebrew. I do not know your definition of the "early Church" but they started to blend in the pagan with the sacred within about 100 years or less. No matter what anyone called Him, He was given a Hebrew, not Greek, name. We can be sure that the Hebrew name was used by the reeeally early Church, like the Alpostles and, again, His mother, since they were all Jews, or at least Israelites initially.

His Name is a Hebrew Name and, again, Hebrew has no J in it. People can change it to Greek, or call Him Isus, Yesu, or Hesukristo, Senor or anything else, and around the world that's what they do. But the Name He was given, His true Name, is Yahushua. What others may call Him here and there in at least 25 different languages, doesn't change the Name He was given. His Name is what it is.

 

[LoricaLady]

P.S. I have not been able to find what Josephus called the Savior in his own language, not in our English translations of His work. If you have references on that, please share them.

Per my remembrance Josephus did not name Him at all, only referred to Him as an extremely remarkable man, seemingly hinting that he might be the Messiah.

Josephus was apparently multi lingual and wrote for others than Jews, though. Besides, again, it's not what Josephus called Him, or what anyone else called Him, it's what Mary was told by the Almighty to call Him. She was told to call Him Yahushua, not Jesus.

 

[LoricaLady]

P.P.S. Oh, I did find the passage where Josephus talks about the Savior, in italics, below. The passage has been translated from Arabic to English. Of course the Arabs do not use the name "Jesus." I still haven't found evidence of any documentation where Josephus wrote Messiah's Name in his own, native, Hebrew language, though. (Not that it would matter basically as, again, it's not his words that count, but the Father's.)

“At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and [he] was known to be virtuous. And many people from among the Jews and the other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.” (10th Century Arabic Text)

 

[Carl Emerson]

Hi there, I am no expert on this, but I don't think Josephus wrote in Arabic but rather coptic Greek. So I am guessing the Arabic you refer to is a translation. This quote you made is also historically recent and I am sure there are much older manuscripts in existence. The debate around the texts of Josephus is fierce.

Blessings,

Carl Emerson.

 

[LoricaLady]

I'm no expert on Josephus, either, but as a Jew we can know his native language was Hebrew. Again, he was apparently multilingual, wrote some histories for non Jews, and traveled to other countries quite a bit.

 

[Carl Emerson]

He was closely associated with the Roman leaders and may very well have written in Greek as that would have served a wider immediate audience than Hebrew.

I am not sure anyone really knows, as the original manuscripts are long lost.