Are you aware that the Bible says God gave you a new name when you were born again? He had to give you a new name because He gave you a new personality. Names are very specific to identify one’s character and purpose. In Scripture, a person’s name identifies them. Many heroes of faith were given new names because when God changes your personality, He had to change your name, just like Jacob, who became Israel, and Simon, who became Peter.
If you want to know God, you must know His names because it reveals His personality, purpose, and character. Therefore, God’s names carry special significance.
When Jesus was born, He gave a specific revelation of His Names.
Let’s read – Luke 2:11:
“For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
A Revelation of Jesus
The names of Jesus are given a certain order for a special reason. It has to do with a progressive revelation of who He is. Now, let’s take a look at the three names He has revealed to us and what it signifies about His personality, character, and purpose on earth.
Savior
In Luke 2:11, Jesus was introduced as a Savior. This name and purpose will be repeated many times in the Bible. According to 1 John 4:14:
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.”
If Jesus was not our Savior, who would save us from our sins? Who would we have to deliver us out of our bondage and captivity? Who would we turn to? Jesus is the only way. As the only Savior of mankind, Jesus is the only door.
It pleased the Father to give Him the authority and the power not to condemn the world but to save the world through Him (see John 3:17). This is His purpose when He took on the form of man and lived on this earth. We see that Jesus continues to save those who receive salvation. He even gives us the power to choose to accept our salvation at any point throughout our lifetime. May our spirits always rejoice in Jesus, our Savior!
Christ
“Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”
“let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Christ means “anointed one” and the “coming Messiah.” The Spirit of God is upon Jesus and anointed Him to preach the gospel. The gospels that we read are called the “good news of Christ.” Jesus, the Messiah, the Anointed One, was sent to heal our broken hearts and proclaim our liberty. God has wonderful plans and a purpose for your life. He wants you to do great things, greater works with Him than you could ever do without Him. Jesus is indeed the Christ.
As followers, we are admonished to put on the Lord Jesus Christ (see Romans 13:14). And for us who have finally known Christ, we have become a new creation (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). We are also to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).
Jesus was sent and anointed to break the captivity that bound us. He was sent to recover our blindness, whether spiritual or physical. He was sent to proclaim that the acceptable year and time is now. Jesus the Christ opens doors and does the miraculous for us.
Lord
“Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
The Holy Spirit in us will testify that Jesus Christ is the Lord. He is the One who enables us to confess this truth as not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21). If we confess with our mouths the Lord Jesus and believe in our hearts that God has raised Him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9). We can have all the emotion, feelings, and love—but without the Holy Spirit’s enablement, these alone will never be accepted by Jesus.
How do we know if people are under the lordship of Christ? They are the ones who do the will of the Father in Heaven. Those who truly call Jesus their Lord want to please God and seek to obey Him. Their eyes are always set on their Master. And above all, they show their love by keeping His commandments (John 14:15).
This season, amidst all the busyness and merrymaking, let us remember who deserves to be celebrated—Jesus. Let us take time to praise Him for being our Savior, Christ, and Lord. When it comes to glorifying and worshiping Jesus, we challenge you and invite you to worship Him with the names that He has revealed to us at His birth.
