An Everlasting Covenant: In Jesus' Name

God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” 2 So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.” 4 So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem. Genesis 35:1-4

5 And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, 7 and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel,[a] because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. 8 And Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth.[b]

Genesis 35:5-8

9 God appeared[c] to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name.” So he called his name Israel. 11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty:[d] be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body.[e] 12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you.” 13 Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. 15 So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. Genesis 35:9-15

21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” Mark 12:21-22

God is leading people to Himself through out history. He does this by establishing covenants with people so that they can remain committed to a path that will lead to their salvation. When God appeared to Jacob again at Bethel, He reminded Jacob of his covenant with Him. Jacob was also reminded of his new name given by God, Israel- one who wrestles with God. The significance of this name is that it gave Jacob a life purpose. The same happened with Simon the apostle. He was renamed Peter by Jesus, which means rock. The significance of this name was that Simon no longer lived for himself, but rather lived for Jesus, as the first leader of the church.

We too have been given a name. Not just the one by our parents, but one that was reserved for us by God. A Christian is one who takes on the name of Christ. When we choose to follow Jesus, we are no longer living for ourselves, but are living according to the purpose of God. We take on Jesus' name, and because of this we also take on His Indestructible Spirit. When asked the question, "will you live forever by following Jesus?", the answer is, "yes, I will live forever because I have taken on His name, and partake in His Spirit who lives forever."

What can you expect by being named in Christ?

1. By taking on the name of Jesus, you can expect to have a relationship with your heavenly Father. Your Father in heaven receives you because He receives His son Jesus. Yes, God does love everyone and wishes all to come to repentance. But it is those who are called by God in Christ that are shown His mercy and goodness.

1. The Holy Spirit is the helper to those who are called in Christ Jesus. The Spirit recognizes Jesus and empowers those who follow Him. When you have a heart that seeks out the will of your Heavenly Father as Jesus does, the Holy Spirit will recognize you and come to your aid.

1. You are changed from the inside out. Just as Jesus talked of new wine needing a new wineskin, so it is with you who are in Jesus' name. When you accept the name of Jesus, there will be a transformation in your heart, mind and spirit. Over time, your transformation will be evident to all those who see you. With the Holy Spirit within you, your wineskin will be transformed.

Father,

The more I understand what it means to take on the name of Jesus, the more I realize that the change is real. Jesus' relationship with us the everlasting covenant. It is His name, which is the final name, that keeps us in relationship with your forever.