Why the Name of JESUS is a Saving Name
By Rev A. F. Varnell
(C) 1956
DO YOU KNOW WHY the name JESUS is a saving name?
If the name Jesus is only the name of the humanity of Christ it could not be a saving name. Peloubets, in his Bible dictionary, says, the name Jesus signifies Jehovah is salvation. He also says the name, "Jesus" is the proper name of our Lord. The Angel told Joseph, "Thou shalt call his name JESUS for he shall save his people from their sins." (See Matt. 1:21.)
IT IS A FACT THAT GOD CANNOT DIE. God is Spirit, and eternal life. It is also a fact that man cannot save from sin. How then did the man Christ Jesus have a saving name?
GOD IS THE ONLY SAVIOUR. Isa. 45:15 says, "verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the SAVIOUR." In Isa. 45:21 God says, He is the only GOD, and the only SAVIOUR. In Isa. 43:10,11 God says, There is no God formed before Me, neither will there be any after Me. I "am the Lord and beside Me there is no SAVIOUR." In Hosea 13:4 God says, "I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but Me, for there is no SAVIOUR beside Me."
GOD IS ALSO CALLED SAVIOUR IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. In 1 Tim. 1:1, Paul says, He is "an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of GOD our SAVIOUR." In 1 Tim. 2:3, Paul says, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of GOD our SAVIOUR." In 1 Tim. 4:10, Paul says, " We both labour and suffer re¬proach, because we trust in the living GOD, who is the SAVIOUR of all men." In Tit. 1:3 GOD is called the SAVIOUR. In Tit. 2:10 we are told to "adorn the doctrine of GOD our SAVIOUR." In Tit. 3:4 Paul talks about the love of GOD our SAVIOUR.
THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD. In 1 Tim. 2:5 Paul says, "There is one GOD, and one mediator between GOD and men, the man Christ Jesus." Since GOD is the only SAVIOUR how can the man Christ Jesus be the SAVIOUR? Luke 2:11 says, "Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a SAVIOUR, which is Christ the LORD." The Man Christ Jesus being the LORD (Or Jehovah God) is what makes him a SAVIOUR. The question is how did he become LORD?
JESUS IS THE GOD-MAN. Since God cannot die, and Man cannot save from sin, there had to be a GOD-MAN who is a union of GOD and MAN, one who could both die and save from sin. This union was brought about by the Virgin birth of Jesus.
THE MAN CHRIST JESUS WAS INCARNATE GOD. In John 10:30 Jesus said, "I and, my Father are one," meaning a union. In John 14:7-11 Jesus said, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (“If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.”) In 2 Cor. 5:19 Paul says, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”) In 1 Tim. 3:16 Paul says, "God was manifest in the flesh." (“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”) In Rev. 22:16 Jesus says, "I am the root, and the offspring of David." (“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”) As GOD he was the root of David. As man he was David's offspring. The GOD-MAN is the Father, Incarnate in His Son.
THE NAME IN PROPHECY. . . THE GREAT QUESTION. "What is his name, and what is his son's name if thou canst tell?" (See Prov. 30:4.) Isa. 7:14 says, His name shall be called Emmanuel, but Mat. 1:21-25 says Emmanuel means GOD with us, and that the Son's name was called JESUS to fulfill Isa. 7:14. (Matt 1:21-25: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” Isa.7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”) Isaiah is saying his name shall be the name of Emmanuel, GOD with us. Isa. 9:6 says, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, - And His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty GOD, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah is not saying this Son has five names, as if he had said his names shall be. But he is saying he has one proper name that stands for all this. His proper name is JESUS (See Mat. 1:21, above.) That means Jesus is the name of the everlasting Father, and the mighty GOD. The same thought is expressed in Matt. 28:19 where Jesus said, "Go...teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The name Jesus is the proper name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
THE POWER OF THE NAME. Demons were cast out in Jesus name. The sick were healed in that name. (See Mark 16:15-18. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”) Miracles were wrought in Jesus name. (See Acts 3:1-8,16. “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”) Jesus commanded the Apostles to preach re¬pentance and remission of sins in His name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem. (See Luke 24:46,47. “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”) The first gospel message preached, in the Holy Ghost dispensation, was repentance and remission of sins in Jesus name, beginning at Jerusalem. (See Acts 2:37,38. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”) CON¬VERTS WERE BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME. (See Acts 2:37,38; 8:12,16; (“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” “(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)”) 10:47,48; (“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”)19:1-5. (“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”)) The Apostles preached the name JESUS as God's proper name, and did everything in that name. (See Col. 3:17. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”)
THE NAME JESUS IS A SAVING NAME BECAUSE IT IS GOD'S PROPER NAME. All sons come with their father's name. (See John 5:43. “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”) In Heb. 1:4 Paul says the Son got his name by inheritance (“Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”). In Phil. 2:9-11 Paul says, "God hath highly exalted him" by giving him "a name which is above every name." God exalted His Son in two ways. 1. By Incarnating him, and, 2. by giving him His own name. In Acts 4:12 Peter says, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, where by we must be saved". The reason the Apostles baptized in Jesus name is because the name JESUS is God's proper name, and is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (See Matt. 28:19 (“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”)with Acts 2:38 (“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”).)
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe." (See Prov. 18:10.)
(C) 1956
DO YOU KNOW WHY the name JESUS is a saving name?
If the name Jesus is only the name of the humanity of Christ it could not be a saving name. Peloubets, in his Bible dictionary, says, the name Jesus signifies Jehovah is salvation. He also says the name, "Jesus" is the proper name of our Lord. The Angel told Joseph, "Thou shalt call his name JESUS for he shall save his people from their sins." (See Matt. 1:21.)
IT IS A FACT THAT GOD CANNOT DIE. God is Spirit, and eternal life. It is also a fact that man cannot save from sin. How then did the man Christ Jesus have a saving name?
GOD IS THE ONLY SAVIOUR. Isa. 45:15 says, "verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the SAVIOUR." In Isa. 45:21 God says, He is the only GOD, and the only SAVIOUR. In Isa. 43:10,11 God says, There is no God formed before Me, neither will there be any after Me. I "am the Lord and beside Me there is no SAVIOUR." In Hosea 13:4 God says, "I am the Lord thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but Me, for there is no SAVIOUR beside Me."
GOD IS ALSO CALLED SAVIOUR IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. In 1 Tim. 1:1, Paul says, He is "an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of GOD our SAVIOUR." In 1 Tim. 2:3, Paul says, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of GOD our SAVIOUR." In 1 Tim. 4:10, Paul says, " We both labour and suffer re¬proach, because we trust in the living GOD, who is the SAVIOUR of all men." In Tit. 1:3 GOD is called the SAVIOUR. In Tit. 2:10 we are told to "adorn the doctrine of GOD our SAVIOUR." In Tit. 3:4 Paul talks about the love of GOD our SAVIOUR.
THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD. In 1 Tim. 2:5 Paul says, "There is one GOD, and one mediator between GOD and men, the man Christ Jesus." Since GOD is the only SAVIOUR how can the man Christ Jesus be the SAVIOUR? Luke 2:11 says, "Unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a SAVIOUR, which is Christ the LORD." The Man Christ Jesus being the LORD (Or Jehovah God) is what makes him a SAVIOUR. The question is how did he become LORD?
JESUS IS THE GOD-MAN. Since God cannot die, and Man cannot save from sin, there had to be a GOD-MAN who is a union of GOD and MAN, one who could both die and save from sin. This union was brought about by the Virgin birth of Jesus.
THE MAN CHRIST JESUS WAS INCARNATE GOD. In John 10:30 Jesus said, "I and, my Father are one," meaning a union. In John 14:7-11 Jesus said, "The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (“If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.”) In 2 Cor. 5:19 Paul says, "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself." (“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”) In 1 Tim. 3:16 Paul says, "God was manifest in the flesh." (“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”) In Rev. 22:16 Jesus says, "I am the root, and the offspring of David." (“I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”) As GOD he was the root of David. As man he was David's offspring. The GOD-MAN is the Father, Incarnate in His Son.
THE NAME IN PROPHECY. . . THE GREAT QUESTION. "What is his name, and what is his son's name if thou canst tell?" (See Prov. 30:4.) Isa. 7:14 says, His name shall be called Emmanuel, but Mat. 1:21-25 says Emmanuel means GOD with us, and that the Son's name was called JESUS to fulfill Isa. 7:14. (Matt 1:21-25: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” Isa.7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”) Isaiah is saying his name shall be the name of Emmanuel, GOD with us. Isa. 9:6 says, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, - And His name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty GOD, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah is not saying this Son has five names, as if he had said his names shall be. But he is saying he has one proper name that stands for all this. His proper name is JESUS (See Mat. 1:21, above.) That means Jesus is the name of the everlasting Father, and the mighty GOD. The same thought is expressed in Matt. 28:19 where Jesus said, "Go...teach all Nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." The name Jesus is the proper name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
THE POWER OF THE NAME. Demons were cast out in Jesus name. The sick were healed in that name. (See Mark 16:15-18. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”) Miracles were wrought in Jesus name. (See Acts 3:1-8,16. “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” “But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”) Jesus commanded the Apostles to preach re¬pentance and remission of sins in His name among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem. (See Luke 24:46,47. “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”) The first gospel message preached, in the Holy Ghost dispensation, was repentance and remission of sins in Jesus name, beginning at Jerusalem. (See Acts 2:37,38. “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”) CON¬VERTS WERE BAPTIZED IN JESUS NAME. (See Acts 2:37,38; 8:12,16; (“But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” “(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)”) 10:47,48; (“Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”)19:1-5. (“When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”)) The Apostles preached the name JESUS as God's proper name, and did everything in that name. (See Col. 3:17. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”)
THE NAME JESUS IS A SAVING NAME BECAUSE IT IS GOD'S PROPER NAME. All sons come with their father's name. (See John 5:43. “I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.”) In Heb. 1:4 Paul says the Son got his name by inheritance (“Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”). In Phil. 2:9-11 Paul says, "God hath highly exalted him" by giving him "a name which is above every name." God exalted His Son in two ways. 1. By Incarnating him, and, 2. by giving him His own name. In Acts 4:12 Peter says, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, where by we must be saved". The reason the Apostles baptized in Jesus name is because the name JESUS is God's proper name, and is the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (See Matt. 28:19 (“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”)with Acts 2:38 (“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”).)
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe." (See Prov. 18:10.)