Christians have a culture separate from the rest of the world; a culture with its own norms, words and phrases. For a Christian, Sunday isn't just the next day in the weekend, but is the Lord's day, (Mark 16:9, Revelation 1:10). "Sacrifice" is not something to avoid, but is a joy to be embraced for all of life (Romans 12:1). Being "Spirit filled" has nothing to do with filling up on liquor (Ephesians 5:18), but is about having a body where the Holy Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 6:19). Another cultural Christian phrase is to "speak the name of Jesus," or speak "in Jesus' name." These two phrases have become popular, especially through the release of two contemporary songs, one in 2021 and the other in 2022. Within cultures, phrases can take on multiple meanings, but in Christian cultures most phrases have finite meanings that can be found in the unchanging (Matthew 5:18) and always applicable (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Word of the God, the Bible. So, what does the Bible say about speaking the name of Jesus; speaking in Jesus' name?
The concept of speaking in Jesus' name appears several times throughout the New Testament, but it appears most prominently in the book of Acts. This book relays the history of the early Church and the actions taken by the Apostles, those who had been called by Christ in person to preach the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:7-8, Galatians 1:1). One of the first things the Apostles did on the day the Church was created (Acts 2:1-4), was preach to a large crowd saying, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit," (Acts 2:38). This is the first time the Apostles and the Church used the phrase "in Jesus' name," but it would not be the last. The Apostle Peter said the promise of forgiveness through Jesus' name is a promise "for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call," (Acts 2:39). Even to this day, and then far beyond it, the Lord continues to save everyone who calls on Him in His name (Romans 10:13). Only Jesus' name alone can save people from their sins.
Jesus, the Name above every other name
Jesus, the only One who could ever save
Worthy of every breath we could ever breathe
We live for You, we live for You
- Pat Barrett
The Apostles preached (Acts 5:40) healed the sick (Acts 3:16)
and casts out demons (Acts 16:18) in Jesus' name.
In this context speaking "in Jesus' name" has the power to bring people to repentance, lead them to baptism and offer them forgiveness for their sins. So, from where does this power in Jesus' name come?
The power behind these words is not in the words themselves. If someone were to say that something will happen, and then they follow their statement with the phrase, "in Jesus' name," the saying of those words does not give their decree any extra power. The words "in Jesus' name" themselves cannot be used to incant anything into being. In the Bible the act of using words in an incantation in order to have power or control over something is referred to as casting a spell. People who cast spells are known as sorcerers. God told His chosen people there should be no one among them "who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead," (Deuteronomy 18:10-11). God does not want His followers to be chanters of spells. There is no particular alignment of words a person can use that will add any extra "umph" to their own decrees.
Because there's no special power in words themselves, Christians should not worry about what they say when they make a request to God. Jesus says to His followers, "When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him," (Matthew 6:7-8). Even more than this, Paul says to believers, "We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes," and He does this "for God’s people in accordance with the will of God," (Romans 8:26-27). This is why all who believe in Jesus' name can boldly enter His presence (Hebrews 4:16), knowing that nothing they say or misspeak will keep them from being blameless in God's sight (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
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| When believers pray, it doesn't matter that much what they say, as much as it matters to whom they pray, because Christians make their requests to the God who can speak things into being (Romans 4:17). |
Even though there is no power in the words "in Jesus' name" there is power behind Jesus' name, and that power comes from the authority Jesus has, as the King of Kings (Revelation 19:16). Kings have the power to proclaim orders. Everything a King commands must be done by their subjects or else there will be consequences. When Pharaoh ordered the slave masters to take away the straw that the Isrealites needed to make bricks, it was done and those who could not make bricks suffered (Exodus 5:6-14). When king Darius' administrators tricked him into creating a law that would harm those who worshiped God, they told the king, "issue the decree and put it in writing so that it cannot be altered,” (Daniel 6:8). When king Xerxes asked one of his subjects to make a decree for him, he gave his subject his signet ring and told him, "no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked," (Esther 8:8). Throughout Scripture, everything a king commanded in his name and sealed with his approval was expected to be followed, and if it was not obeyed then there were consequences. In the same way kings seal their commands by their name, so too does God seal His commands by His name.
God is a king, and whatever He wants to happen will happen, for "He does whatever pleases Him," (Psalm 115:3), and "no purpose of [His] can be thwarted," (Job 42:2). God's commands and His words cannot be altered (Matthew 5:18). Those who do not obey God suffer consequences (Revelation 21:8). So, when Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me," naturally, as a King, He follows this proclamation with this command to His subjects, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you," (Matthew 28:18-20). When believers baptize others in order to make disciples, they do this in the authority of Jesus' name. It is by Jesus' authority that believers have been commanded, and are able, to baptize others. In this sense, saying the phrase "in Jesus' name," is similar to saying, "By the order of the King."
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| The Apostles were able to perform miracles in Jesus' name, because they were given God's seal of approval (Acts 2:3), but those who had not been given God's "signet ring" were unable to do the same miracles the Apostles did (Acts 19:13-16). |
Saying that something will happen in Jesus' name does not mean a Christian is applying their own seal of approval, but means that Jesus has already applied His seal of divine approval. Asking God for something in His name is to ask for something in accordance with His will. It would be similar to if someone said, "Such and such will happen, because the king commanded it, so by the order of the king this will happen." Those who believe in God have this confidence, "if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us," (1 John 5:14). When we, as believers, follow God's will and obey His commands we glorify His mighty name (Matthew 5:16, John 12:27-28). This is why Jesus says to His disciples, "I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it," (John 14:13-14). Doing anything in God's name will always be powerful, because God and His Word are forever powerful.
The power in Jesus' name was demonstrated on earth, when Paul performed miracles among the people in Ephesus. Those who heard what Paul had done according to God's will "were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed [their sins]. A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly," (Acts 19:17-19). The same thing that happened then can happen today, because there is no limited sorcerery behind speaking the name of "Jesus." There is power in following the will of God and obeying His authority as King. Everything that God has decreed, let it be done in Jesus' name!
There is power
In the name of Jesus
There is power
Power in His name
One name, one name can save
One name, breaks every chain
One name, always
One name, Jesus
- Lincoln Brewster
Sources
- The Bible (New International Version)
- Pat Barrett: Build My Life
- Open Bible Info: Ask in God's Name
- Got Questions: In Jesus' Name
- Lincoln Brewster: There is Power
