What is your name?
“May I have your
identification, please?”
Moses asked God His name as he
stood before the burning bush.
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14).
He is the eternal “I AM,” the same yesterday,
today, and forever who makes His covenant with His
people. He is the God of
salvation. As the God of grace,
He becomes whatever is required to meet the needs of
His people. He is “the
Becoming One.”
Joseph, the adopted father of
Jesus, was told that Mary “will bear a Son; and you
shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will
save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21).
His name means, “Yahweh is salvation” or
“Jehovah saves.”
What is your name?
How does the world identify you as a follower
of Jesus Christ?
In the New Testament Christians
are called “children of God” (Romans 8:16; I John
3:1), “soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3), “heir” (Romans
8:17; Galatians 3:29), “elect” (I Peter 1:1),
“people of God” (Romans 9:25),
“sons of God” (Romans 8:19; Galatians 2:26),
“children of promise” (Galatians 4:28), “sons of
Abraham” (Galatians 3:17), “seed of Abraham”
(Galatians 3:29), etc.
What is your Christian name?
How are you identified as a follower of Jesus
Christ? By what name do you
identify yourself as a member of God’s family? How
do the followers of Christ identify you?
How does the lost world identify you?
Are you a “believer” signifying
one who has put his faith in Jesus Christ?
A believer is someone who has put his
confidence and trust in Jesus Christ as his Savior
(John 20:31; Romans 3:22). Such a person has been
justified through faith in Christ (Genesis 15:6;
Rom. 3:24-26; Hebrews 2:4; I Timothy 4:10, 12.).
A believer is also someone who is faithful
and trustworthy (Acts 16:1; Ephesians 1:1).
First century believers were
also called those who belonged to “the Way” (Acts
9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22).
This seems to be a name the apostle Paul preferred
(Acts 24:14). Jesus said, “I am
the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).
He is the only way to eternal life (Acts
4:12; Hebrews 9:8; 10:20; Matthew 7:13-14).
The name “friends” links the
believer to Jesus (John 15:13-15).
Abraham was called “the friend of God” (James
2:23).
“Nazarene” was a term of
reproach because they were identified with Jesus of
Nazareth (John 1:46; Acts 24:5; 2:7).
The apostle Paul enjoyed the
title “saints” when he addressed the churches.
It is also an Old Testament name for God’s
people (Psalm 34:9; 85:8). God’s
people are holy and separated because of their
relationship to Him (Deut. 7:6; Lev. 19:1; 20:26).
The believer is one who is separated to God
(Eph. 2:19-22; Col 3:12; Rom. 1:7; I Cor. 1:30;
Phil. 1:1; 2 Thess. 2:13).
We are “brothers” in Christ
(Acts 18:27). The title expresses
the spiritual bond between believers (Rom. 12:10; I
Pet. 3:8; Matt. 28:10; John 20:17; Rom. 8:29; Heb.
2:11-12, 17).
Another term popular in our day
is “disciple” meaning a leaner (Acts 14:21). The
disciple must count the cost of following Christ
(Luke 6:40; 14:25-33).
The name by which we are most
often designated by the lost world, and by other
followers of Christ is “Christian.”
The disciples were first called “Christians”
in the city of Antioch (Acts 11:26).
Even King Agrippa called the followers of
Christ “Christians” (Acts 26:28).
Peter also calls believers “Christians” (1 Peter
1:16). Christians believe that Jesus is the Christ
(Greek word for Messiah, meaning the Anointed One)
(John 20:31).
What is your name?
What word best describes your Christian life
in a lost world?
“May I have your
identification, please?”
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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