“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”

 

The Name of Jesus Christ is a Most Holy Name to them that love Him. It is the Name that the Godhead chose for Him therefore that Name is a Glorious Name. It is a Name that is above all names. The Name itself means Anointed Saviour. The Lord Jesus is the One and Only Saviour. There is no other. Christ-ians are called Christian because of the title of the One and Only Christ, Who Alone can and does and will save a man from sin. The Lord Jesus is the Only One that can save a man from the penalties of his sin. The Lord Jesus is the Only One Who can save a man from pleasuring in sin. The Lord Jesus is the Only One Who can and will save a man from the very presence of sin when it is time.

The world, on the other hand, does not venerate, lift up, love, or believe in or on that Name. The world does not identify itself with that Name. The only use the unbelieving world has for that Name is as a curse word or as an expletive. We have written before – when an individual uses or invokes that Name they are, by default, acknowledging the Power of the Lord Jesus. When an unbelieving person is frightened and they say, “Oh! My God!” they are, by default, calling upon the power of God even though they know it not.

As we sit and take in a movie or a television show and we hear that Glorious Name used improperly should we be angered or should we hope that somewhere someone is compelled to research that great Name? or can we do both? Be angry and be hopeful.

The Name of our Lord should be used only in a few ways:
1. The Name of Lord Jesus may be used when speaking to Him through the gift of prayer.
2. The Name of the Lord Jesus may be used when a God-called preacher or teacher is glorifying the Lord Jesus through preaching and or teaching.
3. The Name of the Lord Jesus may be used when speaking to others about the Lord Jesus, as in being a witness to His Greatness, Goodness, Righteousness, and Holiness.
4. The Name of the Lord Jesus may be used when singing praises to Him or in worship.
5. The Name of the Lord Jesus may be used when a believer is speaking to another believer.

There does not appear to be any other reason, that we can think of, to invoke the Name of the Lord Jesus.

The Title of Lord:
Christ-ians should not use the Name, Jesus, flippantly or alone without His title of Lord. Allow me to explain. Parents, good parents teach their children to use Mr. and Mrs. or other titles and they disallow the children from calling an elder person by the first name lest the first name is used with a title such as Mr. Brian or Miss Debbie.

If you, my reader, were to meet the President of the United States, would you address him as Don? Donald? the Donald? or as Trump? You would not. You would address him as, “Mr. President.” If you were to meet Queen Elizabeth, would you address her as, Liz, Liza, or Beth? You would not. You would address her as, “Your Majesty.”

With the above being said, why would we and why do we deny Christ His title of Lord? If one were to look into the Scriptures, one would not find Peter addressing Christ as Jesus. You would not find any of His disciples calling Him Jesus. You would find them calling Him Lord or Master. You would also find Christ saying, “Ye call me Lord and Master and in doing so, ye do well.” Right there Christ, Himself, tells us to address Him as Lord and Master.

If one were to look into Scripture one would find the enemies of Christ calling Him Jesus. The demons call Him Jesus, the Pharisees and other opponents of Christ refer to Him as Jesus. Do you see my point, reader?

In the epistles He is called the Lord Jesus Christ and very seldom is His Name, ‘Jesus’, used Alone. I have observed the very few times ‘Jesus’ is used with out His title, it is because the writer is writing about the human-ness of the Christ.

You may object with, “Yeah, but in the Gospels He is called Jesus.” This is true but remember Who the true Author is of Scripture…the Holy Spirit. He may call Him Jesus, we may not.

This is not a hobby horse. This doctrine is clear in Scripture. The enemies of God call Him ‘Jesus’ but those that worship Him and serve Him call Him Lord. In fact, Paul states in 1 Corinthians that no man can call Him Lord except by the Holy Spirit. To call Him Lord is a priviledge and a right given to God’s elect. To call Him Lord is one of the benefits of being a Christ-ian.