It’s The Name!

Is There Anything to a Name?

National columnist Marilyn vos Savant has a claim-to-fame from a worldly prospective that is quite impressive—the Guinness Book of World Records listed her for five years as having the highest IQ. Yet, she has also an interesting quirk—she refused to take the surname of her father and decided to take the surname of her mother. In responding to such years ago, she commented,

name

Is a Name that Important?

Men have long had the psychologi­cal advantage of unbroken identities. By contrast, women usually change their surnames when they get married. This practice deals a subtle—yet tre­mendous—blow to their sense of self. And even when women do keep their names, they seldom pass them on to their daughters. So the female heritage disappears. When enough women keep their surnames throughout life and pass them on to their daughters for life, we will witness an improvement in the stature and independence of women the likes of which has not been seen since women got the vote. [PARADE Maga­zine, March 25, 2007]

By reading such, one can see the not-so-subtle un­dertones of an equality of women that contradicts the role God prescribed for them. In Genesis 5:2, we find concerning God with Adam and Eve: “Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” I believe that this shows the bride should take the name of the groom, and I do not feel that this is demeaning to the self-esteem of women, but portrays a submissive virtue that should characterize all wives to their husbands.

Nevertheless, this hinges on the greater subject of the above title—is there anything to a name? Paul evidently thought so (1 Cor. 1:13-15). If there is nothing to a name, then why can we not take the name of Paul or any name of any other man? If there is nothing in a name, then why could we not become baptized in the name of Paul? However, Paul argues against such.

For this reason, we should identify ourselves as the church that bears the name of the one who built it (Matt. 16:18). For this reason, we should identify ourselves as the ones who belong to our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1 Pet. 4:16). In other words, people of God are to call themselves by His name (cf. 2 Chron. 7:14), “…for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Consider the following:

– I know that we should use method in the work of our Lord, but I am not a Methodist.

– I know that we should have bishops (Greek word episcopos) or elders (Greek word presbuteros) to oversee the work of the church, but I am neither an Episcopalian nor a Presbyterian.

– I know that each congregation is independent, but I am not a Congregationalist.

– I know that immersion constitutes the act of bap­tism, but I am not a Baptist.

–  I know that God has called us to be holy, but I am not a Holiness.

– I know that Christ will come again (Advent), but I am not an Adventist.

– I know that the church is universal (Latin, catho­lic), but I am not a Catholic.

– Therefore, I prefer to stick closely to the word of God and identify myself simply as a Christian.

Even the recognized and talented Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon, stated in a sermon of his (May 27, 1855), “I say of the Baptist name, let it perish, but let Christ’s name last forever. I look forward with pleasure, to the day when there will not be a Baptist living… I hope the Baptist name will soon perish, but let Christ’s name endure forever.” Is there anything to a name? I believe that there is!

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What is my Purpose?

Who Am I and Why Am I Here?

Johnny was just an ordinary fellow with ordinary dreams.  His high school years were not especially memorable; most of his friends easily forgot about him after graduation (or at least it seemed that way). He thought about going to college and doing something with his life, but he had no real ambition. He was just going through the motions and he knew it.  More and more he felt like a mental drifter; and while he didn’t like the way it felt, he didn’t know what to do about it.  He even began to wonder if anyone would really notice if he took his own life.  Oh, he wasn’t necessarily serious, but the thought did cross his mind occasionally.  Again and again he would ask the man in the mirror, “Who am I?  Why am I here?” – but the answer never came.

purpose

What is my purpose?

Sadly, there are a lot of people out there like Johnny.  Perhaps you know of such a person. Perhaps you are such a person.  If so, let me tell you that you are never going to find the answer by looking to yourself.  The only One with all the answers to life is God (2 Pet. 1:3).  He’s the One you need to ask, and His answers are only found in His word.

“Who Am I?”  You are God’s creation, that’s who you are (Gen. 2:7).  Furthermore, you are God’s greatest creation (Ps. 8:3-8).  Why, friend, He even made you in His image (Gen. 1:26-27).  You are “somebody” to God!

“Why Am I Here?”  You are here because God delights in your existence (cf. Gen. 1:31).  That’s right.  He didn’t create man for nothing.  He wanted someone to have a Father-child relationship with (cf. 2 Cor. 6:16-18), someone who would serve and worship Him from a pure heart (Eccl. 12:13; Jn. 4:23- 24).  You see, my friend, you have a purpose!

Our heavenly Father is a doting father, and there are some wonderful things He wants for you.  For example, He wants you to have a joyful existence (Eccl. 5:18-20): but that will never be satisfied if you don’t put Him first in your life (Matt. 6:33).  He also wants you to be free from the bondage of sin (Rom. 6: 1-23); this is why Jesus died: but that will not happen if you do not repent and obey (Acts 2:38).  Yet if you will do that, and remain in faithful obedience until the end of your days, you will be with the Lord forever (Heb. 5:9; Rev. 2:10; 21:1-7).  Now, friend, that’s something worth living for!

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Born Again

Born Again

The text for our lesson is found in John 3:1-8

born again

You must be Born Again!

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (NKJV)

Jesus tells a Pharisee named Nicodemus that he must be born again.  Nicodemus is confused at this saying because this is something very new to those living under the law of Moses at that time in history.  Nicodemus knows that Jesus came from God because of the miracles He had been performing.  When Nicodemus heard Jesus say that he had to be born again, he naturally thought Jesus was talking about a physical rebirth which is impossible.  So he asks Jesus about that in verse 4 and then in verse 5 Jesus explains to him that the rebirth is not a physical one, but a spiritual one. One’s first birth is of the flesh, but the rebirth that Jesus is teaching about is of the spirit.   He compares this spiritual rebirth to the wind blowing.  It’s something that cannot be seen but it is real.

And we see in verse 5 that this spiritual rebirth is also associated with water.  In speaking about this rebirth, Jesus says it must be of water and spirit before one can enter the kingdom of God.  One’s first birth is a birth of the flesh.  But the rebirth Jesus is teaching is of water and spirit.  So we know from this text that the rebirth of water and spirit is a necessary condition for entrance into the kingdom of God.

Jesus used the term “born again” in this lesson.  This idea of being born again is found in elsewhere in scripture using different terms.  In Titus 3:4-7, Paul wrote, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Paul used the words “washing of regeneration”.  One who has been regenerated has been generated again.  Born again and generated again.  Both of these are terms which signify a new beginning.  That’s what it means to be spiritually born again, or regenerated.  We have a new beginning.   And in order to understand how this new beginning takes place, we need to take notice of the reference to “washing of regeneration”.   Washing is done with water.  The connection between washing and the rebirth of water and of the spirit cannot be ignored.   Water and washing are a part of the rebirth, regeneration, new beginning process.  And Jesus said that unless one is reborn he or she cannot enter the kingdom of God.

What about this washing?  How does one wash oneself?   In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul spoke of being washed when he wrote.  “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. ”  (NIV).

These Christians in Corinth were engaging in all kinds of sinful behavior but they were washed.  They had a new beginning.  So how were they washed?   We are given the answer to that in Acts 22:16, when Paul was setting out in his new beginning.  He had been persecuting Christians and was on his way to Damascus to find more of them and put them in prison when Jesus appeared to him and let him know that he was wrong to oppose Christianity.  Paul had been blinded during this and he was staying in Damascus when a Christian named Ananias came to him and told him how to wash his sins away, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord”.   Paul had a new beginning.  His former life was over and from that point in his life he was one of the most dedicated Christians that ever lived on earth.  “Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins…“.   The Christians in Corinth had been washed and they stopped doing those things that would keep them out of the kingdom of God.

There is a connection between washing, the new beginning, water and baptism.  In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he explained this in detail.

Romans 6:1-4, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (NKJV)

Those who have been baptized are buried with Jesus into death. And when they are taken up out of the water of baptism, they are raised to walk in newness of life. This newness of life is the new beginning. The rebirth. This resurrection from the watery grave of baptism is the point at which one is born again. This is how one is born of the water and of the Spirit as Jesus explained to Nicodemus. It is not a physical rebirth. It is a spiritual rebirth where one’s sins are washed away and then they go on from there to walk a new life with a new beginning.

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Repentance by God?

“God is not a man . . . that He Should Repent” (Numbers 23:19)

When Israel was entering the east side of the Jordan River, King Balak solicited a prophet of God, Balaam, to utter a curse upon them.  In response to this request, God told Balaam to speak these words, “God is not a man, that he should lie, Neither the son of man, that he should repent: Hath he said, and will he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19).  God had already promised to bless Israel, and God does not go back on His promises as do men.  We conclude that there is a fundamental difference between God and man.  God’s nature is constant, enduring, and true.  Man’s nature, on the other hand, is fickle, mutable, and changing.

The fact of man’s mutable nature can be both good and bad.  It is bad because man is born into the world morally pure, and any change away from that state corrupts man and brings him into sin, a state in which he is separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2).  It is good because man need not remain in such a state.  He may change his life by repenting of his sin and living for God.  God, however, is not like this; God does not change moral states, and this is a good thing.  A god who changes his moral state every so often would never be reliable, and would always leave one wondering what actions are morally praiseworthy or blameworthy.  Only an immutable God can provide the foundation for truth and right behavior whereby man can know what actions are always morally right and wrong.

This means that any change that needs to occur in one’s relationship to God must be change that occurs on man’s side of the equation.  So how does one know what one needs to change within his life?  God has provided a standard of behavior for man whereby man may take advantage of God’s unchanging nature, and align his life with God’s immutable character.  Moreover, God has revealed that standard through the life of His Son, Jesus the Christ (John 1:18).  This standard tells us who God is so that we may make the changes in our life that are necessary for restoration with God.  The Bible, God’s word, records God’s standard for all men to read and know.  Like God, the life of His Son Jesus and the standard of behavior that he represents are immutable.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today yea and forever” (Hebrews 13:8 ASV).

Songwriter Michael W Smith expressed these same sentiments when he wrote, “Ancient words ever true, / Changing me and changing you. / We have come with open hearts. / Oh let the ancient words impart.”  It is not God who must change; it is us, and we must permit His word to change our lives by observing His word faithfully (Deuteronomy 6:3).  This is what repentance truly means; repentance is not momentary regret (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).  Repentance is a change of mind that effects an ongoing transformation of life (Romans 12:2).  It is a life-long process of learning our sins and weaknesses, putting them to death, and allowing God and His word only to guide us along the way (Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5, 16).

For an individual who has lived a life of sin, repentance is that point at which he initially turns from His sins and makes a commitment to following Christ.  This issue of the Christian Worker will look at various aspects of repentance as it relates to eternal salvation.  Second Peter 3:9 declares that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  God’s immutable nature enables us to transform our lives to His purposes.  This is the change that we need to effect in our lives.  In relationship to a loving and immutable God, may we ever seek to practice repentance.

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Death and Sleep

She is not Dead, but Sleepeth

Once, a ruler of a synagogue named Jairus (Luke 8:41) came wanting Jesus to heal his twelve-year-old daughter because she was sick to the point of death. Along the way, people surrounded Jesus, including a woman who touched His garment to be healed of an issue of blood. While Jesus was talking with her, a messenger came and told Jairus that his daughter had died and that there was no reason to bother Jesus any further (Mark 5:35). Jesus, knowing what was taking place, encouraged the man’s faith and went to his house with Peter, James and John. Minstrels playing and people making much noise filled the house (Matt. 9:23). Then, Jesus said, “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth” (Luke 8:52). When the crowd ridiculed Him with laughter, He put them out, went into the room where the girl was lying (Mark 5:40), and said in the Palestinian language, “Maid, arise” (Luke 8:54). Through inspiration, Luke records that “her spirit came again, and she arose straightway” (Luke 8:55).

death or sleeping

She is not Dead, but sleepeth.

As much as we do not like to think about it, we are all going to die (unless Jesus returns first). Solomon said, “There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death” (Eccles. 8:8). Death is passed to all (Rom. 5:12), and each of us has an appointment with it (Heb. 9:27).

What is death? James lets us know: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (2:26). When the body dies, the spirit goes back to God (Eccles. 12:7). Therefore, Jairus’ daughter was dead.

Jesus returned her spirit to her, so she came back to life. Yet, He said that she was not dead, but sleeping. In other words, Jesus was saying she was not to be regarded as dead, but as if she was sleeping. He said the same thing about Lazarus (John 11:11-14), trying to explain death to His disciples.

Many passages call death a sleep. The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers” (Deut. 31:16). Job said, “…for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be” (Job 7:21). Paul said to the Corinthian brethren that “some are fallen asleep” who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection (1 Cor. 15:6). He even comforted the Thessalonians by writing,

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (1 Thess. 4:13)

What the household of Jairus and others could not understand is that death is as sleep since Jesus is the conqueror of death. Prophets foretold it (Isa. 25:8; Ps. 16:10). He submitted to death for our sakes (1 Cor. 15:4), yet conquered it through His resurrection (Rom. 1:4). He possesses the keys of death (Rev. 1:18), and will destroy it in the end (1 Cor. 15:25-26).

Because of these things, the righteous especially has no need to fear of death (Ps. 23:4), being as sleep. The death of the righteous is precious (Ps. 116:15). “[The] righteous hath hope in his death” (Prov. 14:32). Through inspiration, Balaam said to Balak, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like this!” (Num. 23:10). It is one of triumph (Luke 16:22), great gain (Phil. 1:21), and a blessing (Rev. 14:13) brightened by faith (Heb. 11:13). Death is as sleep, but comes soundly to the souls of the Lord’s righteous ones.

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