Jesus Is the Only Name That Saves

Trevor Ferguson

December 31, 2013

Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

INTRODUCTION

The hope of salvation is the key message within all Christian denominations, but unfortunately there is much disagreement as to what one needs to do in order to be saved. All Christians affirm that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God, and that salvation comes through believing in Him and in His death burial and resurrection but there is much disagreement as to how we apply this to the individual who needs salvation.

Today I want to re-emphasize the importance, and absolute necessity, of the name Jesus with regards to salvation and to point out that Jesus is the only saving name. The appropriate application of this fact is that baptism should be done in the name of Jesus Christ, and that all we do in word or deed should be done in the name of Jesus.

EXPOSITION

Let us take a moment to look at the significance of names in the biblical context and in particular the significance of the name Jesus. In modern societies the concept of a name has lost much of its significance. Parents often chose a name because they like the sound of the name or because they want to honor someone who bears that name. In most situations parents do not know the original meaning of the name that was chosen. This is in contrast to ancient societies, such as in biblical times, in which names were rich with meaning and often carried prophetic significance. In fact, to know a person’s name was to know that person’s total character and nature. As such a name could be changed to reflect a change in a person’s character or a change in a person’s prophetic destiny. For example, Abraham was originally called Abram, meaning ‘high father’, but God changed his name to Abraham meaning father of a multitude. This was to indicate the promise of the mighty nation that his offspring would become despite the fact that as yet he had no children. Jacob’s name meant supplanter, trickster or ‘heel snatcher’. This reflected the circumstances of his birth and the characteristics he displayed in his dealings with his brother Esau and his uncle Laban. However after his encounter with God at Peniel, his name was changed to Israel, reflecting the fact that now he had “struggled with God and with humans and … overcome”.   

Just as the names of the Patriarchs were significant, the name of God is also significant and rich with meaning. As we read the bible, we see a progressive revelation of the name of God, culminating with the revelation of the name of Jesus in the New Testament. We first encounter the name Jesus in Matthew 1:21, when the angel revealed to Joseph the name of the Christ child to be born to Mary. Let’s look at the text in Matthew 1: 21-23:

²¹And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  ²²Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, ²³Behold, 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.

Note here that the name Jesus was explicitly associated with salvation and that the child to be born was Emmanuel, indicating that he was the revelation of God in the flesh, who had come to dwell with humanity. This revelation of the name Jesus is to be seen as part of the progressive revelation of God to man over the course of time.  

Throughout the Old Testament, God revealed himself to the patriarchs and prophets, using several names. He revealed himself to Abraham as “El Shaddai”, meaning ‘The Lord Almighty’, or ‘the all sufficient God’, indicating his power to accomplish that which he says he will accomplish. God further reveals himself to Moses as ‘JEHOVAH’. The name Jehovah means The Self-existing One or in other words ‘The One Who Is’. As Jehovah, God lived in the everlasting present tense, thus he was able to say to Moses when Moses had asked for his name in Exodus 3 – ‘I AM THAT I AM’, ‘I AM’ sent you.  He was “the Great I AM”, existing from the beginning of beginnings; He is “the First and the Last”, “The Alpha and Omega”.

In addition to the revelation of the name Jehovah, God has further revealed aspects of his character: In Genesis 22:14 He revealed Himself as Jehovah-jireh, meaning “The Lord who provides”. In Exodus 15:26 He reveals himself as Jehovah-rapha – “The Lord that heals”. In Exodus 17:15 He is Jehovah-nissi – “The Lords our banner” i.e. The Lord who gives us victory. In Judges 6:24 He is Jehovah-shalom – “The Lord our peace”. In Psalm 23:1 He is Jehovah-raah – “the Lord our shepherd”.

It is important to note that despite all these revealed names; none of the names were explicitly associated with salvation and in particular salvation from sins. Thus the revelation of the name Jesus, which means ‘Jehovah Saviour’ or ‘Jehovah is Salvation’, was the first time God was revealing the saving name. Note also that the emphasis here is salvation from sin. The name Jesus was not given to set up an earthly kingdom or to deliver the Jews from the Roman oppression, but was specifically given to save humankind from their sinful state. Jesus fulfilled this mission as he lived a holy life here on earth, laid down his life on Calvary and rose again from the dead in order to give us the hope of salvation and the hope of eternal life.

After his ascension Jesus ushered in the church age by returning to us as the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost the door of salvation was flung wide open, men and women now had unfettered access to God. The message preached then, is the same message that we preach today. The bible tells us that when Peter finished preaching his sermon on the day of Pentecost, the people were convicted (pricked in their hearts) and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Men and brethren, What shall we do?” They were asking, in essence, what must I do to be saved? How can I apply this new revelation of who Jesus Christ is order to come into right standing with God. Peter’s answer is still relevant and applicable to the church today. This is the message of Acts 2:38 – “… 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.”     

I declare today that the only way of salvation is through the name of Jesus. This means that baptism properly administered requires the invocation of the name Jesus. Baptism in the name of Jesus was the only baptismal formula used by the early church and is still the appropriate baptism for use in the church today. The 3000 on the day of Pentecost were baptized in Jesus name; the Samaritans in Acts 8 were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus; Cornelius and his household were commanded to be baptized in the name of the Jesus Christ, and the disciples of John at Ephesus were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. I declare also that the appropriate application of the instructions given in Matthew 28:19 is to administer baptism in the name of Jesus, since Jesus said that he came in his Father’s name and the Holy Ghost would come in Jesus’s name. Peter further points out in Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

CONCLUSION

When we sum it up therefore the name Jesus is the only name that saves. Salvation comes through believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and acting upon that faith through repentance and water baptism and seeking for and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. Any other recommendation falls short of the biblical standard and cannot be supported from scriptures. We must take this issue of salvation seriously. As is commonly said – eternity is too long to be wrong! I implore you therefore, as Paul implored the Philippians. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Follow the bible standard. If you do what was done as recorded in the bible you can’t go wrong. Jesus is the only name that saves!!