NAMES

NAMES

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isa. 9:6

It needs to be stated here that Christ is God. The Scriptures are replete with affirmations of His deity. The prophecy of His coming birth stated that His name shall be called Immanuel, meaning God with us (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23). In further delineation of His name, Isaiah calls him "The mighty God" (Isa. 9:6). John the Baptist was to prepare the way of the Lord and make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isa. 40:3; Matt. 3:3). John insisted that "the Word was God" (John 1:1). Christ did not hesitate to make claim that He was God (John 8:58).

“Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” Eph. 3:15

“Offspring of God.” Name is suggestive of the character or nature of the person (See Isa 9:6 above). God's name carries meaning with each name. The biblical concept of assigning a name (Hebrew-shem) to something or someone is very rich. So far from being an arbitrary and thus meaningless designation (as often is the case in naming our children) it involved an understanding of the basic characteristics and attributes of the object. Thus Adam was involved in a highly intellectual and meaningful activity when he gave names to each kind of mammal and bird (Gen. 2:20). Paul bowed his knee before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name (Eph. 3:15 above). The fact that only God can name each star is His way of saying that the diversity and quality of the stellar universe is an adequate physical reflection to mankind of His omniscience. Through redemption the new dignity of sonship was conferred, the new name "sons" was given to them (Luke 20:36) as a new name "Father" (John 1:18) had been declared of Him and explained in John's gospel; a new name was given to the life in this new relation, "the life eternal" (John 3:15), and a new name "Spirit of His Son”, was given to the Holy Spirit, and henceforth, with new truth and a new commandment, would nourish and develop this life and illumine and lead believers into all the privilege and duties of the "sons of God." (Luke 20:36)