A Name Above Every Name

Introduction

I feel exactly the same way that Sean does, as I too get the opportunity to travel and meet good brethren in good churches and other places, but this is my favorite. Despite some of the people that are here.

You cause that. But I would say this don’t mess it up. I hope I can do this subject justice this morning. It’s been a sermon that’s been cooking in my mind for a long time, and I’m not sure it got out exactly the way I wanted it, but here it goes. We’re going to be looking at a lot of texts this morning that I cannot read every verse. So you may want to write these major sections down and do a little bit of study this week on them as somewhat of a follow-up to this. And we’re going to start with a tremendous text in Philippians chapter 2. That may be familiar to a good number of you. This is flowing out of the context of Paul encouraging the church at Philippi to be of one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel and conducting themselves worthy of the gospel of Christ.

And the way that they do that is that they imitate the mind of Christ in their lives. That they have the right spirit of mind or attitude of mind that Jesus displayed. And that’s what’s going on in chapters chapter 2, verses 1 through 5, where he says, Let this mind be in you, King James Version, have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus. What attitude was that? Where he possessed everything, surrendered it, descended, God becomes humanity.

And he suffered as a servant, not regarding equality with God, a thing to be held on to, but he came and descended and took upon himself flesh and the form of a servant. He was made in the likeness of men, and he humbled himself. A humility that I don’t believe we’ll ever touch in our own experience. He humbled himself, became obedient, even unto death. Even death on a cross. But that’s not where the story ends. Therefore, on the basis of what he gave up, on the basis of his descent, on the basis of his humility, on the basis of his death, his perfect sacrifice that we read about in so many other texts of the New Testament, therefore also God highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name.

I just want to tell you, this is one of the great verses about our Lord in the New Testament. Bestowed upon him the name that is above every name, the name that he now possesses right now, today. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

1. Baptized in the Name of Jesus

That is, every person, everything, everywhere. And that every tongue should confess, that’s you and me too. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God, the Father. There is a great deal of misunderstanding about the expression about the name of Jesus in the religious world today. Pentecostals, for instance, find themselves in conflict with Acts 19 and 5 and Matthew 28, verse 19. Remember in Acts 19, Paul encountered those who had only known of John’s baptism, and he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus. And that’s important as we begin to explain that phrase in the lesson. To be baptized in the name of Jesus. And then the disciples, when they were sent out by the resurrected Lord, when he told them of their mission to go into all the earth and preach the gospel, he said that they were to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

And what I want you to know about these passages, and this is the problem Pentecostals have, is that they are not in conflict with one another. It’s not either or. In fact, they work in concert with each other. They are not in conflict. To be baptized in the name of Jesus, to be baptized in the name of the Father and Son and the Holy Spirit are one and the same. And perhaps this lesson will help further explain that. But I’m not sure we do a whole lot better with the phrase. At least from the standpoint that we tend to think, because these are words we hear all the time. In fact, I was talking to Jeff Wilson, the preacher at Clinewood, about this very briefly on Wednesday night.

I asked him if he always said at a baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, because I do so. That’s our tradition. But is that something that has to be done? To have a scriptural baptism, is it essential for the preacher to say those magic words? I want to suggest that these passages are not talking about magic words that the baptizer must say.

Or in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So what do these expressions that we read about in the New Testament really say? What they say is this, and this is the essence of the lesson. This is what I want to convey because I think it’s so often misunderstood. The expressions in the name of Jesus and the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit speak to how, why, or upon what basis one is baptized. Not about the words spoken by the baptizer. Oh, it’s perfectly appropriate to say. Because a scriptural baptism, one that comes into Christ, does so because of the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Because of the things Jesus has done due to the name of Jesus. But really, what this expression is saying is we talk about the how, the why, or upon what basis.

Because, and you can just substitute this for these phrases. Because he is the Savior and reigning King. Because of the reliability of His Word and the trustworthiness of the promises therein. When someone is baptized in the name of Jesus, it is done so because Jesus is now reigning King and Lord. Because we believe this is his word that saves us. Because we believe what he has promised in his word is true. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. My sins are cleansed by his precious blood. Because he has the name that is above every name. That’s why I can have confidence that my conscience is cleansed, that I can appeal to God for a clean conscience when I’m baptized into Christ. 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse 21, and have the assurance that my sins are washed away.

2. The Name of Jesus Is All That He Is

Hebrews chapter 1. What is the name of Jesus all about? Hebrews 1 helps us with this. In these last days, God has spoken to us in his Son. He is the heir of all things. The Hebrew writer says. He is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation or imprint, the ESV says, the imprint of his nature. And he upholds all things by the word of his power. And he now sits at the right hand of the majesty on high. And the point the Hebrew writer is making, he has such a name that is so excelling. That it is a name greater than the angels. As great as the angels are, as they serve the Lord’s purposes, as they are ministering spirits sent out to serve the elect, Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 14.

Jesus has a more excellent name than they not vice versa. Remember when John tries to worship the angel? He saw the angel as greater than himself. And the angel was revealing these awesome pictures in the book of Revelation. And so he bows down to worship the angel. And the angel says what? Do not do that. Worship God. Jesus, though he was a man and he humbled himself as a man, has now ascended to the place of position and prominence at the right hand of the Majesty on high. And now the angels worship him. They are subservient to him. In fact, everyone answers to him. He has the name that is above every name. And there are two things being emphasized, but before we get to that, what exactly is the name that is above all names?

I think that’s what’s confuses people. Is it the name of Jesus that we see most often in the New Testament? Is it the fact that he’s the Messiah or the Christ or any of these others? Emmanuel, God with us, or as we’ve sung about, the Prince of Peace. Actually, here’s the point. If you get this has been a success. The name of Jesus is all. It’s not one specific title. The name of Jesus is all that he is. All of those things that describe who he is and what he has done and where he now is and what he now is, all of those things represent the name of Jesus. The name that is above every name without rival anywhere. And what the Hebrew writer is saying, because Jesus is all of this, because Jesus is all of this, we can be saved.

Because Jesus is all of this, we can be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of our sins. Because Jesus is all of this, we’re going to answer to him as our judge. You see, it’s about what he is and who he is. And what his mission was. And what he will one day do. As we will stand before him. And he will be our judge. On the basis of all that he is. That is our hope. And there are two things that are brought out in the book of Hebrews. Two main themes as a result of the fact that Jesus possesses a name greater than the angels, more excellent than the angels. Number one, that he is exalted above all others. And because he is exalted above all others, he is reliable like no other is.

3. Exalted Above All Others

I want to talk about these two things very briefly. Why does Jesus have a name that is above every name? Why has he exalted to an unrivaled place and position, having unrivaled character? Because he humbled himself to the uttermost. Remember what I said in Philippians chapter 2? This is a humility that you and I will never grasp in our experience. As humble as we can become. And we must humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. 1 Peter 5 and verse 6. We are constantly being admonished in the direction of humility, lowering ourselves in our own estimation, putting God and others above ourselves, particularly God. We must constantly pursue humility.

But even if we excel tremendously in humility, even if you become the most humble person in the Decker Prairie Church, and if you do that, we’re going to give you an award. We’re going to give you a nice big pen that says, I am the most humble person in the Decker Prairie Church. And then when you put it on, we’re going to take it away from you. Because you’ve just surrendered your position. But even if we were the most humble person in the church, we would not understand his humility. That he would leave heaven. Equality and authority with the Father. Subject Himself. But not only subject himself by taking on the limitations of human flesh, but that he would suffer. Though innocent. Not only would he suffer and be rejected, he came to his own, and his own received him not, John says in John chapter 1.

Him who was life and the life was the light of men. He came to his own and his own received him not. He not only suffered at the hands of those that he created and gives life and breath and sustains their lives, they put him to death on a cross. You know it’s one thing to be shot.

But to be crucified. The worst imaginable form of exit from this world, reserved for the worst of criminals to be crucified, though innocent of any wrongdoing. He who humbled himself to the uttermost is now exalted. And you know Jesus taught that, didn’t he? As he teaches us about humility in Matthew chapter 23, just prior to his death, as he talks about the arrogance of the Pharisees. He says, and do not be called leaders, for one is your leader, and that is Christ, that is Messiah, and of course he is that Messiah. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And that’s what Jesus demonstrated. He served like no other ever did. He served all of humanity in giving his precious blood. But the greatest among you shall be your servant, and whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

I want to tell you, the beatitudes begin where they do for a reason. Blessed are the poor in spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. He who humbles himself is exalted. And now I said during class that sometimes I go into a little aside here, and this is where I’m going. How it must nauseate our God. When men get carried away with themselves. Get carried away with themselves to the extent that they cause conflict and division among his people. Because they think themselves to be something.

What does Romans chapter 12 and verse 3 say about that? At the very beginning of Paul’s explanation of what it means to live the life of the one justified by faith. He talks about the grace that had been given to him, and he says that every man among you should not think more highly of himself than he ought to think. When a man thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. He says in Galatians chapter 6 and verse 3. People so often get carried away with their small spheres of power. In a local church. So you get to be diatrophies. You get to be kingpin in the local church. Everybody answers to you. You get to make all the decisions. Everything you say goes, and you’re going to demand it that way.

I want to tell you something. That is a very small sphere of power, is it not? 150 people. I rule. Wow, how little that really is. I mean, God must sit in heaven if it weren’t so serious. As he says it sometimes, God laughs. He looks this. Does this guy know how really small and impotent he really is? He’s so temporary. Even rulers of the world. What about the power that they wield? Look at this Isaiah 40. I love this. Jesus has a name that is above every name. And I’ll tell you what that means. He who sits above the vault of the earth, our God. Let me tell you about people that are on this earth. They’re like grasshoppers. Let me say some little thing.

You know, grasshoppers probably think they’re pretty cool because they jump. Let’s say you other guys jump this much. But they’re little. And you know what boys do? They stomp grasshoppers. That’s the end of that jumping. Grasshoppers, little bitty. That’s what the inhabitants of the world are to our God who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. Look at this. He it is who reduces rulers to nothing. Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless, and yet there is so often the pomposity that goes with that. Scarcely have they been planted, scarcely have they been sown, scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth. He merely blows on them. Bye. They wither.

And the storm carries them away like stubble. To whom then will you liken me that I should be his equal, says the Holy One. That’s the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. That’s the name of Jesus. To whom will you liken them? No one. Even the most powerful men on earth. And they’re gone. Any president or king, so often carried away with their position and prominence, they’re short-lived, they’re small time. Somebody learned that lesson, didn’t he? Again, I don’t have time to tell this whole story in Daniel 4, but what a great story. He’d had that dream once back in Daniel 2 that Daniel could tell him the meaning and the interpretation of. He has another dream, chapter 4 about this tree that’s cut down.

Again, all of his wise men in Babylon can’t help him. He knows where to go. He goes to Daniel. Daniel says, Oh king, if only this had been about your enemies. He’s very political about this. He is before the most powerful man in the world. And yet he tells him the nature of his vision and the meaning of it. And sure enough, just as the dream had said. Months later, he’s out looking over his glorious kingdom. Look at this kingdom I’ve built for myself. Boom. Dream comes true. He becomes immediately crazy man. Nebuchadnezzar loses his mind. Great song. We were trying to think about who wrote this. We think it might have been Glenn DeShales. I might be wrong about this. The song about Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4 Grass, all I eat is grass.

4. We Can Rely on Him

That was the greatest man of all the earth. He eats grass. My hair is long like feathers, my fingernails like claws. And then he finally comes to his senses. But now I know that God is the great ruler over all and bestows on it whomever he wishes. Nebuchadnezzar understands his place finally, at least for a time. He who humbles himself shall be exalted. But the second part of this, because he wields the name or possesses the name that is above every name, that means we can rely on him. And that, my friends, from the time that Jesus ascended in Acts chapter 1 has not changed. It is the same right now, October 26, 2014, that it was that day when he ascended to the right hand of the majesty on high.

Chapter 7 and verse 25 of the book of Hebrews, he is able to save forever those who draw near to him. He ever lives to make intercession for us, the Hebrew writer says. He ever lives. He’s still doing that. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Hebrew writer says in chapter 13 and verse 8. And so, what flows out of Jesus wielding or possessing the name that is above every name is this.

And the sensible thing to do is not only to submit to him, but to rely on him. Because every knee will one day bow to him. You know, we can ignore that all we want to. We can act like that’s not real. And we can go party until we drop. We can live for ourselves and satisfy every desire of our flesh as much as we might want to do. We can follow our impulses all day long and say, you know, I really don’t need that religious crutch. I don’t need to consistently assemble with the saints. I can do my own thing, make my own rules. I don’t need this. I don’t believe in that. Well, you can choose that if you want, but I’m telling you.

Jesus has the name that is above every name, and you’re gonna bow to him. And there’s no circumventing that. I wouldn’t preach this gospel if I didn’t believe that 100%. And that’s what Paul is saying in Philippians chapter 2. At the name of Jesus, everyone should bow, and everyone will one day acknowledge who and what he is. And there’s something that flows out of that’s very practical.

The ineptness of people versus the power of Jesus. I was in Panama City worshiping with the Beach Church of Christ in Panama City last week, and a young man by the name of Todd Reynolds was doing the preaching, and very talented young man, and he made a very good illustration, a very good point about how that I may like to be very philanthropic, I may like to help people who have a need and to assist them, but I might not have the ability to do so. I might not be endowed with the wherewithal to really assist people like I would want to. And then there’s this other person who is endowed with all of that, who has all of those resources, and this person isn’t interested in trying to help, isn’t willing.

But you know what’s wonderful about Jesus? He’s equipped with the resources and the desire to give us everything that we need. He can richly supply all of our need. Paul says in Philippians chapter 4 and verse 19. I want you to notice what comes from Jesus. Not just our salvation, that’s enough, but the fact that we’ll have then fellowship with God and the provision that he gives for us. Again, he richly supplies all of our need and the hope of immortality with him, the ineptness of people and the power of Jesus, the disappointment of people, and the steadfastness of Jesus. Listen, people are limited. Jesus is not. As we noted in our study on Wednesday night about God being spirit. I can only wonder how many people have given up on faith.

Have given up on worship, have given up on the Lord’s people, who have quit living the life the New Testament calls them to live because some person disappointed them. Some perceived or real slight from a brother. Perhaps the preacher or the elders disappointed them in some way, failed to react like they thought they should have reacted. I just wonder how many people have surrendered faith because of people. Let me tell you, people are limited. People are flawed. People disappoint. But our eyes must not be trained completely upon people, but upon him who does not disappoint. My faith is not in the Lord’s people. I know some of them will continue to be true to the Lord throughout their lives, bumps along the way, but they will be true to the Lord throughout their lives.

There are some churches that will go along just wonderfully through decades of time, but people can disappoint. Jesus does not disappoint. He is reliable. Don’t lose confidence in him because you lose confidence in people. And life.

5. Life Is in His Name

Life is in his name. Look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews chapter 12 and verse 2. What does it mean that life is in his name? Oh, I thought about a lot of things. This is just touching the hem of the garment. Not just our soul salvation, but our consciences are cleansed from the conviction that we have regarding our sin. He renews our hearts. He gives us inner peace, the peace of God that surpasses all comprehension. He helps us, he provides divine assistance. He gives us a purpose in life that is exalted. This is just the beginning. He shows us the way of moral goodness and excellence and teaches us how to be helpful to others. That’s just the name of you.

So somebody said, Well, I’m not choosing that. I don’t want that. Sounds like a lot of work. Well, that first part, that’s blessing. And I’ll tell you, this latter part that involves the work. It makes you a better person. It’s exalting. And that’s why I said exalted purpose. But I’ll tell you, if you don’t choose this, let me tell you’re choosing something less than life. Because life is in him. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. You’re choosing something less. Something inferior. And something that will not last. And so I come to the final verse I want to share with you in Colossians 3, one of the two final verses, Colossians 3 and verse 17. The passage that says, And whatever you do, on the basis of the life that is in his name, whatever you do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

What does that mean? Sometimes I think we just want to give something, do all in his authority. That is not all it is. That’s part of it. On the basis of all that he is and all that he has done, so live. That’s what he’s saying in Colossians 3 and verse 17. Listen to him, submit to him, reap the awesome benefits. On the basis of all that Jesus is, so live before him, and be thankful that you have what you have, that you know what you know. And because he has the name that is above all names, he says, And can say, in reality, come to me, and I will give you rest. Come, take my yoke upon you and learn of me. For I am meek and lowly of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Conclusion

This is what you were made to do. This will bring you to the high places of life. And so when you think of the name of Jesus, I want you to think of his exalted, unique, and relevant status and his steadfast desire to assist your journey into his presence. What an awesome thing that we are in the service of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. That we are the servants of him who wields, who has the name that is above every name. Have you responded submissively and obediently to him? He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey him.

And he wants to bestow you with tremendous things. Will you submit to him who has the name that is above all names? And we sing to encourage your logical response. Let’s stand and sing together.