“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 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.” (1 Cor. 6:9-11 NIV)

What is justified?

Answer Simply put, to justify is to declare righteous. Justification is an act of God whereby He pronounces a sinner to be righteous because of that sinner's faith in Christ.

In the passage above is a list of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God because of their sinfulness, which separates them from God. But that passage goes on to proclaim something truly remarkable, that some of them who placed their faith in the Name of Jesus Christ were justified (made righteous).

Salvation is often viewed in legal terms

Justification is a legal term with a meaning like “acquittal”; in religion it points to the process whereby a person is declared to be right before God. That person should be an upright and good person, but justification does not point to qualities like these. That is rather the content of sanctification. Justification points to the acquittal of one who is tried before God. In both the Old Testament and the New the question receives a good deal of attention and in both it is clear that people cannot bring about their justification by their own efforts. The legal force of the terminology is clear when Job exclaims, “Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.” (Job 13:18 )

Believers are justified freely by faith in Jesus

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” (Rom. 3:21-26 NIV)

Therefore

“Just-as-if-I’d never sinned” is one way the word justified has been explained. God not only forgives us, but He sees us as if we had never sinned. He removes our sin, and in its position He places the perfect righteousness of Christ.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5:21)

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NIV),

A gift from God the Father 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” (Eph. 2:8 ESV) 

Therefore

“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’” (Rom. 10:13 ESV). 

“Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom. 10:9 ESV)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24 ESV)

“But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (Acts 3:6 NLT)

Jesus’ Name with Faith

“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know has been made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given him this complete healing in your presence.” (Acts 3:16)

Jesus' plan was that all Christians would continue doing and speaking as He did

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” (John 14:12)

In the book of Acts we read that this is exactly what they did

“The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” (Acts 5:16)

Therefore

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:17-18 NIV)

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” (John 14:13-14 NIV)

John 14:13-14 and John 16:23-24 are some of the most powerful verses in all of scripture related to prayer. In fact, when most of us pray we conclude with the phrase, “in Jesus’ Name.”

You ask and receive in the powerful Name of Jesus

Jesus has invited, urged, and commanded us to pray in his name and has promised incredible results. When we pray in Jesus’ Name, we may expect the answer in accord with the value of His name. So we can pray with great and excited expectation.

“In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:23-24 NIV)

We can pray with boldness in the powerful Name of Jesus

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 NIV)

When we pray in Jesus’ name we come boldly before God because of the power of his name. It would be like a bride coming from abject poverty to marry a rich husband. At that point the woman takes the name of her husband and all that entails, including his wealth. She no longer acts in her own name, but in his.

We can pray with authority in the powerful Name of Jesus

Christ sits at the right hand of God, where He intercedes for us.

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Heb. 7:25)

He says to ask for what we need and gives us authority to enter the throne room at any time and speak with the Father. Everyone who trusts in the Savior has the right to use Jesus’ name.

Therefore

“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matt. 21:22)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7)

 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (Matt. 18:19)

“Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:23-24 NIV)

Over the last few weeks, I discussed many powerful names of God and what we learn from them, and each one told us something important about Him—His character, how He relates to us, and how we must relate to Him. The list of names I posted ended with the name Jesus, which is a very powerful tool and gift to believers to empower them to do many things God wants them to do as His joint heirs and ambassadors.

Over the next few days, I will discuss the powerful Name of Jesus and how we, as His followers and joint heirs, should use it according to God’s directions.

Using the Name of Jesus

“John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he wasn’t in our group.” “Don’t stop him!” Jesus said. “No one who performs a miracle in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.” (Mark 9:38-41 NLT)

In word or deed

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3:17 NIV)

Over the past few weeks I’ve been sharing Names of God as found in the Bible. In case you’d like to have a copy of the list and main Scripture  references, they are below. Feel free to copy and paste into your print program and make copies for yourself and for others.

The List

Each Name tells us something important about Him—His character, how He relates to us, and how we must relate to Him.

Adonai - Lord God

Psalm 86:5

Advocate

1 John 2:1 

Alpha and Omega - First and Last

 Rev. 22:13

Author and Finisher of our Faith

Heb. 12:2

Authority

Matt. 28:18

Faith

Heb. 12:2

Elohim - Father God/Creator

Gen. 1:1

El Roi - God Sees Me

Gen. 16:13

El Elyon - God Most High

Gen. 14:20

El Shaddai - God Almighty

Rev. 1:8

Bread of Life

John 6:35

Beloved Son of God

Matt. 3:17

Bridegroom

Matt. 9:15

Creator

Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16

Christ

Matt. 16:16

Chief Cornerstone

 Psalm 118:22

Dayspring

Luke 1:78-78

Deliverer

1 Thes. 1:10

Everlasting Father

Isa. 9:6

Faithful and True

Rev. 19:11

Fountain of Living Waters 

Jer. 17:13

Gate

John 10:9

Good Shepherd

John 10:11

Great High Priest

Heb. 4:14 

Head of the Church

Eph. 1:22

Holy One

Isa. 60:14

Holy Servant

Acts 4:29-30

I Am

John 8:58

Immanuel

Isa. 7:14

Indescribable Gift

2 Cor. 9:15

Jesus

Phil. 2:9-11

Jehovah Jireh

Provider - Gen. 2:14

Jehovah Rapha – Heals

 Exo. 15:26

Jehovah Nissi - My Banner

Exo. 17:15

Jehovah Shalom – Peace

Judges 6:24

Judge

Acts 10:42

King of Israel

John 1:49 

King of Kings

Rev. 17:14

Lamb of God

John 1:29

Light of the World

John 8:12

Lion of Judah

Rev. 5:5

Lord of all

Acts 10:36

Lord of lords

Rev. 17:14

Mediator

1 Tim. 2:5

Messiah

John 1:41

Mighty God

Isa. 9:6

Mighty One

Isa. 60:16

Only Begotten Son

John 3:16 

Our Hope

1 Tim. 1:1

Peace

Eph. 2:14

Priest

Heb. 4:14

Prince of Peace

Isa. 9:6

Prophet

Mark 6:4

Redeemer

Job 19:25

Resurrection/Life

John 11:25

Rock

1 Cor. 10:4

Sacrifice

1 John 4:10

Shepherd and Bishop of Souls

1 Peter 2:25

Shiloh

Gen. 49:10

Son of the Highest

Luke 1:32

Son of God

Matt. 3:17

Son of Man

Mark 8:38

Teacher

John 3:2

The Bright and Morning Star

Rev. 22:16

The Door

John 10:9

The Image of the Invisible God

Col. 1:14-15)

The Truth

John 14:6

The True Vine

John 15:1

The Life

John 14:6

The Way

John 14:6

The Word

John 1:1; John 1:14

Victorious

Rev. 3:21

Wonderful Counselor

Isa. 9:6

YAHWEH - LORD God

Exodus 3:15

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11 NIV)

Names of God 

God has many names and titles in the Bible. Each one tells us something important about Him—His character and how He relates to us. And how we must relate to Him. Here is another one of His many Names, which is Jesus.

Jesus 

The name Jesus, announced to Joseph and Mary through the angels (Matt. 1:21; Luke 1:31), means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” Transliterated from Hebrew and Aramaic, the name is Yeshua. This word is a combination of Ya, an abbreviation for Yahweh, the name of Israel’s God (Exo. 3:14); and the verb yasha, meaning “rescue,” “deliver,” or “save.”

The English spelling of the Hebrew Yeshua is Joshua. But when translated from Hebrew into Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament, the name Yeshua becomes Iēsous. In English, Iēsous becomes Jesus. Thus, Yeshua and, correspondingly, Joshua and Jesus mean “Yahweh saves” or “the Lord is salvation.” 

Jesus – the Name that is above every name

If ever a name was packed with significance, it is the name Jesus. Scripture says Jesus has been given “the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9–11 NIV).

The name Jesus reminds us of the power, presence, and purpose of the risen Christ. It assures us that God’s gracious intention is to save us. Our Lord Jesus brought God to humanity and now brings humans to God through the salvation He purchased. In the Bible, when people spoke or acted in the name of Jesus, they did so as the Lord’s representatives with His authority.

Therefore

The very life of the believer is to be lived in the name of Jesus and by doing so bring glory to God.

“We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess. 1:12)

“Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” (John 1:49)

Names of God 

God has many names and titles in the Bible. Each one tells us something important about Him—His character and how He relates to us. And how we must relate to Him. Here is another one of His many Names, which is King of Israel.

Jesus – King of Israel

Jesus came as the promised Jewish Messiah, and as a true king to lead his people. This title of king holds significance to both Jews and Gentiles, and gives us insight into who Jesus is and why he came to earth to dwell among us. His reign as king was not temporary, but eternal, and his kingdom is not of this earth, but everlasting. 

Jesus is referred to as King in both the New Testament letters and in Old Testament prophecy. Zechariah 9:9 is a foretelling of what we refer to as Palm Sunday, where Jesus rides into Jerusalem in just this way, riding on a donkey, as crowds around him shout Hosanna! This symbolic entrance made it clear that he was taking on the role of Israel’s King, even when there were many who would not accept it. 

Therefore

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, Even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (Zech. 9:9)

“For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25).

Names of God 

God has many names and titles in the Bible. Each one tells us something important about Him—His character and how He relates to us. And how we must relate to Him. Here is another one of His many Names, which is Shepherd and Bishop of Souls.

Jesus – Shepherd

The name “Shepherd” pictures the ceaseless vigilance and self-sacrificial love of God for those who become “the sheep of his pasture.” (Psalm 100:3)

Psalm 23, proclaims: “The Lord is my shepherd.”  Isaiah says, “He will feed his flock like a shepherd: he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).

Jesus took upon himself the Shepherd title when he said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11).

Jesus – Bishop

Scottish Bible commentator, William Barclay, notes that “Bishop” is a word with a great history. In Homer’s Illiad, Hector, the champion of the city of Troy, was a “Bishop” or guardian of that great city. In Plato’s laws the “Bishop” was the guardian of the state, who “supervised personal conduct, keeping an eye on temperate and outrageous behavior, so as to punish him who needs punishment.” In Athenian law, the “Bishop” was a governor, administrator, or inspector that was sent to see that the subject states observed law and order and were loyal. [1] In other words, Christ is the overseer of public morals – the administrator of public law and order.

Jesus is the “Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.” He provides both internal and external liberty. He rescues the lost and provides personal salvation. By his presence in the human heart He frees us from the bondage of sin.

Therefore

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)