Christ's new name, and our new name

We will have a new name! Jesus will have a new name!

Rev 2:17, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Rev 3:12, The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

Rev 19:12, His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.

Dr. MacArthur has a very short devotional from Philippians 2:9 about the naming thing. Here it is

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God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.”, Philippians 2:9 God exalted Christ by giving Him a new name. In today’s verse a question that arises is, What is the name that is above every name? To be consistent with Scripture, it has to be a name that goes beyond merely distinguishing one person from another. It has to be a name that describes Christ’s nature—revealing something of His inner being. Only such a name would cause Him to be clearly ranked above all others.

Paul wasn’t referring to a comparative name, but a superlative name—one that would set Christ above and beyond all comparison. Change of name in Scripture indicates the commencement of a unique relationship. When God established His covenant with Abram, He changed his name to “Abraham” (Gen. 17:5). When God entered into a unique relationship with Jacob, He gave Him the name “Israel” (Gen. 32:22-32). In the New Testament, Jesus called a man named Simon to follow Him, then gave him a new name: Peter (Matt. 16:18). Those names were given to mark a definite stage in a person’s life. God has done that throughout redemptive history. Philippians 2:9 affirms that God gave Christ a name. He already had many names—Jesus, Christ, Son of Man, Son of God, Messiah—but He received a new name. Some assume that the new name is Jesus because verse 10 says, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” But that wasn’t a new name; it was bestowed at birth (see Matt. 1:21).

Nor is the name Jesus above every other name (there have been a lot of people named Jesus). The only name mentioned in Philippians 2:9-11 that is above every name is Lord. In verse 11 Paul says, “Every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” That is the only name God gave Christ that is above every name. Whoever is Lord is in control. Let us exalt Christ our Lord by offering Him praise and living a holy life.
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I listened to a MacArthur sermon a few years ago on our service in the millennium and beyond, where the bible says we will rule and reign. It is called "What Will We Do? Part 1 (and there is a part 2). Here is a quote

"I believe clearly that the Scripture teaches that we will reign with Christ. And what that means is we will have responsibility. We will have oversight. We will have duties with regard to the ongoing operation of the eternal state. Now this is an amazing thing to think about. But in this life here the Lord has given us a role of authority in His church. He has given us responsibility. We have certain duties in this church that we are to carry out. Those offices given to us, those spiritual gifts enabling us to minister in certain ways, those spiritual responsibilities God gives to us are a certain amount of authority that He allows us to have by delegation to represent Him in the ongoing work of His church. We...we do that, we don't do it perfectly, in fact we do it very imperfectly, but when we get to heaven I believe He will operate His Kingdom there in much the same way He has operated the Kingdom here. And that is by delegating that operation to His own. There, however, we will all be perfect and our operation within that delegated authority will be perfect as well. And so we will then in that time in that place when we go to be with Him and dwell forever in eternity be given a sphere of responsibility, a sphere of authority within the ongoing of that kingdom for which we will be eternally responsible."

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I do remember Dr MacArthur explaining that what we do down here will in all likelihood relate to the sphere of authority we are given up there. It was a very interesting sermon series. He indicated that the gifts from the Spirit in this life are a kind of training ground and that when we get there, we will know as we will be known. So that means if I have been given the gifts of teaching, exhortation and discernment, then hopefully that means I will still be privileged to teach and be with young people in the Millennium, teaching about Christ and His work on the cross. This is something that those born in the millennium will have to know, especially since they will be seeing the sacrifices ongoing in the temple. Every person born in that time and place will need to know about Jesus I hope I have a part in sharing that. When MacArthur explained it, it sounded right, that we will be like we are now (as Abraham, Elijah and Moses were seen to be) but are made better in glorification to perform His will perfectly, in His authority.

As an aside, it was an incredible scene, that Moses and Elijah were talking with the Lord, like in casual conversation! It also tells me how thin the veil is, that the two of them suddenly appeared. In one moment Jesus the man-God was with the three disciples on the mountain, and the next second Jesus was glorified and the long-dead two prophets were there, "talking with Him". Present tense, like an ongoing conversation? Talking with the disciples on earth AND the men in heaven?! Amazing, isn't it.

I believe our character and nature will be the same also, our individual uniqueness the Lord formed in the womb and the Spirit took so much time to shape while we were here on earth will not be abandoned but perfected. So we will be kind of the same creatures with kind of the same spheres (except that you will be able to walk and I will be able to smell). However our new name will indicate an intimately personal relationship with Jesus. I can't imagine a MORE intimate one that I have now with the Spirit indwelling me already, but I am looking forward to my new name and His new name, and for it all to start. Whatever name Jesus chooses to reveal Himself, He is worthy to be praised!

Comments

  1. In that case, I hope we have more time down here because my life hasn't ammounted to much, sorry to say. I have been a stay at home mom, and don't really interact much outside of my family, so I haven't done much down here.

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    Replies
    1. Even if your life DID amount to much, it would still be filthy rags and dung to the Lord. Fortunately, we don't have to DO anything, He saves us as He chooses, so no man could boast.

      We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. Isaiah 64:6

      I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Phil 3:8

      For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9

      Jesus considers motherhood a noble thing. You are doing something He commends:

      Of mothers, it is written, "To be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:5

      You ARE doing much in the Lord as a mother. Read more here
      What does the bible say about Christian mothers?
      http://www.gotquestions.org/mothers-Christian.html

      Even so, He is immutable (unchanging). That means His love for you is unchanging. He loved you fully when He chose you for salvation, and He loves you fully no matter what kind of mother you are and no matter how hard you work. Pray to Jesus for Him to guide you in the word so that you can be refreshed and get a good perspective on His loe for us.

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