Hebrews 1 English Standard Version
The Supremacy of God’s Son
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
When I said we need to make Jesus the Lord of our lives someone retorted to me “He always was Lord.” That is true but we didn’t accept Him into our hearts, we did not know until then He was that LORD. God always was and always will be, the Alpha and the Omega.
Since His Word is true, what name did He inherit? In the naming scheme of things some names are not adopted until something worth naming is achieved, sort of like Super Bowl Champ or MVP, or Chess Master, something was done that gave them that name.
Was Jesus always our Savior before His work of the Cross? That work was the defining moment in Christian history when His church was formed and we began to be called Christian.
What is in a name is what it stands for. God has many names and they all identify some aspect of what God does or has done.
What have we done to earn the name of Christian?
John 3:21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
God does the work but we have our part to do what is true. That is obedience of faith.
Romans 14:23c For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Isaiah 64:5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
Matthew 1:21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
We earned the name Christian when we accepted Jesus into our hearts by faith.
God does the rest.