Posted on 12/20/2016 5:21:57 AM PST by metmom
“God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow . . . and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:9-11).
Christ’s name shows Him to be sovereign ruler.
The name “Lord” is a New Testament synonym for Old Testament descriptions of Yahweh (the Old Testament name of God), which show God as sovereign ruler. It signifies rulership based on power and authority. Though it was always evident that Christ was the living Lord, it was in His exaltation that He was formally given the name Lord—a title that is His as the God-man. On earth He was known by many names, but now He bears the name that is above every name: Lord.
Philippians 2:10 doesn’t say at the name Jesus every knee should bow, but at the name of Jesus. The name of Jesus immediately bestowed by the Father was “Lord.” It is not the name Jesus that makes people bow—that’s the name of His incarnation—but the name Lord.
That the name mentioned in verse 9 is Lord is confirmed by Paul’s allusion to Isaiah 45:21-23, which says, “Is it not I, the Lord? And there is no other God besides Me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none except Me. Turn to Me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.” God said through Isaiah that He is sovereign—the Lord of all. That is what Paul was referring to when he said that every knee would bow and every tongue confess (or admit) that Jesus Christ is Lord. Only God is Lord.
Suggestions for Prayer
In his prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23 Paul mentions that Christ’s name is above all other names (vv. 20-21). Use his prayer as a model when you pray for other believers.
For Further Study
Read the following verses: Luke 2:11; John 13:13; Acts 10:36; Romans 14:9-11; 1 Corinthians 8:6. What do they say about Jesus’ lordship?
I Never Knew You
Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who calls out to Me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of My Father in heaven will enter.
Mat 7:22 On judgment day many will say to Me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in Your name and cast out demons in Your name and performed many miracles in Your name.’
Mat 7:23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from Me, you who break God’s laws.’
Any way, the double use of Lord Lord is used and Jesus says, “Go away, I never knew you.” These have to be the most frightening words in the Bible.................
rulership based on power and authority.
It goes to show that many who claim to name His name aren’t really saved after all.
But I noticed that they appeal to their works as proof that they knew Him or should get in for that reason who are rejected.
Doing good things, even miracles, does not mean anything in God’s economy for attaining salvation. Good works do not cancel out the sin debt we owe.
A very sobering passage.
Except that,
The term "κύριος" is still in use in the Modern Greek language and is the equivalent to the English terms "mister" (title conferred on an adult male), "master" (someone who has control over something or someone), and "sir" (an address to any male). For example, the English term "Mr. Smith" is translated to "κύριος Σμίθ" (kyrios Smith) in Greek.
Good overview here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrios
Regardless of the doctrines that impart deity, the whole concept of authority and command is certainly intrinsic to the Messiah's name and purpose, such that his name is above any other name. It is a name of leadership. A person's "name" is also his reputation - who he intrinsically *is*. Thus when it all intersects, much fun is had with puns. Lawyers named Sue, policemen surnamed Copp, used car salesmen surnamed Dodge...
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