the apostles and early believers,
the people who were converted at Pentecost, they continued
to go to the temple. They continued to go to the synagogue,
especially the temple in Jerusalem. And we might wonder why these
people who had come to know the Savior, had come to believe in
Him, would go back to the temple. Because certainly Christ was
now their Sabbath, and the Pharisees didn't know or love Christ, they
didn't know or preach the gospel, so why would these people keep
going back to the temple? And you see that they did in
Acts 2, just back a few verses, in verse 46. It says, And they,
continuing daily with one accord in the temple, And breaking bread
from house to house did eat their meat with gladness and singleness
of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And
the Lord added to the church daily, such as should be saved.
I tell you why these people kept going back to the temple. And
why, as we pick up where Brother Bob read a while ago, Peter and
John were going to the temple. at the hour of prayer, three
o'clock in the afternoon, they were going to the temple. Now,
I'll tell you why. They went there to preach the
gospel to their friends and their neighbors, because that's where
their friends and neighbors congregated, was at the temple. The temple
was the center of activity, especially religious activity. That's where
the sacrifices and all of these things were made daily. and where
discussions about the scriptures and preaching went on, and so
they went to the temple. They went there to preach the
gospel to their friends and their neighbors, and they went there
to assure all of Israel that the message that they were preaching
and the gospel they believed was no new religion, but it was
a fulfillment of the prophecies and the law of Moses. That's
why they went there. Remember when Bob read a moment
ago over here in verse 21, verse 20 of Acts 3, Acts 3 verse 20,
and Peter was talking to these people here in the temple. And
he said, He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached
unto you, whom the heavens must receive until the time of restitution
of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his
holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to
our fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto
you of your brethren, like unto me, and him shall you hear, in
all things whatsoever he shall say to you." That's Christ. That's
what Peter said to them. So they kept going to the temple. That's where the people were.
That's where they congregated. That's where they spent much
of their time. And they went there to preach
and to witness to their neighbors and friends. And they went there
to assure these people that what they were preaching was no new
religion, it was a fulfillment of all that they had been taught,
all that Moses and the prophets wrote. And they wanted these
people to know that Christ was raised up by the Father as a
fulfillment of all that the prophets spake, and that he died on the
cross fulfilling all the pictures of the Old Testament, and that
he rose again. Now then, so Here we go, Acts
3, verse 1. So Peter and John, that afternoon,
went up together to the temple. Verse 1, chapter 3, at the hour
of prayer, being three o'clock in the afternoon. And a certain
man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily
at the gate of the temple, which is called beautiful, to ask alms
of them that entered into the temple. Here is this crippled
man. was lying there at the gate, and he was begging. And he put
out his hands to Peter and John as they walked into the temple.
And verse 3 says, who seeing Peter and John about to go into
the temple, raised his hand, asking in alms. And Peter, fastening
his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave
heed to them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter
said, Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have, give I thee. In the name, in the name of Jesus
Christ of Nashville, rise up and walk. And he took him by
the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet
and ankle bones received strength. All right. When this man was
healed and went walking and leaping about the temple, everybody was
amazed. And he just held on to Peter
and John. He wouldn't let them go. Held
on to them. And the people gathered around
him. Now listen to what Peter said to the people. Verse 12,
And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel,
why do you marvel at this? Why do you look so earnestly
on us as though by our power or holiness we made this man
to walk. Listen now, here's why he came to the temple so he could
say these words. The God of Abraham and of Isaac
and of Jacob, your forefathers, my forefathers, our prophets,
the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son, Jesus, whom
you delivered up and denied him in the presence of Pilate when
he was determined to let him go. But you denied the Holy One
and the Just One. He died to just for the unjust.
The Just One, that's Christ. You remember when Anna and I
said to Saul of Tarsus, God has revealed to you the Just One?
You'll see the Just One. That's Christ. You desired a
murder to be granted unto you, and you killed the Prince of
Life, whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses."
Now, and His name, His name, through faith in His name, hath
made this man strong. When Peter reached out to the
lame man, he said, of the Lord Jesus Christ, rise up and walk. And when he explained what he
had done to these people, he says, not by my power or faith
or holiness. It's in that name. In that name. In that name. In his name. Through
faith in his name that made this man strong, whom you see and
know. Whom you see and know. All right. Now turn with me to
chapter four. begin with verse 5. This is a
theme now that runs through these early chapters in Acts, and I
want you to listen while I read. Acts chapter 4, verse 5, And
it came to pass on the Mara, that their rulers and elders
and scribes, these Jewish, back in the temple now, These leaders,
and rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas, the high priest, and
Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were the kindred
of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And they
set these disciples in the midst, in the middle of all this illustrious,
high-powered And they asked him, by what power
and by what name have you done this? By what name? Who do you represent? And Peter filled with the Holy
Ghost said unto them, you rulers of the people and you elders
of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done
to this impotent man, by what means he hath been made whole,
be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead,
even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. And this
is the stone which was set in all of you builders,
which is now the head of the corner. And neither is there
salvation in any other, for there's none other name unto heaven given
among men, whereby we must be saved." See how many times he keeps saying,
in the name of Jesus, by the name of the Lord Jesus. And here, by the name of Jesus Christ,
this man is whole and neither is there salvation in any other
name. And then over in Romans 10, in Romans 10, the apostle Paul
wrote these Romans 10, verse 12. Romans 10, 12. There's no difference
between the Jew and the great, the same Lord. The same Lord
over all is rich unto all that call upon Him, for whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And our Lord, let me turn over
here and read this to you from John. Our Lord said this, and
whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, that will I do. That the Father
may be glorified in the Son, and if you shall ask anything
in my name, I'll do it. My prayer for myself And for
you tonight who are here, that we may enter into, with some
understanding, the power and the glory and the eternal majesty
of this name. Of this name. I'm going to answer
four questions. While you turn to Ephesians 1,
I want to read another scripture here, Ephesians 1. But I'm going to answer four
questions, or try to. The power, what is the power
of this name? Secondly, who only wears this
name? Thirdly, where did he get this
name? And fourthly, what's in a name? Most names, not much, but there
is in this name. Ephesians 1, beginning with verse
17, that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that's the title of this message, our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom
and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding
being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints, and what is exceeding greatness of his power to usward
who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead,
and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
far above far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion,
and every name that is named, not only in this world, but in
the world to come, has given Him a name above every name that
is named, and has put all things under
His feet. gave him to be the head over
all things, to the church, which is his body, the fullness of
him that filleth all in all." What's the power of this name?
We sing about it, all hail the power. All hail the power of
Jesus' name. Let angels prostrate power. Let the angels of God worship
at that name. Bring forth the royal diadem,
crown him, Lord of all. Let every kindred, every tribe
on this terrestrial ball, to him all majesty ascribe, crown
him, Lord of all. Because God already has. God
already has. Somebody says, make Jesus your
Lord. God already has. He's Lord and
every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He's
Lord. What's the power of this name? Well, men are saved through
the power of this name. Peter said, there's none other
name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
Saved. What's the word saved mean? If
you were to be asked to give one word to define the word saved,
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ now shall be saved. Whosoever
shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. What's one
word? It's the word delivered. Delivered. He had saved us, delivered us
from the kingdom of darkness. Translated us into the kingdom
of his son. Delivered us. He hath delivered
us. He hath delivered us from the
curse under which we were bound. The curse of the law. Scripture
says, cursed is everyone that continue not in all things written
in the book of the law to do them. But Christ hath delivered
us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us. He's delivered us. He's delivered
us from a spiritual grave. He raised us who were dead in
trespasses and sin. And someday, He will deliver
us from the grave of death. He's able to raise us from the
grave and make our bodies like unto His glorious body. So by
that name, we're delivered. Then secondly, by that name,
By that name, sins are forgiven. Turn to the book of Acts. Acts
chapter 10, verse 43. Listen to this. Acts 10, verse
43. Oh boy. To Him give all the prophets
witness. I told you this morning you can't
preach the gospel if you don't preach the Old Testament. Can't
do it. Men who do not, who are not frequently
in the Old Testament will have a difficult time preaching the
gospel. Because he died for our sins according to the scriptures.
He was buried and rose again according to the scriptures.
And to him give all those prophets witness. Listen, what would they
say about him? That through his name, whosoever believes. will receive
remission of sins." Total remission. My sins are blotted out. God
says, cast into the depth of the sea, separated as far as
the east is from the west, behind the back of God, wherever that
is. Remember no more. Sins are forgiven through His
name. We're delivered. We're forgiven. John wrote this, he said, if
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have no sin, we
deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, but if any man
sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous. Only a sinner needs an advocate.
Only a sinner needs an advocate, a lawyer, and He's ours, and
He delivers us and forgives us. And then look at 1 Corinthians
6, the power of this name, the power of this name, that none
other name unto heaven given among men whereby we may be delivered
Through this man's name, that all who believe in his name are
forgiven of their sins, remission of sin. Now look at 1 Corinthians
6, verse 9. Know ye not? Don't you know this? Sure you do. The unrighteous
shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Be not deceived, neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor
abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the
kingdom of God." That lets all of us out, doesn't it? And such were some of you. And you watch. Such were some
of you, but you're washed, you're sanctified, you're justified
in the name of the Lord Jesus. You getting
what I'm trying to put across? The name. In the name of Jesus Christ,
rise up and walk. In the name, by the Spirit of
God. He said, look at verse 11 again,
these three words, you're washed, you're sanctified, you're justified.
What do you think of when you see those three words there?
You're washed, sanctified, justified. I think about that tabernacle
out there in the wilderness. That holy of holies, that place
where, over which the cloud rested. where the Shekinah glory of God
filled that holy of holies and was manifested over the mercy
seat. And that high priest, that old
high priest, representing all of Israel, people of God, did
three things. First, he washed himself. He
washed himself. He went through a particular
ceremony. He's going into the presence
of God. And he washed his flesh and he put on those beautiful
linen clothes. And then he went out and got
the sacrifice and the blood. And he walked across that courtyard
and he came to the labor of fresh water and he sanctified himself. He washed his hands and his feet.
He was washed. And he that is washed needs only
to wash his feet. And he bathed his hands and his
feet. And then he took that blood and went into the Holy of Holies
and put that blood on the mercy seat. Justified. See what I'm
saying? Justified. He bent into the presence
of God and walked out. I tell you this, if he hadn't
have been washed and sanctified and justified by that blood,
he'd have never walked out. There are no shortcuts to God. And I know we can exhaust ourselves
trying to say, but maybe, maybe he's with the Lord. It's like
that black preacher said, maybe he ain't where we know he is. But you can't get around those
three things. You've got to be washed in the blood, sanctified
by the Spirit, justified by Christ. And that's what he said, you
are in His name. That's the power of that name. The power of that
name. And then, 1 John 5. What's the
power of this name? It delivers men. It forgives
men. remission of sin. Washes, sanctifies, justifies. It gives them eternal life. 1
John 5, listen. Verse 11, this is the record
that God hath given to us eternal life. This life's in His Son. He that hath the Son of God hath
life. He that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. And these things, my dear brethren,
I've written unto you, I've preached unto you, I've witnessed unto
you, that believe on the name of the Son of God. That you may
know you have eternal life. And that you may believe on the
name, that wonderful name, of the Son of God. His name, His
blessed name, shall be called Wonderful. His name, His precious
name, shall be called Counselor. The mighty God, the everlasting
Father, Jesus Christ, my Savior. Second question, who only wears
that name? Peter said in our text, in the
name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk. Only one wears
that name. Jesus Christ of Nazareth. All right, turn to Acts 4, and
let's see what it says about this Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Here is his full identification. Now, Peter's They stood him right
in the midst of all these theologians, and scribes, and Pharisees, and
elders, and rulers, and even the high priest, all the illustrious
powers of Jewish religion. And they said, by what name are
you doing what you're doing, saying what you're saying? Well,
Peter said in verse 10, listen, be it known unto you, and all
the people of Israel, but by the name of Jesus." Jesus, that's
first. The angel came to Joseph and
said, call his name Jesus. Jesus. Joshua is the Old Testament
name. Savior. He'll save his people
from their sin. This is the fulfillment of the
prophecy. Call his name Emmanuel, God with
us. They said, you're a man, you
make yourself God. Oh no, he's God. He made himself
Jesus. Second, Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The woman at the well said, the
Messiah coming, the Messiah coming. He'll tell us everything. That's
what Peter said to these lustrous rulers. He's Jesus, born to Mary. He's the Christ. You know, our
Lord said to these very scribes and Pharisees, He said, what
think ye of the Christ? Whose son is he? Son of David.
Who wears this name? Jesus, son of Mary. Christ, the
Messiah. Listen, of Nazareth. Peter doesn't want to be misunderstood
one second concerning by what name he preached. Jesus, son
of Mary, Christ, son of David, of Nazareth, the carpenter. They said Nazareth. Can any good
thing come out of Nazareth? The lowly substitute. who made
himself of no reputation, identified with the lowest of his people.
Wait a minute. Peter said, whom you crucify. I'll take you back to that cross.
Pilate would have let him go, but you demanded that he be crucified
and you crucified him. That's the name. That's the name,
the one you crucified. You look down here at verse chapter
4, verse 26. The kings of this earth stood
up and the rulers were gathered against the Lord, against His
Christ. The kings of the earth and the
rulers, you were of a truth against His holy child Jesus, whom He
anointed, both Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, people of Israel, to
gather together to do what God's hand and God's counsel determined
before to be done. Alright, back to that text. Verse
10 up there. Jesus. By what name? Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom
you crucified, wait a minute, whom God raised up. Whom God
raised from the dead. Even by Him. That's the name. That's the only one who wears
that name. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom
you crucified. Look at Acts 5, verse 30. Peter
said this when they told him not to preach in that name anymore. Look at Acts 5, verse 28. And they said, did not we straightly
command you, you should not teach in that name? And behold, you
filled Jerusalem with your doctrine. You intend to bring this man's
blood upon us. And Peter and the other apostles
answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The
God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you slew and hanged
on a tree, and Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Savior,
to be a Prince and a Savior, and to give repentance to Israel,
forgiveness of sins. And we're His witnesses of these
things. And so also is the Holy Ghost whom God hath given to
them that obey Him. That's the name. That's the only
one who wears this name. Only one. Where did he get that
name? Turn to Philippians 2. Where
did he get this name? Our Lord Jesus Christ. Where did he get this name? Well, God gave it to him. Philippians
2. Two things. He earned it. God
gave it to him. He earned it. He's the only one
that can and did. And God gave it to him. Look
at Philippians 2. And Paul's talking here to the church about
a loneliness of mind and humility and unity and fellowship. He said in verse 3, Let nothing
be done through strife and vainglory, but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem the other better than themselves. Look not every
man on his own things, but every man on the things of others.
And let this mind of humility be in you, which was also in
your Savior, Christ Jesus." Now listen, "...who being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, made himself,
he made himself a man of no reputation, and took on him the form of a
servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found
in habit, fashion, as a man, he humbled himself and became
obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He earned
the name. He earned it. He deserves it. He accomplished everything in
this flesh the Father sent him to do. And he's the only one
who can wear that name, Lord Jesus Christ. Jehovah. Sid Kenan, my righteousness.
Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will provide. Jehovah Shalem, our
peace. He earned it. Verse 9, Wherefore
God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is
above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow. At the name of Jesus every knee
will bow, in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, and every
tongue will confess Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father. There's none other name given
among men. There's none heaven, earth, or
under the earth with Him can compare. All others' names are
marred by sin, this card. He's fairer than all the fair.
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, has died. opening the gates of
heaven wide. All who believe are justified
freely by His name. What is His name? Our Lord Jesus
Christ is the fourth thing. What is His name? Our Lord Jesus
Christ. It's not the name Elohim Almighty
God, he wore that name forever and forever. He thought
it not robbery to be equal with God. He's called Almighty God
from all eternity, in the beginning God. So that's not the name. What about Son of God? No, he's
always had that name. He's the eternal son of God.
The father is called the eternal father. Well, if he's an eternal
father, he must have an eternal son. God didn't become a father. He's the eternal father because
the son is eternal. So he's always been the son of
God. What is his name? Well, people today call him Jesus.
Joseph gave him that name. Joseph gave him that name. The
angel said, Joseph, you call his name Jesus. That's not what God called him,
that's what Joseph called him. That's what the whole world called
him. What does God call him? Our Lord Jesus Christ. The name Jehovah. He wears the
name Jehovah. Isn't that right, John? Jehovah.
Lord. You call me Lord, he said, and
you say, well, so I am. It troubles me when I hear people
preach or testify and just keep saying Jesus said this and Jesus
said that and Jesus did this and Jesus did that. And they
sing a song called Jesus Say. But that's not so. That's not
what this book says. It says, in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ, stand up and walk. In the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ. He's Lord. All authority is given
unto Him in heaven and earth. He says, I have all power over
all flesh. Authority is in that name. The
Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ. I have
a friend, I had a friend, he's dead now. And he was chief of
police in my hometown. He was a believer. He loved the
Gospel of Grace. Tommy Ward was his name. He's
been here at the Bible conferences. Suppose I'm walking down the
street and I hear a voice. And that boy says, stop. I'm
Tommy Ward. I'm not really compelled to stop.
Not really. There's no power there that would
cause me to change my direction. Or again, he says, stop. I'm
Tommy Ward. I'm your friend. I'm your brother. There's nothing in that command
that would cause me to stop. Suppose he said, stop. In the name of the law,
stop. I'm stopping. I'm Tommy Ward, chief of police,
and I command you in the name of the Lord Stop. Why would I
obey that name? Because Tommy Ward, chief of
police, in the name of the law, behind him is the authority,
behind him is the power, behind him are all the courts, behind
him are all the judges, behind him is the U.S. government with
total control over my life and all that matters to me. And in
His hands, if I do not obey His command, is the power to arrest
me, pull all the forces with Him against me, try me, find
me guilty, and take my life. That's the power of Tommy Ward,
Chief of Police. I'm telling you, that's the power
of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's behind Him, in that name,
is all the power and authority of God, of heaven, all the courts,
the government of his kingdom, and all things and whatsoever
he says will be done. That's the power of that name.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, rise up and walk. That's the power of that name.
That's what's in a name. God gave him that name. And as
a result, turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 3. In the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ is all power, all authority over all creatures, powers, principalities,
dominions, and He alone has the power to set me free forever
and deliver me from all the forces of of evil. First Corinthians
3, verse 21, Therefore, let no man glory in me, for all things
are yours, whether power, or palace, or cephas, or the world,
or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all
are yours, and you are Christ, and Christ is God. And heaven hears that name and
responds. And hell trembles at that name.
We know who you are. The demon said, we know who you
are. Have you come to torment us before our time? The grave
opens at that name. Lazarus, come forth. And someday all that are in the
grave shall come forth. And the gates of heaven are opened
at that name. Lift up your heads, O ye gates,
and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors. The King of Glory is coming
in. Who is this King of Glory? Our
Lord Jesus Christ. Wherewith shall we approach the
Lord and bow before His throne by believing His Word and in
the name of Christ alone. This is the name the Father loves.
This is the name I plead. This is the name that heaven
approves. Blessed is His name indeed. Oh, let His name forever be to
us supremely dear. His name, our all-prevailing
plea, all our hope is that. In the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. His name, Lord Jesus Christ,
suits Him well. For His name is wonderful indeed. He delivers me from sin and wrath,
death and hell. His name is all I need. In the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Oh, what a name. All right, let's
sing a closing hymn. I hope that's a blessing to you.