Emmanuel
For the last three words, I have chosen three names of God.
In our society, whether right or wrong, a person's name is little more than a means of identifing him or her. That is, we give a child a name so that we will have something to call him or her by, not because the meaning of the name is representative of the personality of the child, or "who the child is." Nicknames are a bit more revealing of a person, but even this is not always the case.
With God, however, His various names reveal various aspects of His nature. This is particularly true in instances where God has revealed His name unto us, as opposed to us simply naming God. See, e.g., Exodus 3:14-15; 34:5. Hence, a study of His names is, at the same time, a study of God.
Emmanuel literally means "God is with us." It is found in Matt. 1:23 and Isaiah 7:14.
This particular name is important for a couple of reasons. First, "God is with us" embodies the incarnation of God--Jesus Christ. As we are approaching the day when we celebrate the birth of Christ, the name Emmanuel is never more evident.
In addition to serving as a name for Christ, the concept of Emmanuel is an important truth of Christianity. Namely, a divine promise to all those who believe, the promise being that God will never forsake us, that He will walk amongst us, indeed, even lead us, through life's journey.
Thus, Emmanuel captures the loving nature of God: that He would send His Son as a propitiation for our sins (the ultimate act of love) and as a pledge of divine assistance.
Soli Deo Gloria
For the last three words, I have chosen three names of God.
In our society, whether right or wrong, a person's name is little more than a means of identifing him or her. That is, we give a child a name so that we will have something to call him or her by, not because the meaning of the name is representative of the personality of the child, or "who the child is." Nicknames are a bit more revealing of a person, but even this is not always the case.
With God, however, His various names reveal various aspects of His nature. This is particularly true in instances where God has revealed His name unto us, as opposed to us simply naming God. See, e.g., Exodus 3:14-15; 34:5. Hence, a study of His names is, at the same time, a study of God.
Emmanuel literally means "God is with us." It is found in Matt. 1:23 and Isaiah 7:14.
This particular name is important for a couple of reasons. First, "God is with us" embodies the incarnation of God--Jesus Christ. As we are approaching the day when we celebrate the birth of Christ, the name Emmanuel is never more evident.
In addition to serving as a name for Christ, the concept of Emmanuel is an important truth of Christianity. Namely, a divine promise to all those who believe, the promise being that God will never forsake us, that He will walk amongst us, indeed, even lead us, through life's journey.
Thus, Emmanuel captures the loving nature of God: that He would send His Son as a propitiation for our sins (the ultimate act of love) and as a pledge of divine assistance.
Soli Deo Gloria
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