Association and authority are joined in this blessed Person.
In the New Testament, there is a close connection between the churches of Christ and the name of Christ. It may, however, be helpful to outline some ways in which the name of Christ—perhaps occasionally referred to simply as “the Name”—is associated with a wide variety of activities of believers, both individually and corporately.
Preaching in His name
The divinely appointed way of drawing sinners into relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ is through preaching. It is significant, then, to notice that in Acts chapter 4, the Jerusalem authorities perceived the apostles as speaking and teaching on the authority of the Name—“this name” or “the name of Jesus,” as they said. The fact that they made this impression on the authorities tells us something about how they preached. It was the place given to the Lord Jesus by the preachers which alarmed the Jewish leaders and made them feel threatened.
The preaching of the apostles in the early chapters of Acts was effective, for it was perceived that power was evident in the name of the risen Christ. The case of the lame man in chapters 3 and 4 was the focus of attention. He was helpless, unable to join the crowd who thronged to worship in the temple. Peter called on him, “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,” to rise up and walk. Peter’s explanation of what had happened is pointed: “[Ye] killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And His name through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know” (Ac. 3:15-16). Thus the Name is associated not only with the preaching but also with the power which made it effective.
Baptism in His name
Upon believing, the hearers were baptized in the name of the Trinity, in accordance with the great commission of Matthew 28. There are slightly differing phrases used in this connection. Let it suffice to say that baptism was administered with divine authority and declared that those baptized were now connected with divine Persons. As the Israelites who went through the Red Sea following Moses were said to have been “baptized unto Moses in the sea” (1 Cor. 10:2), so those baptized now declare that they are committed to follow Christ. Association and authority are linked in this context.
Prayer in His name
Before He went to the cross, the Lord Jesus promised His disciples that whatever they prayed in His name, He would do. Praying in His name is not just a matter of adding the words “in His name” to the end of our prayers so as to make them effective. If we pray so as to seek to get God to do our will, it is inconsistent to suggest that we are praying in His Son’s name. Our prayers are in His name only if we pray in a spirit of submission to His authority and for the glory of that name.
It is a great thing to be able to pray in His name, for apart from our association with Him, we have no standing before God, no ground to expect that we shall be heard. Once again, His name is connected with association and authority.
Suffering for His name
Acts chapter 5 introduces us to another context for our association with His name. The apostles had defied a ban placed on their preaching by the authorities at Jerusalem. When arraigned before the council, Peter spoke boldly about their reasons for insisting on obeying God rather than men. Only the wise counsel of Gamaliel prevented the council from executing the preachers. They called the apostles in and beat them, forbade them once again to preach in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The reaction of the beaten witnesses was impressive: they rejoiced that they “were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name” (v. 41, RV). Then they went on preaching as before.
The authority under which they preached overrode human authority, secular or religious, for it was the Lord’s commission. Their association with the rejected, now glorified Lord was of much greater import to them than the mere brief pain of a beating by scared human councils. In many countries today, the Lord’s servants have this experience of knowing the privilege of such association with the Lord, in suffering as well as in rejoicing. To such as suffer in this way, the Name demands a capital letter!
Gathered in His name
But there is a context in which the Name is of great preciousness to the people of God. The contexts mentioned so far have been the experience of His people as individuals. God, however, has not designed that His own should be merely isolated individuals. He has instituted family life for the good of humanity, and, in a similar way, has arranged that His people should be united in the life of a local church. This is described by the Lord Jesus as “where two or three are gathered together in my name” (Mt. 18:20). This expression is in a context where problems need to be settled and discipline exercised. He speaks of “telling [something] to the church,” and then goes on to speak of “two or three,” so it is a local gathering, not a worldwide institution. The vital thing to notice is that He speaks of this small company as being associated with His name. This indicates association with Him and authority exercised by Him.
Can we think of the connection with the Name in this instance as merely a naming exercise? Surely not! If His name is supreme in such a company then His will must be done there. The people so gathered cannot decide to follow a cafeteria approach to divine truth, taking what we like and rejecting what we dislike. Nor is it possible to think of such a gathering as merely following the lines laid down by some religious movement, however worthy the originators of that movement were. Nor is it possible to base such a company on adherence to some doctrine or practice, however worthy that practice may be. It is most inappropriate that members of such a company should indulge in self-congratulation, as if we were “in need of nothing,” unlike other companies who do not measure up to our high standards! Laodicea in Revelation 3 serves as a warning to us.
Even if we could make a checklist of the deficiencies of thousands of other companies, this would not even begin to show that we were accurately described as “gathered to the Name,” for we might be just as wrong as they, if indeed they are as wrong as we suggest. “Jesus Christ is Lord” is a splendid starting-point for looking at the status of a New Testament church. But how careful we must be to seek to live this out, for lip-service will not do. His Word must be our guide, His glory our motive, His honor our priority.
There may be a temptation to seek to establish federations of little companies of like mind. It may seem prudent to work towards a situation where we have influence with political powers by having powerful spokesmen who have audience with the mighty. The Lord speaks of His presence in the midst. This is greater security than any political association; it is association with the Lord of all. Humble conformity to the Word of God is a greater protection than manifestos or creeds. If we have the privilege of fellowship with a company gathered simply as He said, let us trust Him and humbly seek grace to follow His ways.