THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN TRADITION

 

Chapter 9

​

​​

​​

Life Under The Name of Jesus

​​​

Text

Acts 19:1-5 And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

​

Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

​​

Memory Verse

Col. 3:17 (NIV) 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.

​

Introduction

“Jesus” is not just a name. It means “The Lord saves” (Matt. 1:21). God gave Him that name because His job was to die and save us.

 

God’s Word became flesh so that we could have the holy blood and water needed for a sacrifice that actually cleanses us from sin (John 1:29; 1 John 5:7-10).

 

Living “under the name of Jesus” means living under the influence and authority of His Spirit in every part of life.

 

Presentation

 

1. Jesus Must Be Seen as King

If Jesus is King, then His word is final for anyone in His kingdom (Luke 7:2-10).

 

Calling Him “Lord” but not doing what He says does not count as loyalty (Luke 6:46).

It is like having a boss you never listen to. The title means nothing if you do not follow the direction.

 

2. Salvation Is in The Name of Jesus

There is no salvation in any other name (Acts 4:11-12). When you call on Jesus with a real understanding of who He is and what He did, spiritual enemies lose their hold (Phil. 2:5-11). His name carries authority because of His sacrifice.

​

3. What “In the Name of Jesus” Actually Means

The phrase is not a magic formula. It is about authority and alignment with Jesus.

​

(1) Praying in the name of Jesus.

Praying in His name is like sending a message to heaven with Jesus’s signature on it (John 14:13-14; 16:23). But it only works if the request lines up with His will (John 7:38-39; Jam. 4:3; 1 John 1:6; 3:21-24). You cannot use His name to back up something He never approved.

 

(2) Casting out demons and healing in the name of Jesus.

Jesus gave His followers this authority (Mark 16:17-18). Sometimes the result is immediate. Sometimes it happens first in the spiritual realm and we see it later by faith (Eph. 2:5-7). It is not about performance, it is about His authority working through us.

 

(3) Baptism in the name of Jesus.

When the Bible talks about being baptized in Jesus’s name (Acts 2:38, 41), it means coming under His authority and being baptized by His Spirit (John 6:63; 3:5; 1 Pet. 3:21; Col. 2:11-12).

 

Before water baptism, Jesus baptizes for justification - making you forgiven and part of God’s family through His blood (Rom. 3:24-26).

 

After water baptism, He continues baptizing for sanctification - training you to live as His disciple (John 17:17; 1 Pet. 2:9).

 

(4) Gathering in the name of Jesus.

When we meet together because of the word Jesus gave us (Matt. 18:19-20; Luke 6:46), we are acknowledging Him as the source.

 

Loyal disciples gather around His word, not around a leader or a programme (John 9:26-29; 3 John 9-11). His word is His Spirit (Rom. 8:9; John 6:63).

 

Conclusion

The name “Jesus” is the centre of everything. History itself is split by Him - BC and AD.

 

Any life, personal or corporate, that ignores Jesus’s principles will not land safely. Everything visible and invisible finds its meaning in Him and in God the Father.

​​​

Evaluation Questions & Answers​

​​​​​​​​​​

1. According to Matt. 1:21, what does the name “Jesus” mean?

   • “Jesus” means “The Lord saves.” He was named that because He would save His people from their sins.

2. What does it mean that prayer is offered in the name of Jesus?

   • It means praying with Jesus’s authority and in agreement with His will, like sending a request to God with Jesus’s approval on it. It is not just adding “in Jesus’s name” at the end.

3. What is the difference in the person and name of Jesus? See Acts 19:13-16.

   • The name has power only when it is connected to the real person and His authority. In Acts 19, some men tried to use “Jesus” like a magic word without knowing Him. The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” The name without the relationship and authority behind it does not work.

4. Differentiate between baptizing in the name of Jesus and in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit.

   • Both refer to the same reality. Baptizing “in the name of Jesus” emphasizes His authority and role in salvation. Baptizing “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19) shows the fullness of God we are brought into. It is not two different baptisms; it is one baptism under the authority of the one God, made possible through Jesus.

​

Prayer

Father, thank You for the lesson. Open our minds by the Holy Spirit so that we can understand and walk in the freedom and power that only come through Christ and His teaching. Amen.