Doing Things in the Name of Jesus -- Praying in His Mighty Name!

Doing something in someone else’s name has a distinct legal meaning that is the same under our law as well as Hebrew, Greek, and Roman law.

If you stop someone in the name of the law, it means that you have been given legal authority to stop that person, and that as a private citizen, you have no such authority.  If you donate a gift in someone else’s name, it means that they get the credit for it as if they had done it themselves. You do not get the credit for the gift.

If you put property in someone’s name, it means that they become the owner of it. You no longer control that property.  If a wealthy man hires me and gives me a power of attorney to purchase real estate, and if I act within that authorization, I could purchase a shopping mall in his name. I would receive no benefit from that transaction, except for his gratitude and the salary he chooses to pay me. If I tried to buy a shopping center on my own, they’d laugh me out of the bank. But if I go in his name, they would do business with me.

If you appoint someone to act in your name, it means that they can act as your agent within the restrictions you impose. Jesus has empowered His followers to act in His name to do certain specified deeds: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, preach the gospel, and so on.

If you do something in Jesus’ name it means that you do it with the authority He gave you and not on your own authority, and that you act within the limits of your authorization, whatever those limits may be. You act as His agent, in His stead, to His credit and for His benefit. You have no benefit from your deeds except His thanks and whatever reward He chooses to give you.

Now we can understand the relationship between faith and works and the necessity for Christians to live holy lives.  We are His ambassadors, His hands on earth extended to do His will.

However, we can hire on as Jesus’ slaves. Jesus is the spiritual millionaire who hires us to manage a part of His holdings. He gives us a power of attorney so that we can transact business in His name and gives us infallible guidelines through His commandments. We no longer do good deeds on our own behalf in order to obtain salvation, for all our deeds are in His name and go to His account. We work to show ourselves good stewards of His trust, confident that He will reward those who serve Him well.

It is necessary to do good works, but it is only profitable to do the works that Jesus assigns us and authorizes us to do as His agents and to conduct His business in His name. We do not work to be saved; we work because we have been saved, and strive to show ourselves worthy of His trust. How many talents have you been given? Invest them wisely! Manage them well! Don’t just put them in a safe deposit box and hide them away until His return! (Matthew 25:14-30)

If you do something in Jesus’ name it means that you do it with the authority He gave you and not on your own authority, and that you act within the limits of your authorization, whatever those limits may be. You act as His agent, in His stead, to His credit and for His benefit. Praise the Lord!