God's Name Jesus

Matt. 1:20, 21, "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." From this we have the name "JESUS" defined for us as meaning "Savior."
From the old testament we discover a deeper meaning of the word Jesus. The name Joshua in the old testament is the same as the word Jesus in the new testament. The two times Joshua is mentioned in the new testament the English word used is Jesus (Acts 7:45; Heb. 4:8). Joshua's name was not called Joshua at the first, but rather Oshea (Num. 13:8, 16) which means "God saves." Later Moses changed the name of Joshua from Oshea to Jehoshua which means Jehovah saves. Jehoshua was contracted into Joshua. Thus the name Joshua and the equivalent name Jesus in the new testament means "Jehovah saves."

As we have previously studied the name Jehovah refers to God as the covenant making, covenant keeping, covenant fulfilling God. Thus Jehovah is often referred to as God's covenant name.

In Rom. 8:29, 30 God's covenant of redemption or covenant of salvation which He made with himself before the foundation of the world is plainly stated: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." The declaration of the angle in naming the holy child Jesus in Matt. 1:21 is basically a restatement of the covenant of salvation. It was His people that Jesus came to save. This equates to those that he "foreknew" or chose "before the foundation of the world" (Eph. 1:4). The phrase "shall save" when connected with the work of Jehovah equates to God's predestination of his people to be conformed to the image of his Son. Furthermore, salvation from sins is a threefold process. Jesus saves us from the bondage of sin when he causes the elect to be born again by his effectual calling. He saved his people from the condemnation of sin when he died on the cross to justify us before God. He will save us from the corruption of sin when we are glorified in the resurrection from the dead. Thus Jesus (Jehovah saves) has made the covenant of redemption, kept the covenant of redemption, and fulfills the covenant of redemption.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). Salvation from sin is the work of Jesus. Only Jesus saves from sin.

Salvation from sin is not a cooperative work between Jesus and man (for there is none other name...whereby we must be saved). If I or any other man could do anything to assist in the salvation from sin, then there would be other names under heaven that would be responsible for salvation from sin! Thus salvation from sin is the work of Jesus (Jehovah saves).

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil 2:9 11). Everyone of us should bow before Jesus for his blessed work of salvation and confess him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. We all should do this as we live in this time world. I am convinced we WILL do this in the resurrection.

Because of Jesus' (Jehovah saves) work of salvation we can gather together to worship in his name (Matt. 18:20); we can communicate with God in prayer asking in his name (John 16:23); the gospel preachers can speak boldly in the name of Jesus (Acts 9:27); and the disciples are baptized in the name of Jesus (under the authority of Jesus) (Acts 2:38).

Finally we are taught in Col. 3:17, "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."

Elder Vernon Johnson