The Royal Name
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James 2:7-Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
Growing up, I often heard a lot of details about the honor attached to our Japanese family name, “Tabata.” We have a written history of our family that extends back hundreds of years, telling interesting facts about our ancestors. There is even a Samurai sword that has been passed down within our family which is so ancient that the writing on the hilt cannot be deciphered!
Names are important, and I want to think with you about the name that we as God’s people can and should be grateful to carry:
Christian.
Long ago, the Prophet Isaiah declared that one day, God’s people would be given a new name by God Himself.
Isaiah 62:2-The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name.
This is a name so special that God Himself would create and bestow it upon His people. We are told that this name would be given during the time when the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would be reigning (Isaiah 61:1-3), and when Gentiles and kings would have God’s Word proclaimed to them. During the beginning of the Messiah’s reign, we read about God preparing Saul of Tarsus (later known especially as the Apostle Paul) for a very important mission:
Acts 9:15-But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.
Recall from this verse the prophecy made in Isaiah’s time that the new name would be given with the commencement of “kings” and Gentiles hearing God’s Word proclaimed. Then observe that in Acts 10, we read about the opening of the Messiah’s kingdom to the Gentiles. Beginning with Cornelius (Acts 10), the Gentiles began to have God’s Word proclaimed to them.
Acts 11:1-Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.
Acts 11:20-25-But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. 22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul.
It is now that we read these words:
Acts 11:26-And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
There, we read of the “new name” that Isaiah prophesied:
Christian!
Yet some object that the name Christian here was given by the enemies of God to the followers of Christ. It is claimed that the name “Christian” was a name of derision and meant to be an insult. Surely it couldn’t have been the new name that Isaiah prophesied!
However, a careful study of Acts 11:26 shows that the name Christian was actually given by God Himself through Paul and Barnabas.
“The Greek verb chrēmatizō (“call”) is almost always used in the New Testament to mean “divinely called.”37 In fact, the one time when it might have a meaning other than “divinely called,” the context clearly indicates that this is the case.38…The best and most likely understanding of this phrase is the suggestion made above, that the name was given by divine inspiration through Barnabas and Paul. As indicated above, the word “call” is an infinitive, and so must lean on the main verb of the sentence. In fact, the only finite verb in the sentence is the one translated “it came about.” All the rest of the verb forms in this verse are infinitives: in the Greek, “met with” is an infinitive; “taught” is an infinitive; and “called” is an infinitive. The ones who are acting in all these infinitives are “they” (Paul and Barnabas). So, a good literal translation of the sentence would be, “And it happened to them also for a whole year to be assembled with the church and to teach a considerable crowd, and to call firstly in Antioch the disciples Christians.” The idea that Paul and Barnabas are the ones who named the disciples Christians does justice to the “divinely given” meaning of the word “call,” and it does justice to the verb as an active infinitive.” (Gareth Reese, New Testament History: Acts-A Critical And Exegetical Commentary, 11482-11510 (Kindle Edition): Moberly, Missouri: Scripture Exposition Books)
The “new name” is Christian. It is the “royal name” which some were blaspheming and with which God’s people are called (James 2:7). The word “called” used in this passage is different from the one used in Acts 11:26. Meditate on what it means:
“The word James uses for called (epikaleisthai) is the word used for a wife taking her husband’s name in marriage or for children being called after their father. Christians take the name of Christ; they are called after Christ. It is as if they were married to Christ, or born and christened into the family of Christ.” (Williams Barclay, The Letters of James and Peter (The New Daily Study Bible), 77 (Kindle Edition): Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press)
Reflect on how precisely and perfectly the prophecy of Isaiah lines up with its fulfillment in the Book of Acts. Consider the majesty of the name “Christian.” We are called to wear Jesus name (the name of the Son Of God Himself!) when we are joined to Him in baptism and become part of His bride (Ephesians 5:26).
Do we realize how blessed we are to wear the “royal name” which God Himself created for his people? I think of the words of the great Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon, when my mind tries to grasp the privilege of wearing the name of Jesus:
“That, however, we care very little about; for I say of the Baptist name, let it perish, but let Christ’s name last for ever. I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living. I hope they will soon be gone…So that I say, I hope the Baptist name will soon perish; but let Christ’s name last for ever.” (Charles Spurgeon (Edited by Larry Slawson), The Eternal Name (Annotated), 225-230 (Kindle Edition): New Park Street Pulpit Volume 1)
Lord, thank You for the privilege of being able to wear Your Name. Forgive us when we do not honor You as we should. Help us to walk worthy of Your Name. We love You and thank You Lord. Amen.