682. The name of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Word means nothing other than His acknowledgment and living in accordance with His commandments. For the reason His name has that meaning, see the explanation of the second of the Ten Commandments 'You are not to take the name of God in vain' [297-299]. This and nothing else is meant by the Lord's name in these passages amongst others:
Jesus said, You will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. Matt. 10:22; 24:9, 10.
Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst. Matt. 18:20.
As many as received Him, to them He gave the ability to be sons of God, if they believed in His name. John 1:12.
Many believed in His name. John 2:23.
He who does not believe is already judged, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. John 3:18.
Those who believe will have life in His name. John 20:31.
You have laboured for the sake of my name, and have not wearied. Rev. 22:3.
[2] Can anyone fail to see that the Lord's name in those passages does not mean merely His name, but acknowledging Him as Redeemer and Saviour, and at the same time obeying Him, and finally having faith in Him? For at baptism a child receives the sign of the cross on his forehead and chest, and this is a sign of his initiation into the acknowledgment and worship of the Lord. One's name also means one's character; the reason is that in the spiritual world everyone is given a name to match his character. So naming someone a Christian means that his character is such that he has from Christ faith in Christ and charity towards the neighbour. This meaning of the name is to be seen in Revelation:
The Son of Man says, You have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their clothing; and they will walk with me in white clothing, because they are worthy. Rev. 3:4.
Walking with the Son of Man in white clothing means following the Lord, and living in accordance with the truths of His Word.
[3] Name has a similar meaning in John:
Jesus said, The sheep hear my voice, and I call my own sheep by name, and I lead them out; I walk before them, and the sheep follow me, because they know my voice; but they do not follow a stranger, because they do not know strangers' voices. John 10:3-5.
'By name' means by their character as Christians; 'following Him' is hearing His voice, that is, obeying His commandments. All receive this name at baptism, for it is contained in the sign.
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