Pastor Jann Braaksma
Anyone remember what scripture passage I preached from last Sunday?
Yes, Romans 10:9-15.
And the focus of those scriptures was?
Yes, Salvation.
How many times in five verses was it mentioned?
Yes, three.
And what was the punctuation following each reference?
Yes, a period.
Verse 9 – That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Verse 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Verse 13 – “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Today I want us to look closer at some of the Names of the Lord.
Jehovah-Jireh: The Lord who Provides – Gen. 22:13-14
Notice the parallel between the ram offered on the altar as a substitute for Isaac and Christ offered on the cross as a substitute for us. Whereas God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son, God did not spare his own Son, Jesus, from dying on the cross. If Jesus had lived, the rest of humankind would have died. God sent his only Son to die for us so that we could be spared from the eternal death we deserve and instead receive eternal life.
John 3:16-17 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Jehovah-Nissi: The Lord our Banner – Exodus 17:10-16
Moses and Aaron are of course brothers, we learn that in Exodus 4:14 when God said; “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite?” And their sister was? Miriam (Ex 15:20 – Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister.)
Hur was a companion of Moses and is first mentioned here and again in Ex 24:14 where Moses says; “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord is Peace – Judges 6:20-24a
Why was Gideon afraid of seeing an angel? Because the Israelites believed that no one could see God and live. Evidently Gideon thought this also applied to angels.
And God’s answer? Peace
What did Jesus say when he rebuked the wind? “Peace! Be Still!” (Mark 4:39)
From John 14:27, Jesus says; “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”
Romans 12:18 tells us; “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Jehovah-Shammah: The Lord who is Present – Ezekiel 48:35
The pressures of everyday life may persuade us to focus on the here and now and thus forget God. That is why worship is so important; it takes our eyes off our current worries, gives us a glimpse of God’s holiness, and allows us to look toward his future kingdom. God’s presence makes everything glorious, and worship brings us into his presence.
Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord who Heals – Exodus 15:25b-26
God promised that if the people obeyed him they would not suffer from the diseases that plagued the Egyptians. Little did they know that many of the moral laws he later gave them were designed to keep them free from sickness. If we want God to care for us, we need to submit to his directions for living.
Lord of Lords – Rev. 19:16
This title indicates our God’s sovereignty. Most of the world is worshiping the beast, the Antichrist, whom they believe has all power and authority. Then suddenly out of heaven rides Christ and his army of angels—the “King of kings, and Lord of lords.” His entrance signals the end of the false powers!
King of Kings – 1 Tim. 6:15 please also read 1 Tim. 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen (1Tim. 1:17)
Alpha and Omega – Rev. 1:8
Who is, and who was, and who is to come
Almighty
Wow! Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. The Lord God is the beginning and the end. God the Father is the eternal Lord and Ruler of the past, present, and future. Without him you have nothing that is eternal, nothing that can change your life, nothing that can save you from sin.
Is the Lord your reason for living, the “Alpha and Omega” of your life?
Emmanuel (Immanuel) – Matt. 1:22-23
Jesus was to be called Emmanuel (God with us), as predicted by Isaiah the prophet. Jesus was God in the flesh; thus God was literally among us. Through the Holy Spirit, God is present today in the life of every believer.
Lamb of God – John 1:29
Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the temple for the sins of the people. Isaiah 53:7 prophesied that the Messiah, God’s servant, would be led to the slaughter like a lamb. To pay the penalty for sin, a life had to be given—and God chose to provide the sacrifice himself.
The sins of the world were removed when Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice. This is the way our sins are forgiven. The “sin of the world” means everyone’s sin, the sin of each individual. Jesus paid the price of your sin by his death.
Bright Morning Star – Rev. 22:16
Offspring of David
Jesus is both David’s root and his descendant (“offspring”). As the Creator of all, he existed long before David. As a human, however, he was one of David’s direct descendants. As the Messiah, he is the “bright and morning star,” the light of salvation to all.
Rabboni – John 20:15-18
I love this passage. You can feel Mary’s frantic search, her pleading. “Just tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus had driven seven demons from Mary, and she worshiped Jesus.
Mary’s faith was not complicated, but it was direct and genuine. She was more eager to believe and obey than to understand everything. Jesus honored her childlike faith by appearing to her first and by entrusting her with the first message of his resurrection.
Good Shepherd – John 10:11
In contrast to the thief who takes life, Jesus gives life. The life he gives right now is abundantly richer and fuller. It is eternal yet it begins immediately. Life in Christ is lived on a higher plane because of his overflowing forgiveness, love and guidance.
Author & Finisher of our faith – Hebrews 12:1-3
(& perfecter)
Got any half finished projects around your home? Books with bookmarks still in them? Yarn still around the knitting needles or crochet hook? Half finished homework?
The “great cloud of witnesses” are the believers who have gone before us. Their faithfulness is a constant encouragement to us. We do not struggle alone, and we are not the first to struggle with the problems we face. Others have run the race and won, and their witness stirs us to run and win also. What an inspiring heritage we have!
God does not leave us undone. He is the perfecter or finisher of our faith. If we keep at it, we will see the finish line.
Word of Life – 1 John 1:1-4
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, opens his first letter to the churches much as he opened his Gospel, emphasizing that Christ (“the Word of life”) is eternal. That God came into the world as a man. And that he, John, was an eyewitness to Jesus’ life. And that Jesus brings light and life.
Bread of life – John 6:47-51
As used here, believes means “continues to believe.” We do not believe merely once, we keep on believing in and trusting Jesus.
How can Jesus give us his flesh as bread to eat? To eat living bread means to accept Christ into our lives and become united with him. We are united with Christ in two ways: (1) by believing in his death and resurrection and (2) by devoting ourselves to living as he requires, depending on his teaching for guidance, and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power.
Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10 – The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe.
Joel 2:32 – And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Acts 2:21 – And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 10:13 – For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Don’t let the world complicate it. Don’t let your fear, or doubt, or unbelief stop you.
Call on the name of the Lord and be saved!
Let us pray.
Resources: The Life Application Study Bible & biblestudy.org.