A More Excellent Name

Hebrews 1:1-4

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

A More Excellent Name

This passage may be familiar to many of you, either from previous study, or because it was referenced in our Sunday School lesson yesterday.  

Verse four stood out to me.  It's one of those kinds of statements that show up often in the Word, where something that is already superlative is taken higher...more than a conqueror, greater works than these, Name above all names, and this more excellent name.

The writer was referring to Jesus, the Son of God, Who is given a station above the angels by His relationship with God, the Father.  He has, by relationship and inheritance, been given a MORE excellent name.

And, beloved, so have we.

Because of the sacrifice of Christ, born into sin, yet sinless, having done all that the Father had sent Him to do, despite obstacles, death threats and attempts, abandonment - because of all this, we too inherited this 'more excellent name'.

Galatians 4:4-7King James Version (KJV)

4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

So we, as joint heirs, have this more excellent name.  No disparagement to anyone's family name, but in Christ, that excellent name is made more excellent.  

In Jeremiah's account about the potter's wheel, the broken vessel was made again into a new vessel that pleased the potter...not repaired, but new, again.

Here is the real gift of Christmas.  Adoption into a more excellent name with full restoration as a son, not a servant.  There are lessons to learn, chores to do, rules to follow as in any family, but THIS family has a name above all names.  A name above cancer, debt, poverty, depression, loneliness, grief, anxiety, pride, jealousy, and any other name we can conjure.  

This Christmas, get a new name.  And if you've already been adopted in, embrace the family ways and be new again another.

Jeremiah 18:1-6

18 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

In the name of Jesus, a more excellent name indeed, may God continue to bless you.  And a very Merry Christmas.

Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages.  

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Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.

Fellowship Church

Where Passions Become Reality

Because You Are a Chosen Generation

455 Hwy 138 W. Suite C

Jonesboro, GA 30238

Between GA Hwy 85 and US 19/41

Across from EJ Swint Elementary School

Church Website - Fellowship Church Where Passions Become Reality Because You Are A Chosen Generation