The Name of Jesus — E.A. Johnston

Years ago, I was sitting with Adrian Rogers in his study, and I was sharing with him how one day while driving in my car and listening to him preach on the radio, I had a notebook in my lap and a pencil in my hand, and every time he mentioned the name of Jesus, I made a hash mark on that notepad, and I had determined that every two or three minutes, he mentioned the name of Jesus at least 30 times.

The Name of Jesus in the Early Church

Dr. Rogers just grinned a big grin because he knew I was on to something. I believe God honored Adrian Rogers because he would garrison himself in the pulpit with the name of Jesus and honor the Son. And when I look at the early Christians in the Book of Acts, they preach the name of Jesus.

It says of the Apostle Paul in Acts 9 how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus, and he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem, and he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The Conflict Over the Gospel of Jesus

My message today, friends, is entitled The Name of Jesus, and I want to make the following statement. The devil hates the name of Jesus, and he despises the blood of Jesus, and he will fight any preacher of the cross who preaches up a bloodstained Savior and blood redemption from sin, and the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and God's demand for repentance.

You'll have a fight on your hands with the good deacons, for there is power in the name of Jesus. There is authority in the name of Jesus. The gospel is about the Son of God who came down here, so we can go up there, listen to the Apostle Peter as he proclaims the gospel of the Son of God and his Lordship as seen in Acts 10, 36.

Peter Proclaims Jesus as Lord and Savior

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ, he is Lord of all. Now look, friends, at how Peter preaches Jesus, beginning in verse 38, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with him.

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, who they slew and hanged on a tree. Him God raised up the third day and showed him openly, not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead, to him give all the prophets witness that through his name, whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sin.

The Cross, Resurrection, and Pardon Through Jesus

I will stop there, friends. Notice how the cross, the crucifixion, the death, burial, and resurrection is preached by the early church, that through the name of Jesus and belief in him, poor sinners can come and receive pardon for sin.

The name of Jesus has power, friends. Jesus said to Gnaeus, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole, arise and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. The name of Jesus has power and authority in his name, and by his blood sinners can be reconciled back to God.

Every Knee Bows to the Name Above Every Name

Listen, friends, to that name that is above every name, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father.

Let us pray.