Easy reading?

I was just reading a friend's post, and as I read, I wished he would not use such scholarly language. I can understand what he writes, but I get the feeling that those who write about Biblical topics feel more believable if they sound like a professor in their writing. I do know, however, that sometimes it is easier to transmit your exact meaning when you use the exact four-syllable word you want rather than searching your mind for words more commonly used.

As I read through my old posts, I see that I have used language that could be improved for readability. If I have a chance, I may go back and change some of it.

My Name is Me

There is a growing group of people who believe that you cannot be saved unless you call on the right Name. They quote Acts 4:12:

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved."

When I first started studying the phrase, My Name, I didn't know what conclusion I would come to. I was receiving strong pressure from others to never use the name Jesus, because Jesus is a Greek transliteration of the name Yeshua, given to our Savior before birth, that the word Jesus has no meaning, that the name Jesus comes from the god name Zeus. I was influenced to change the spelling to Yahshuah, which I did in my earlier posts.

I started my studies with open mind, leaning toward agreeing, except for the part about Zeus. I have found nothing convincing on that point. And now, it turns out, I don't agree.

Acts 4:12 clearly shows that the Name is the Person. Salvation is found only in our Savior, Jesus Christ, Yeshua Hamashiach. This agrees with my previous posts, though I didn't know it at the time, and I now understand that when our Savior says "My Name," He means Himself. When he says, "Call on My Name," He is saying, "Call on Me." Can we be so obtuse as to believe that He will not hear those who say the Name wrong, who spell it wrong, who have the wrong accent, who cannot speak at all? He knows the heart, He knows when we call on Him.

Some argue that, since people don't change their names when they move from country to country, that Jesus likewise would keep His name Yeshua (I will keep that spelling for now, so that I won't have to keep repeating the variations), and He should be called Yeshua, no matter what language you speak.

One problem with that thought is that the premise is wrong. Many people, as they migrate from one country to another, change their names so that they can be more easily spelled and pronounced in their new location. Our Savior will hear us, no matter what language we speak. He knows our heart.

Isaiah 9:6 keeps coming to mind, and I can't help but singing it every time I think it:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

"His name shall be called" = HE will be called. He IS His name. 

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.