Is It Jesus? What’s In a Name?

Is It Jesus

ACTS 4:12 “THERE IS SALVATION IN NONE OTHER, FOR NEITHER IS THERE ANY OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN, THAT IS GIVEN AMONG MEN, BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED!”

What’s In A Name? What about the name: “Jesus”? It’s like the saying goes: “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Or, must you call it a “Rose” for it to retain the flowers beauty and aroma? So if someone says they believe in Jesus, are they automatically to be considered a brother or sister in Christ? As we have learned, there are false brethren and false teachers, etc. Is the name “Jesus” enough to accurately identify whom they are talking about? The “Sacred Name Movement” declares that you must focus on perfect pronunciation of the correct name to receive salvation. Moreover, if you can correctly pronounce the supposed correct name, can you still be lost? If it’s just saying: “I believe in Jesus” that matters, because they say a name, then what about all those people in different countries? They don’t call Him “Jesus” in their native tongue, so would they be lost because they didn’t get the word right? Conversely, if all you have to do is get the name right, then you are saved- just because you say the “name”, and not because of your relationship with the person you claim to believe in? Then how does that make you any better than Satan? As the Bible says, even the devil believes and trembles at His name. Christians must understand that Biblically speaking, names are titles with authority and honor bestowed upon them based upon the one who gives the name. They have deeper meaning beyond the mere combinations of letters. Without this second layer of meaning, the name is void of any and all power. So, when we say the name “Jesus”, it is more important to focus on Who it represents and the second layer of meaning. For you can not accurately refer to anyone without the context of the relationship between the two parties. For example: if I say “Bob is my friend”, well, what “Bob” are you talking about? There are hundreds of thousands of “Bobs” in the world. Even if I randomly point at a Bob and say, “I know that one.” Would that Bob claim to know me? Very unlikely! Therefore, there must be a relationship at the core of the claim of the Name Jesus. Do you know Him? Does He know you? If it’s a “Yes” and it the Jesus of the Bible, this activates the deep meaning of His name: the second layer of power and honor given to Him by God!  Then, extending to the believer all the benefits of the relationship- forgiveness, salvation, and a way to our Heavenly Father.  

Is It Jesus

Is It Jesus: Part 5 –Son Of Perdition Part 1- Escape From Babylon

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Is It Jesus

Before we start, let’s see how many people we can find in the Bible that had their name changed!

2 Timothy 2:14-17 “Remind believers about these things, and warn them in the sight of God not to quarrel over words. Quarreling doesn’t do any good but only destroys those who are listening.  (15)  Do your best to present yourself to God as a tried-and-true worker who isn’t ashamed to teach the word of truth correctly.  (16)  Avoid pointless discussions. People who pay attention to these pointless discussions will become more ungodly,  (17)  and what they say will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are like that.”

Is It Jesus

Even John transliterated a name.

Revelation 9:11 “They have as king over them the angel of the abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.”

Is It Jesus

Jesus’ Name was prophesied to be preached in different languages.

Revelation 10:11 “They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

Is It Jesus

Speaking in different languages is a spiritual gift.

1 Corinthians 12:9-10 “To others the Spirit has given great faith or the power to heal the sick  (10)  or the power to work mighty miracles. Some of us are prophets, and some of us recognize when God’s Spirit is present. Others can speak different kinds of languages, and still others can tell what these languages mean.”

Acts 2:3-6 “Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.  (4)  They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.  (5)  Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.  (6)  When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.”

Now, I can’t say that the Holy Spirit translated the Name: Yashua/Yeshua/Joshua/Jesus into every foreign tongue, just like He did for every other word that was spoken. But I would say it is highly likely. Even today all over the word, people believe in the Son of God as written in the Bible and they do not call Him Yashua/Yeshua/Joshua/Jesus. They call Him by His Name transliterated into their own language. Does this mean they are not true believers? Hardly!

Is It Jesus

More proof that it’s not just the name reference that holds the power, but the person!

Strong’s G2424 – Ἰησοῦς – Iēsous Thayer Definition: Jesus = “Jehovah is salvation”

1) Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind, God incarnate

2) Jesus Barabbas was the captive robber whom the Jews begged Pilate to release instead of Christ

3) Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor (Act_7:45, Heb_4:8)

4) Jesus, son of Eliezer, one of the ancestors of Christ (Luk_3:29)

5) Jesus, surnamed Justus, a Jewish Christian, an associate with Paul in the preaching of the gospel (Col_4:11)

Referencing the list given above.

2) Matthew 27:20 “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed.”

Interesting note: Barabbas’ name meant: “Son of Abba”. Or, as the Jews would have most likely understood it: “Son of God”.

Strong’s – G912- Βαραββᾶς – Barabbas bar-ab-bas’

Of Chaldee origin ([H1347] and G5 (Greek)); son of Abba; Bar-abbas, an Israelite: – Barabbas.

3) Acts 7:45  “which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David,”

The KJV translates “Joshua” as “Jesus”

This could be very confusing if you didn’t know!

4) Luke 3:29 “the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,”

What’s interesting about this verse is “Joshua”, which is translated “Jesus”, all have the following translations for the same name dependant of the translation you use.

– Young’s literal Translation “Jose”

– Literal Translations of the Holy Bible “Joses”

– Geneva Bible “iose”

– Eth Cepher “Yoceph”

– Bible In Basic English “Jesus”

– The Scriptures 2009 “Yehoshua”

5) Colossians 4:10-11 “Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”),  (11)  and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for God’s Kingdom who are of the circumcision, men who have been a comfort to me.”

Some Notes: (Hebrew)   יְהוֹשׁוּעַ / Joshua= (Greek) Ἰησοῦς = (Latin) Iēsous = (English) Jesus = which means “Jehovah is salvation” or “Yahweh is salvation”

“Jesus” as we say it in English or “Yeshua” in Hebrew, is etymologically related and traced backed to יְהוֹשׁוּעַ / Joshua. But since the Bible was spoken in two languages in the New Testament (Hebrew & Aramaic), translated into 2 others (Greek/Latin), and then translated into Old English, then again into modern English. We can see why “Jesus” seems so far removed from יְהוֹשׁוּעַ / Joshua. Yet, it is still referencing the same person, same acts, same story, and the same source of salvation.

The name “Yashua/Yeshua/Joshua” was a common name around the time of Jesus’ birth. The pronunciation of the name is not a magic word with secret powers!  On top of this understanding, if you really want to mess with your head just a bit more, Jesus has a brand new name! Remember, His Name is the only name by which we are to be saved.

 Revelation 3:12 “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God, and my own new name.”

So, if it’s only by the correct pronunciation of the Name of the Son of God that a person can receive salvation: explain to me, how can you say a name that no one has ever heard spoken?

Revelation 19:12-13 “His eyes are like a fiery flame and there are many diadem crowns on his head. He has a name written that no one knows except himself.  (13)  He is dressed in clothing dipped in blood, and he is called the Word of God.”

So, please tell me what Yeshua/Joshua/or Jesus’ current name is? I will wait!

Yashua/Yeshua/Joshua was His earthly name, He now has a new name that no one knows except the Father. What really matters is that He is in your heart. This is where the power of His name comes from- the relationship between you both. His name is not some kind of magical, mystical buzz word that gives the speaker some arcane powers to rip the earth in two. It’s only if He lives in your heart.

Is It Jesus

Now, some seem to think that the name itself has some sort of mystical, supernatural power, like some ancient summoning power to control the spirit of the bearer of the name. This is not so.

Here is another example of this, where even the demons know the difference of those who are actually followers of Jesus and those who are not. Notice in this example, that if it was just the correct name they would have succeeded. Yet, they claim with no relationship with the One they are claiming.

Acts 19:13-16 “But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this. The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

Is It Jesus

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’”

So as you see, just because you claim “Jesus” it doesn’t mean that Jesus claims you. As seen in the parable of the Ten Virgins told by Jesus. Some seem to think by claiming the Name- that makes you a follower of the Name.

Matthew 25:11-12 “Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’”

Is It Jesus

It’s not a matter of saying that Jesus came in the flesh. Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, and even the demons and Lucifer believe that Jesus came in the flesh. It’s what we believe about Him: if He is our Lord and not just our Savior. This is proven by when we Obey and follow Him.

You must do what He says to do!

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things which I say?”

Follow His Example!

John 13:13-15 “You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”

John 8:31-32 “Jesus therefore said to those Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

John 14:15-17 “If you love me, keep my commandments.  (16)  I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever:  (17)  the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.”

John 8:31 “Then Jesus said to those Judeans who had believed him, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples”

John 13:34-35 “I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  (35)  Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples – if you have love for one another.”

John 15:13-15 “No one has greater love than this – that one lays down his life for his friends.  (14)  You are my friends if you do what I command you.  (15)  I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father.”

Now we can understand the verse: “faith without works is dead.”

It takes claiming the right person with the right corresponding action to complete the relationship that saves.

James 2:17-26 “So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.  (18)  But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.  (19)  You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.  (20)  But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless?  (21)  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?  (22)  You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works.  (23)  And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.  (24)  You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.  (25)  And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way?  (26)  For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”

Is It Jesus

Matthew 10:32-33 “Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.  (33)  But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.”

We don’t just deny Jesus by saying “I don’t believe in Jesus”. We deny Him by our lives, our lifestyles, the sin of omission, failing to stand up for Him in public, failing to obey Him as Lord- even secretly in your heart.

Is It Jesus

We can now rightly understand Jesus’ mandate!

John 14:13-14 “Whatever you will ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it.”

It’s not in verbiage guttural sounds of our mouth; it is the compliance within our hearts that makes it so. Many people ask for things in Jesus’ Name. It means nothing. Just like those in Jesus’ parable when they say “Lord, Lord” and He tells them He didn’t know them. So, even if the deaf and mute cannot hear or say the Name of Jesus, they can still be saved as it is the spirit of the person in which the Name is actually spoken: then activated by a relationship based on the parameters laid out by Jesus Himself as seen above.

This helps us better understand when Jesus said not everyone who says “Lord Lord” will be saved. As we read above.

~ Look 1

Acts 2:21 “It will be that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

Romans 10:13 “For, “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

~ Look 2

Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’”

Now that we have learned what it means to claim the Name of Jesus correctly, and it actually has little to-do with exact perfect pronunciation of a word and more to do with a relationship and the corresponding reaction of obedience, we can fully appreciate this warning from Jesus:

Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.”

He is saying because of whom and what I am and what I stand for; you will be hated, because we have a relationship proven by your love and obedience. So, he who endures in their relationship with Me will be saved by that relationship!

Is It Jesus

I liken it to this: I have little kids at home. When they try to say “Daddy”, they don’t have to say it perfectly for me to understand and respond. For that matter, “Daddy” is my title and not my name. So, if we call Jesus Lord, then He knows who we are talking about based upon the relationship we have. Just like I know my kids based upon the relationship we have together. Conversely, if some strange child would say “Daddy”, I would know that they are not mine based upon the lack of familiarity with them. The lack of relationship with them would make the call hollow and empty.   They could even say my name and I would be like, “who are you?”  Jesus’ Name is not some magical, secret sauce of vowels. So it is the “Lord” and “Savior” part of the description that empowers the Name correctly. We see our Father God do the same thing in the Old Testament. When talking with Moses, He said the following:  God said,

Exodus 3:5-7 “He said, “Don’t come close. Take off your sandals, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.”  (6)  Moreover he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look at God.  (7)  Yahweh said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows.”

Did you see it? Without even saying His name, it is the references that empowered the title. God is the “I am”. This is because of the following: I am Your God, because I was the God of your ancestors.  So it is when someone claims the Name of Jesus. It is the reference of being the Son of God. Not a name alone, but the associated power and honor given that name, accessed by the relationship with the person of Jesus.

John 10:36 “do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God?”

Hebrews 4:14 “Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession.”  [Jesus: The Son Of God]

So, what we are saying when we believe in Jesus, is that we believe in the Son of God- the same God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It’s all in the reference!

You see, it doesn’t matter if you get the name and pronunciation exactly perfect, if it does not contain the appropriate witness in the spirit that He is really your Lord and Savior, that you do what He says, and you are actually His friend.

Basically, simply put, it only works if He claims you and knows your name!

 Philippians 2:5-11  “Have this in your mind, which was also in Christ Jesus,  (6)  who, existing in the form of God, didn’t consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,  (7)  but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.  (8)  And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross.  (9)  Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;  (10)  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,  (11)  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Ephesians 1:20-23  “which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places,  (21)  far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.  (22)  He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,  (23)  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

Is It Jesus

Is It Jesus