Month: June 2024

Challenging the 3rd Commandment and its Implications

While I agree with this sentiment in principle, it is worth noting that the commandment is not about how we use His name but how we take His name.

That commandment does not infer that speaking His name inappropriately is the primary or immediate concern. The sentiment above speaks more to religiosity.

It falls into the category of KJV-Onlyism: READ the right thing, BELIEVE the right thing, DO the right thing, BE acceptable to God.

Notwithstanding, the commandment directly addresses how His name must be personally appropriated, emphasizing its personal applications in relationship to Him alone.

Taking Names in Vain

Anyone can take the name Governor in vain because we all know there’s only one state governor.

Any business can give themselves the name IBM, but we all know that International Business Machines will eventually shut them down.

The Razorback football team can call themselves “Big Al,” but that does not change who they are, how they play football or the likelihood of them winning the SEC.

All of those examples demonstrate a name taken in vain. But let’s look at one more.

What it really means to Take His name in Vain

A person can get married and take their spouse’s name. In the previous century, it was not uncommon for the wife to be called by her husband’s name. I remember my mother being referred to as Mrs. Hugh Means, and certainly, Mrs. Means. So, let’s follow that thread to understand exactly what the commandment means.

If a woman marries a wealthy man, but then refuses to accept his care, or spend his money to care for herself and their children, she has taken his name in vain.

Taking God’s name in vain is similar but carries far greater consequences. To take His name in vain is to put yourself into His family (as a “child of God”) but refuse your role in His Kingdom.

“Who does that,” we might ask? We not only do that, but we teach that as doctrine. The people in the church who do that are known as Cessationists, those who fully reject these words of Jesus as being God’s Logos for us today:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. ”

John 14:12

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Mark 16:17-18:

The Fallacy of Easy Believism

Easy believism ignores and discounts the requirement of personal responsibility. It says, “I can just believe and be saved.”

“So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”

Faith is the confluence of belief, trust, and expectation. These three working together produce fruit. In the context of salvation by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-10), the fruit (or works) of faith is repentance from sins.

Without trust and expectation, there is no accessing the Works (salvation) of the One who says, I can, and I will do as I promise. Without trust and expectation mixed with belief, there is no basis to act in repentance from sins, which are non-refutable qualities of the gospel of the kingdom of God.

So, to button it up: Is Jesus key? Yes. Can we access the salvation that Jesus provided through is death, burial and resurrection without repentance? No.