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As touching the Deity of Christ, John summarized the purpose of his gospel account by writing, "And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name." (John 20.30-31). Note carefully the phrase, "…and that believing you may have life in His name." (emphasis mine; jb). We presently focus our attention on this verse and its implications regarding the fact that Jesus, Our Savior, Is God.

Life is in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The key to understanding this sentence (and what John wrote as quoted just previously) is in understanding the phrase "in His name." To do something or to act "in the name" of another is to act with that person’s full authority; it invokes words but far, far more than words; it invokes the very essence of the person or entity being cited. Hence, to believe and have life in the name of Jesus Christ involves more than mere mental assent of Him; it involves a willing submission to His person, to His work, and to His place of Divine authority.

Peter knew the import of these words when he responded to the Sanhedrin as they questioned the authority behind his healing of the lame man (see Acts 3.1-8 & 4.1-7). Heed carefully his words: "Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4.8-12). They asked by what power or name the miraculous deed had been done and Peter responded that it had been done by the name of Jesus Christ. Further to the rightful place of Jesus, Peter said that there was salvation in no other name!

Jesus Christ is Lord; that is true enough, but Jesus is far more than lord. A lord can be anyone in authority, but Jesus is THE Lord and Savior of all humanity. As used in the New Testament, not just anyone can be Savior – only Jesus fills that bill!! The authority of Christ is not something gained in a manner similar to what we sometimes gain through a promotion on our jobs. Rather, the authority of Christ is that which He had with the Father in the beginning. It is that authority and/or position which He willingly laid aside when He came to this lowland of sin with the single purpose in mind of rescuing us from ourselves and our sins (see Philippians 2.1-11). It was His creation which had gone astray and He was the One ordained from before the foundation of the world to provide the means of our redemption.

The name of Jesus was and is the loveliest of all names and that because of who He is and what He did for us. Jesus, Our Savior, Is God.

Questions:

1. According to John 20.30-31, where does the believer find [eternal] life?

2. If eternal life is there, what does this say for Christ’s authority and position in the heavenlies?

3. According to Peter, other than in Christ’s name where else can man find salvation? What does this imply about His position in the heavenlies?

4. According to Paul in Philippians 2.7 (ASV), what did Jesus have to do to come to this earth in the form of a man? What does this imply about His position in the heavenlies beforehand?

"Bible verse and quote" from Jan Couns

Bible and Quote - February 3-7