RECEIVE HIM AND BELIEVE IN HIS NAME

THURSDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2021

God wants all men saved by receiving His Son and believing in His name. This is because man can only be saved by what Jesus accomplished for all mankind at the cross and not by any other means. Someone might say, "But I'm a good and decent person and I'm generous with good works." Interestingly, those attributes are never the prerequisite for getting saved. A man must come to the knowledge of Christ, receive Him as Saviour and Lord and believe in His name, to be saved. Then good works should follow salvation.

Reference: John 1:12 - 13 English Standard Version (ESV) "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."

According to John's witness, the Bible says that Jesus came to His own but His own did not receive Him. The same Bible reveals that we are helpless to save ourselves, but God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, provided our salvation through the coming and death of Christ in the flesh. Therefore, apart from receiving His Son and believing in His name, there is nothing else man can do or bring to please God to be saved (Galatians 2:16). As far as eternity is concerned, God is completely satisfied with what Jesus did for mankind at the cross.

The Bible says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 ESV). For all who receive Christ and also believe in His name, God gave them right to become children of God. God's rightful children are not those who were born of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. John 3:6 (KJV) reads, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." To receive Christ is to be born again, which means, to be born of the Spirit.

We can only receive Christ by faith and trust in His Name alone to live the Christian life. This is how to get delivered from sinful nature and eternal separation from God. The challenge is that many unbelievers trust in human works to save them, instead of first receiving Christ as Saviour. John 3:18 (NKJV) reads, "Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." As we receive Christ in us, we must believe in His name to live. What some Christians are yet to realize is that their efforts to "live for God" can get in the way of Christ living through them. And as long as you haven't encountered the revelation of the name of Jesus, you may still feel you could live the Christian life by your own strength.

To believe in the name of Jesus and use it to your advantage, you must first understand the immensity of power vested and invested in it. The Bible says, "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:8-9 NIV). The name of Jesus is above all names and powers and it is His vehicle of expression through us. The Scripture says, "At the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2:10 NASB). If you believe in this truth, you'll live by it and the name will work for you, according to this Scripture. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - John 14:6; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-13.

Guided Prayer: Gracious Father in heaven, I believe that Jesus is my Saviour and Lord and I confess Him as your beloved Son, who died for me and you raised Him from the dead on the third day. I believe that He is risen and alive forever. I now live the victorious, joyous, peace-filled and abundant life that He brought to me. By believing in and using the name of Jesus at will, I experience wonders and the glorious way of life, thereby letting the whole world know that Jesus Christ is the Supreme Lord forevermore. Thank you Father for the insight into the mystery of salvation through Christ and His name, in Jesus' Name, Amen!