By what name do we address God?

105 August 25, 2019

My name is T. R.  I came to church last Sunday with M.E..  I believe my husband has been influenced by incorrect doctrine.  He asked me the following question about John 17:11-12, 26, specifically about “thine own name” and “thy name”  What is the name that Christ proclaimed? And kept them through?  I’m not sure how to answer this question.  Here was my response:

…that was the Kingdom age.  They did not know (understand) Jesus Christ and him crucified.  That is why Christ asked them…who do you say that I am?  They just had to have faith that He was who He said he was.  Now “we” have to by faith through grace believe that Jesus died for our sins.

Sorry it took all week to get back with you.  We have had a busy week.  I don’t always understand what is behind the question people ask, but the simple answer concerning the Father’s name is found in Exodus 6:3 where God is known as “God Almighty” or “Jehovah.”  The Lord Jesus taught the disciples to address God as “Our Father” in Matthew 6:9, as he did in John 17:1.

It should be noted as well that the Lord Jesus said that he himself came in the Father’s name – John 5:48.  The name “Jesus” means “Jehovah who saves.”  That is why the angel said: “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins” – Matthew 1:21. 

The Lord Jesus is God with us, God in the flesh.  He is Jesus the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah.

I was impressed by your answer.  You are right.  What the Jews in Matthew – John were to believe is that Jesus is the Christ.  As the anointed one he is their prophet, priest and king.  According to Matthew 16:13-18 this is the Rock the Kingdom is build on.  Believing this got them into the Kingdom.  In the same chapter however – Matthew 16:21,22, they had no idea the Lord was going to die for our sins, be buried and rise again.  Their faith was in who he was.

With the preaching of the cross that began with the rising up of the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 1:17,18; 2:2,7,8; 15:1-4) our faith must be in who He is and what He accomplished on the Cross in our behalf.