Returning!

It's been a long time since I have written. In the interim, I have thought much about the Name topic. Many voices have said one thing, and many voices another, but my studies have led me to a different conclusion than you might have thought from reading my previous posts. I will take a little time to put the thoughts together in the coming days.

Saved by none other name - a second chance?

Taking another break from the listing of verses regarding the importance of name in the Bible, this entry deals specifically with the primary Name I am interested in, the name of our Messiah Savior, Yahshuah.

One of the verses that lends credence to the importance of Yahshuah’s name, often quoted by those who believe in the importance of the original Name for personal salvation, are the words of Peter, when he was defending the faith before the Jewish leaders soon after Pentecost:

¹⁰ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

¹¹ This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

~ Acts 4:10-12

Acts 4:12 yields a number of possible responses:

1. The most common response for English speakers is that Jesus is the commonly known name by which our Saviour is known, that it doesn’t matter what we call Him, so long as we call on Him, especially given the fact that there are so many different languages in the world, and some languages do not contain the sounds of the name, either of Jesus or Yeshua.
2. The second most common response, though more rare, is that you must call him Yeshua/Yahshuah, or something that sounds like that name, or you cannot be saved. You must pray in the name of Yahshuah, or your prayers will not be as effective.
3. A third response is to look at the verse and see exactly what it says. “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Yahshuah and His name are synonymous; He IS His name, Salvation. He is the one who saves the world. The verse does not specifically say we have to speak His original name; it is saying that He is the one who saves us.

If one believes that the second option is the truth, in order for God to be fair, which He ultimately is, He would have to give everyone on earth who never heard His true name another chance. When would the second chance happen? For those who believe in the “secret rapture,” which I do not, for it is not supported in Scripture, they might say the second chance comes after the rapture, during the Tribulation. Those who believe in one resurrection for the just and a later resurrection of the wicked just before they are eternally destroyed cannot believe in the second option and at the same time believe in a fair God.

Those who do believe in the second option have found in scripture a collection of verses that demonstrate how God raises those who have not yet known His Name, and gives them a second chance to learn of Him and grow in righteousness. This scenario allows most of the people who have ever lived to be saved. Discussing these verses is outside the purpose of today’s post, and actually outside the range of my knowledge and expertise, though I am studying into it more.

Currently, since I do not completely understand the “second chance” theory (though those who believe it would not want to call it that), I tend to think that the third option is the more likely explanation. By Him and through Him, He who is named Yahshuah, Salvation, is the whole world saved.

I am not forgetting, however, all the verses I have already quoted in this blog that demonstrate the importance of Name to God, which might therefore logically lean me toward #2.

I should have said somewhere toward the beginning of this blog (maybe I already did), that I do not have all the answers; I am learning as I study.

I will...show him my Yeshua

I have just three more pages of verses containing the amazing phrase, “My Name,” from the Old Testament in my collection, though I could choose many more.

 24 “But My faithfulness and My mercy shall be with him,

         And in My name his horn shall be exalted.

Psalm 89:24 (New King James Version)

I like to know the context of all the verses I read; I wanted to know more about what surrounded this promise, but the importance of My name is clear. The easiest question’s answer: Horn refers to strength, power, and dignity. The chapter is full of praise to God for His faithfulness, recognizing His power in His creation and among His people.

An earlier verse in the chapter says:

16 In Your name they rejoice all day long,
And in Your righteousness they are exalted.

17 For You are the glory of their strength,
And in Your favor our horn is exalted.

                Psalm 89:16 (New King James Version)

God’s name and His favor are seen in parallel here; His name and His favor are able to provide strength to those who believe in and praise Him. Can we claim the full power of His favor if we don't know or call on Him by His name?

One part of the chapter caught my attention--the verse that introduces the thoughts in verse 24 (and I am afraid this begins a short side trip, but if I don’t digress now, I might never have a chance to come back):

¹⁹ Then You spoke in a vision to Your holy one,
And said: “I have given help to one who is mighty;
I have exalted one chosen from the people.

                                Psalm 89:19 (New King James Version)

I wondered who it was that had had the vision, and at first thought it might have been David himself. “Your holy one” has various translations, however. Some put it in the plural, speaking of God’s people, some say, “…a vision of Your holy ones,” and some say it was a specific individual, most likely the prophet Samuel. In any case, the vision is a telling of God’s forever covenant with David and with his offspring, a parallel between David and his kingdom, and the kingdom of the coming Messiah. 

The last My name verse in my collection from Psalms is from chapter 91, one of my favorites; it concludes with these verses:

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

                                Psalm 91:14 (New King James Version)

When we know His name, we can call on Him in confidence, knowing He will deliver us and show us his salvation. And what is the word for salvation? Yeshua!