THOU SHALT CALL HIS NAME JESUS

“Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:19-21

By Michael Wade
Spring 2007

I would like to take verse 21 as my text for this short article. How much truth is contained in each verse in the Scriptures! There are many wonderful truths we can glean from this verse. “She (Mary) shall bring forth a son”, notice the word ‘shall’ – there is no doubt that she will give birth to a son “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” 2 Corinthians 1:20. She would give birth to a son “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6.

Notice the words “thou shalt call his name” – this is a command which is our delight to keep. John 14:15 – “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. We are told his name – JESUS. See Proverbs 30:4 – “Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?”

What an amazing act of Grace that God has revealed His son and His name and salvation to us! Salvation is bound up completely in His name and person and works.

Let us look at the words which follow a little closer – “he shall save his people from their sins”.

He shall – there is no doubt that he will finish His Father’s work

Save – he will redeem us, we cannot and would not by nature

His people – those elected in Christ who is the elect of God

From their sins – the penalty, power and presence of sin

Therefore, the Lord Jesus has become our salvation and intercedes for His people at the right hand of God. See 2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”.

The Lord Jesus rose from the dead and entered His Father’s glory and presence thus witnessing that the sacrifice of Calvary and His precious blood was acceptable. This Salvation comes to His people through the Gospel by His Holy Spirit. Amazing Grace, amazing love – Salvation is ALL God’s work, we contribute nothing – we could not, we would not and we should not. I trust and pray that those who read this will be drawn into the fellowship of God’s Son by the power and grace of the Holy Ghost and the gifts of repentance of faith through the new birth, and that all glory would be given to God – great things He hath done.

Before closing, here are some more helpful verses:

Ephesians Ch 1 and verses 4 and 5 – “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”

Romans Ch 8 and verses 29 and 30 – “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” 

John Ch 1 and verses 12 and 13 – “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” 

John Ch 15 and verse 16 – “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

Psalm 65 verse 4 – “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.”  

Romans Ch 5 verse 6 – “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”  

Titus Ch 3 verses 5 to 7 – “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

No wonder that John Newton wrote:

Let us love and sing and wonder

Let us praise the Saviour’s name

He has hushed the law’s loud thunder

He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame

He has washed us with His blood

He has brought us nigh to God

May the Lord grant the reader full and free salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ and sing the everlasting song forever and ever world without end.

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Amen.