A Name Which Is Above Every Name

A NAME WHICH IS ABOVE EVERY NAME

Philippians 2:9 says, Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:….” The name of Jesus is above every name and inferior to none. Jesus came “in the form of God.” (Philippians 2:6). Thomas declared, “My Lord and my God.” (John 20:28). John wrote, “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.” (John 1:1). That has not changed. Jesus, therefore, can rightly claim, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:1-6). He correctly called Himself “the Son of God.” (John 9:35-37). He was truthful in saying, “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30). Matthew 1:21 correctly said, “he shall save his people from their sins.” Jesus would later affirm, “Ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins.” (Matthew (9:6).

The name of Jesus is above every name. Many servants of God have lived and served well. For example, “Enoch walked with God.” (Genesis 5:21-24; Hebrews 11:5, 6). Noah was “a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9). He “found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” (Verse 8). He was faithful to build the ark as God directed. (Genesis 6:22; Hebrews 11:7). Abram (Abraham) was “justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar” (Hebrews 11:21-24), when he obeyed God. (Hebrews 11:8-10). He was called “the Friend of God” (James 2:23) and “faithful Abraham.” (Galatians 3:9). Cf. Romans 4; John 14:15; 15:14. Dare anyone doubt for a moment the faithfulness of the imperfect but faithful Moses, the great leader of God’s people? (Exodus-Deuteronomy; Hebrews 11:23-28). And who would doubt the great David, a man who sinned and repented? (2 Samuel 11; 12; Psalm 51:1ff; Acts 7:46). God described David as “a man after mine on heart, which shall fulfill all my will.” (Acts 13:22). What about Sarah (Hebrews 11:11), Rahab (James 2:25; Hebrews 11:31), and so many more, “which time would fail me to tell”? (Hebrews 11:32-40). As imperfect, repentant, and loyal to God as these, and many more, were, and highly exalted of God, the name of Jesus was and continues to be above each of them.

The name of Jesus was, and is, above every god, image, or idol. “All the gods of Egypt” (Exodus 12:12), the gods in the lands after leaving Egypt (Exodus 23:24), such as, “the gods of the Amorites” (Joshua 24:15), “Baalim, and Ashtoroth, and the gods of Syria…Zidon…Moab…the children of Ammon…the Philistines” (Judges 10:6), and all others, pale in comparison to the names of God and Jesus. Under the Old Testament, God said, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me: (Exodus 20:1-3). They were told in clear statements, “Thou shalt not bow thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,….” (Exodus 20:4, 5). God would be second to none.

The devil tempted Jesus (Matthew 4:1) to “fall down and worship me.” (Verse 9). Jesus responded, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Verse 10). During His life upon earth, Jesus cast out devils, showing His supremacy over them. (Matthew 8:28-33; 9:32-35). These “gods” were nothing more than the imaginations of men. Cf. Isaiah 44:8-28. They could do nothing!

After the church was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), Stephen preached a sermon. (Acts 7). He made it crystal clear that the “gods…the idol” erected at the foot of “mount Sinai” was worthless and sinful, and it brought the wrath of God against Israel. (Acts 7:37-50). 1 Corinthians 8 speaks of idols, showing “that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many). But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we be in him.” (Verses 4-6). None of the gods and goddesses of the New Testament were of any benefit. Paul declared that “they be no gods, which are made with hands” “at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia.” (Acts 19:26). This included “the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter” (Acts 20:35, 37), which many built and worshipped. (Acts 19:27). The beloved apostle born out of season preached the kingdom three months in the synagogue (Acts 19:8), and two years in the school of one Tyrannus, declaring the word of the Lord Jesus (Verse 10). The result was repentance by many. Cf. verses 18-20. We rightfully sing such songs as “ALL HAIL, THE POWER OF JESUS’ NAME”; “JESUS IS ALL THE WORLD TO ME”; “JESUS PAID IT ALL”; “JESUS, SAVIOR, PILOT ME”; “O HOW I LOVE JESUS”; “PRAISE HIM! PRAISE HIM!”; and all the others, far too many to mention.

Many today worship “gods”, rather than the God of the Bible. Most people worship someone or something, whether the God and Creator of all or others. Even atheists, infidels, agnostics, and others worship someone or something. There are over 2 billion claiming to be of the “Christian” faith. This includes everyone who professes faith in the Deity of God and Jesus. Islam claims 1.3 Billion members. Hindu’s boast of 900 Million. Confucionism lays claim to 394 Million. Those of Buddhism number 376 Million. Each of these, and many others, have a god or gods, rather than Jesus, whom they worship. Mohammed, Buddha, Bahai, and others are worshipped as gods or saviors. Their worshippers look to them for guidance and salvation. However, the word of God said Jesus was “equal with God.” (Philippians 2:6). He, not any of the foregoing, humbled himself, and left heaven to become God in the flesh. (1 Timothy 3:16). The name of Jesus is above all names. One day, “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.” (Philippians 2:9-11).

Man-made religions, “teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:9) built upon those who formed them and/or their doctrines will one day stand before Jesus to be judged according to their works, and will hear Him say, “Well done” and “Come”, or “Depart” (Matthew 25, esp. verses 21, 23, 26-30; 34, 41), depending on whether or not they repented. These men and women who changed the “gospel of Christ” (Romans 1:16), “the doctrine of Christ” (2 John 9-11), “the faith” (Jude 3), for their own doctrines and names will at the judgment realize that Jesus, not them, was the one they should have followed. Sadly, their followers will realize the same, but it will be too late. Look at the religion you now espouse, and test it by the scriptures (Acts 17:10-12; 1 John 4:1; 2 Corinthians 13:5). Check the following scriptures to see what the Bible says, and honestly ask yourself if your church teaches the same: (1) Ephesians 1:22, 23; Ephesians 5:21-33; (2) Hebrews 12:15; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; (3) Ephesians 2:8-10; James 2:14-26; (4) Romans 5:8, 9; Matthew 26:28; (5) John 3:16; Romans 5:1; (6) Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 17:30, 31; (7) Matthew 10:32, 33; Romans 10:9, 10; (8) Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:20, 21; Romans 6:1-5; (9) Galatians 3:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Colossians 1:18; (10) Revelation 2:10; Mark 13:13; (11) Colossians 3:1-5; Romans 12:1, 2; Ephesians 4:22-5:18; (12) Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16. Read and search your New Testament through to see if you can find the name of the church of which you are a member, and write the verse(s) in the following blank: _________________________. Cf. Colossians 3:17; 1 Peter 4:11; 2 John 9-11.

Beloved, the writer’s grandfather found a number of things Biblically wrong with the church of which he was a member for many years. He searched the scriptures, and he found the church of the New Testament. Rather than doing right at the moment he realized he had been wrong, he went to his preacher to tell him what he had learned, and that he would not be back. The preacher did not try to show him wherein he was wrong, using the scriptures. Rather, he used an emotional approach, telling him that doing what he intended to do would be like saying his good old daddy and mama went to hell. He kept him in his church. Beloved, Jesus is greater than any preacher. Study to learn what is right, then immediately upon being convinced what is right, do so. Cf. Acts 2:41; 16:33. Contact the writer if you feel he would be helpful, or to expose any incorrect thing said.