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The Name

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 29, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 34.

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The Name

By Dan E. Huffman

Thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins. Matt. 1:21.
THE names which God gives have meaning.
When Jacob threw himself on the mercy of God, and was changed in heart and character, his name was called no more Jacob, but Israel. The name "Jesus" was given to Christ because it is the only name which fully expresses His mission as our Saviour. "For He shall save His people from their sins."
Jesus saves from sin, from nothing but sin. "Sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. Therefore the only salvation He offers is the salvation from transgressing the law. If any one insists upon a different salvation, he should seek it by a different savior. The very name of our Saviour means, "He shall save from transgressing the law." "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.
The above being true, it follows that the only salvation under heaven given among men is salvation from transgressing the law. And any proposed or professed salvation which does not save from transgressing the law, is not by this name, and is no salvation. Jesus saves, not IN SIN, but FROM SIN.
The promise is, "He shall save His PEOPLE." Others have no promise. If He does not save you from transgressing His law, it is because you are not one of "His people;" have not given up all to be His, and not your own. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price." 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. Your salvation depends upon your complete surrender to God, to be His entirely, and not your own.
When this question of ownership is settled, the whole problem of obedience to the law is also settled. God says: "The seventh day is the Sabbath: . . . in it THOU SHALT NOT do any work." Now if you are His and not your own, He will not put you to work on the Sabbath, but will save you from transgressing this commandment. If you think you are your own, you will consult your own desires and convenience, and decide to do about as you please in the matter; or if you try to save yourself from transgressing,
you will not be able. You are nearly sure to fear losing your business or coming to want. If you are His, and He wants you to suffer for His name, that is His business, not yours. Throw yourself upon Him, and He will overcome all difficulties, and will really save you from transgressing His law.
DAN E. HUFFMAN.
Centerville, Kansas.