Articles
"In The Name of The Lord Jesus"
“An whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by Him” (Col 3:17). The activities of Christians are to be always within the confines of the ‘name of the Lord Jesus’. This phrase has reference to the recognition of the authority of Jesus Christ. It does not give license to man to do whatever he pleases as long as “in the name of the Lord Jesus” is attached to man’s will. Being acceptable to God is a matter of the Lord’s will, and not man’s.
Peter told the Jews listening on Pentecost “that God has made this same Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). The idea of “Lord” conveys ruler ship, law making privileges and power of enforcement. ALL of these are true of Jesus Christ. Jesus is identified as “King of kings, and Lord of lords” in the Revelation. After His resurrection and before His ascension back to heaven, Jesus told the apostles, “All power is given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18). According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of NT Words, ‘power’ here means - “authority; the power of rule or government; the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed by others”.
It is one thing to recognize the power to rule or the authority of someone, and quite another thing to recognize statements of that authority. As we study the word of God, we learn that God has always governed man by DIRECT STATEMENT or COMMANDS, by APPROVED EXAMPLES and by NECESSARY CONCLUSIONS. An example of DIRECT STATEMENT/COMMAND is “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). The Lord commanded this work the apostles and His church. An APOSTOLIC APPROVED EXAMPLE is illustrated in Acts 20:7 - “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them”. The fact that the disciples at Troas assembled on the first day of the week (Sunday) to partake of the Lord’s Supper (“break bread”), and no where else in the Scriptures is any other time indicated for this act of worship by a local church, and the fact that Paul gave approval by participating with those Christians, it is an authoritative EXAMPLE for us today. Also, the authority of NECESSARY CONCLUSION (inference) is seen in this same Scripture. It is concluded from the example that the church at Troas met every first day of the week to break bread. This is a necessary conclusion because no particular first day is specified (e.g. - the first Sunday, the last Sunday, etc.) - just simply “the first day of the week”. Every week has a first day, so by this example, every week, on the first day, the assembled church is to worship God by observing the memorial of the Lord’s Supper.
It is also important to remember that the authority of Jesus Christ is expressed in ALL of the inspired New Testament Scriptures. Paul reminds us of this - “If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments (ruling authority -fv) of the Lord” (1 Cor 14:37).
The authority of Jesus Christ is contained in the New Testament. He is the author of eternal salvation to everyone who obeys Him (Heb 5:9). It behooves each person, both the lost and the saved to study God’s word regularly, at every opportunity. We all are bound by the authority of Jesus Christ. We must know what He authorizes so that we all are found faithful servants in the last day.
