Lord’s Day, Vol. 10 No. 36
Life Through His Name
John 20:31 (KJV) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Jesus, whose Name means “Saviour” is the only Saviour of the world. Jesus was born in the pivot of human history – B.C. Before Christ and A.D. Anno Domini (The Year of the LORD).
The Bible declares in Acts 4:12 (KJV) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Matthew 1:20-21 (KJV) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
The Name “Jesus” is given by the angel to Joseph before His birth. Jesus entered human history on the mission of God the Father to save His people from their sins.
Galatians 4:4-5 (KJV) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
The Old Testament Scriptures prophesied His coming over a period of 1,445 years when Moses first recorded the Book of Genesis as instructed by God in Mount Sinai. In the Old Testament, Jesus is called the Christ. The last book of the 39 Old Testament books is the Book of Malachi.
Hebrew: מָשִׁיחַ Messiah (mashiach) – (1 Sam. 2:10)
Greek: Χριστὸς Christ (Christós)
Meaning: Anointed
This word Messiah in Hebrew or Christ in Greek refers to the expected Prince of the chosen people who was to complete God’s purpose for them and to redeem them, and of whose coming to the prophets of the old covenant in all time spoke. He was the Messiah, the Anointed, i.e. consecrated as the king and prophet by God’s appointment (Gen. 49:10; Deut. 18:18).
Jesus affirmed this in Luke 24:44 (KJV) And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
What was written in the Old Testament concerning Jesus, the Saviour of the world?
After man sinned, he died – Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Physical death is the precursor of eternal death which is the judgment of the soul in hell fire – Revelation 20:15 (KJV) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
God provided the remedy to human sin after Satan tempted our first parents Adam and Eve to sin in Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Jesus is the sinless Seed of the Woman prophesied to defeat Satan or the Devil’s seed, to save sinful man. This defeat will occur when Jesus was crucified on the cross as our Substitute to bear human sins.
Isaiah 53:4-6 (KJV) Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The Saviour Jesus will be born in the nation of Israel, as was promised to Abraham, the forefather of the nation of Israel – Genesis 12:2-3 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Jesus was the Son of David in His human descent, from the kingly line of David – Matthew 1:1 (KJV) The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Luke 3:23-24; 38 (KJV) And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, … 38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins and three days later He rose victorious over sin and death by His resurrection from the dead.
The Apostle Paul after his conversion declared the gospel or good news – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And since His resurrection from the dead, He is known as the Son of God with power and alive! Romans 1:3-4 (KJV) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
The Apostle Paul was called by Christ to preach the gospel to the Gentile world of which we are partakers of that blessing today – Acts 26:18 (KJV) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
John 20:31c … and that believing ye might have life through his name.
We are to confess that we are sinners and repent from our sins and by faith in God’s Word believe that Jesus paid the price for our sins, we shall be saved. We shall be saved in believing that Jesus is the Son of God, the only Saviour of the world. – Romans 10:8-10 (KJV) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Jesus has called “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Come to Jesus today! Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee