It is truly edifying to trace, through the New Testament, the varied virtues of the name of Jesus. We shall just refer to a few passages.
1. There is salvation in the name of Jesus. “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other NAME under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12).) The soul that trusts in the name of Jesus, gets all the saving virtue which belongs to that name.
2. There is eternal life in the name of Jesus. “These things 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.” (John 20:3131But 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. (John 20:31).) The soul that simply trusts in the name of Jesus, becomes a partaker of His life; and that life never can be forfeited, because it is eternal.
3. There is remission of sins through the name of Jesus. “To him give all the prophets witness, that THROUGH HIS NAME whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43).) The soul that simply trusts in the name of Jesus, is forgiven, according to the value of that name, in God’s judgment. It matters not what or who he may be that comes to God in the name of Jesus, he gets all the credit, all the value, all the virtue, of that name, and could no more be rejected than the One in whose name he comes. If I go into a bank, with a wealthy and trustworthy man’s name on a check, I enter in all the confidence which his wealth and credit can give. It matters not who or what I am; I come in his name. Thus it is with a sinner who comes to God in the name of Jesus.
4. The name of Jesus is the power of prayer. “And whatsoever ye shall ask IN MY NAME, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13, 1413And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13‑14).) The believer, coming to God in the name of Jesus, could no more be refused than Jesus Himself.
5. The name of Jesus gives power over Satan and over all manner of evil. “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.” (Mark 16:17, 1817And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They 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. (Mark 16:17‑18). See also Acts 3:6; 16:186Then 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. (Acts 3:6)
18And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. (Acts 16:18); Jas. 5:1414Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (James 5:14).) It may be said that this power is no longer available. I reply, we are merely tracing, through the New Testament, the power and value of the name of Jesus. That name has power in heaven, power on earth, power in hell, power over angels, power over men, power over devils. Let faith use that precious, matchless, powerful, all-prevailing name.
6. God’s assembly, wherever it is, is gathered in the name of Jesus. “For where two or three are gathered together IN MY NAME, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20).) Observe, it does not say, “where two or three are met.” Men may meet upon any ground, or for any object they please, but the Holy Ghost can only gather in the name of Jesus. The Church is not a meeting convened by the will of man, but an assembly gathered by the Holy Ghost.
7. The name of Jesus is the Church’s power in discipline and excommunication. “IN THE NAME of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Cor. 5:4, 54In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. (1 Corinthians 5:4‑5).) The full credit of the name of Jesus is attached to the act of the assembly, when divinely gathered and divinely acting. Heaven gives the sanction of His name to the act.
8. The name of Jesus will be the object of universal and everlasting homage. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at THE NAME OF JESUS every knee should bow, of [those] in heaven, and [those] on earth, and [those] under the earth.” (Phil. 2:9, 109Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:9‑10).)
May God the Holy Ghost unfold to our souls more of the power and value of the name of Jesus, so that we may more fully know what we have in Him, and he enabled to use His name, in more holy confidence, at all times, under all circumstances, and for all purposes.