Bearing God's Name With Fear
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
12/31/2017 AM
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Text:
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Isaiah 48;
Lord's Day 36
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Psalters: |
415, 1, 25, 15 |
- What is His name?
- God’s “name” is unique because it is His revelation of Himself to man (Ps. 75:1; 72:19; Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:13).
- God’s name so reveals Him that His names are Him and He is His names.
- God’s name is in creation and in providence, so all men are able to know that He is and is to be worshiped (Ps. 8:1; 75:1).
- God’s richer Self-revelation is found in Scripture.
- God’s best name (Self-revelation) is Jesus Who graciously saving a people from sin (Acts 4:12).
- Through His Name (revelations) God shows Himself so that man is able to know Him.
- The use of God’s names.
- We are always to use God’s names with awe and praise befitting His awesome holiness, greatness and majesty!
- Angels and men are called to give God the glory due unto His holy name (Psalm 29:2; 66:2; 96:8).
- We worship Him by calling on His name for help (Joel 2:32; Rom. 10:13; Acts 9:14), invoking His promises to help or save.
- We glorify Him by subjecting ourselves to Him; when we love Him; and when we thank Him.
- We glorify Him by propagating the truth about Him, declaring what we know about God and His will.
- Christians are to be aware of how they are to “take” God’s name correctly.
- We are forbidden using His name in “vain,” i.e., emptying of the name of honor.
- God adds incentive to this commandment: “not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.”
- The penalty is nothing less than death (Leviticus 24:15).
- Let this lead us to use His name with great care, fear and reverence.