PRAYING IN THE NAME OF JESUS
Part 1


A. "WHATSOEVER YE SHALL ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME, HE WILL GIVE IT YOU" - JOHN 16:23
  1. When we compare Matt. 1:21 - "Thou shalt call his name Jesus; for He will save His people from their sins", with our opening text"
    1. We see one of the divine reasons for praying in the name of Jesus
    2. The name of Jesus is in truth the Divine bridge over the chasm that sin caused between man and God
    3. "No man can come unto the Father, but by me" - John 14:6
  2. He is the Divine door to the kingdom of heaven:
    1. One must enter through this door to get into God's kingdom
    2. He is the way, the light, and the truth, in other words, Jesus Christ is the Divine reason for our hope of salvation
B. PRAYING IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD
  1. What is in a name? - much every way:
    1. The name of Jesus Christ, stands for His world-mission - "to seek and to save the lost" - Luke 19:10
    2. All men have sinned and come short of the glory of God - Rom. 3:23; Gal. 3:22
    3. Sin is a barrier between us and God, and only the name of Jesus can save us from sin and so break the barrier - says God, "your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear" - Is. 59:1-3
  2. The name of Jesus is authoritative in the highest and most inclusive sense:
    1. As the second Adam He is the head of the human race - compare I Cor 15:22, 45 with Rom. 5:12; Micah 6:8
    2. As the Son of man He represents humanity as God plans to reconstitute it through the plan of redemption - Col. 3:10; Heb. 1:3; 2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8:29
    3. The atonement wrought by Him makes Him both our sacrifice and our mediator between God and us - Eph. 2:14-16; I Tim. 2:5; I John 2:1-3; He is our sacrifice and our great high priest at the same time - Heb. 4:14-16
C. PRAYING IN THE NAME OF JESUS
  1. Takes on new dimensions:
    1. In the light of the plan of redemption, because there is no other name under heaven given unto men, whereby we must be saved - Acts 4:12
    2. In that name is centered man's only hope for deliverance from the bondage of sin - "If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" - John 8:36
    3. Also, only the Righteousness of Jesus Christ is acceptable unto God - "all our righteousness is as filthy rags" - Is. 64:6; I Cor. 1:30-31; said the Father about His Son, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased" - Matt. 3:17; 17:5
    4. The prophet Jeremiah marks with large letters, "The Lord our righteousness" - Jer. 23:6
  2. The name of Jesus Christ represents both:
    1. A new relationship between us and God - John 1:12-13
    2. A new experience - a new nature - being born again - I John 3:1-3
    3. That is why Paul says, "If any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature, old things have passed away, and all things have become new" - 2 Cor. 5:17
  3. These and related truths constitute:
    1. Our right ad authority to come to the Father as children seeking His blessings
    2. This is what our opening text seeks to convey to our minds, "and in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you"
    3. For the precious name of Jesus embodies all that pertains to our relationship with God past, present, and eternity - "Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, today and forever" - Heb. 13:8
    4. What an honor it is to bow my knees before God in the Name of Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as my blessed Redeemer - Eph. 3:14-21; Phil. 2:11-16
    5. Can the dear reader see the life-saving importance of approaching God in the name of Jesus only


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