First Love and Resisting Falsehood
What’s In the Name: Lessons from Ephesus, Pergamum, and Philadelphia in Revelation 2-3 (PART III)
The churches in Ephesus, Pergamum, and Philadelphia, as described in Revelation 2–3, provide profound examples of faithfulness and challenges for believers. The Ephesians were commended for their sound doctrine and perseverance for Christ’s name but rebuked for losing their first love and called to restore their passion for God and others. The church in Pergamum demonstrated remarkable courage, holding fast to Jesus’ name even under the threat of death, yet they were warned about tolerating false teaching and immorality. In contrast, the church in Philadelphia received only praise for their steadfast faith, enduring persecution without faltering, and maintaining their commitment to Christ. Together, these churches highlight the importance of faithfulness, doctrinal purity, and living out the name of Jesus in every aspect of life.
Sermon Transcript
“Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
(Revelation 2:1–7, CSB)
“Write to the angel of the church in Pergamum: Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword: I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives. But I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. So repent! Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it.
(Revelation 2:12–17, CSB)
“Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia: Thus says the Holy One, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens: I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you. Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown.
“The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God—and my new name.
“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
(Revelation 3:7–13, CSB)
Welcome, everyone. This week, as we remembered the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s march on Washington and as we approach a presidential election, I can't help but reflect on the dividing lines that humans create because of our sinful nature. These lines—whether based on race, politics, gender, or even personal interests—are at best secondary and, in reality, often distract us from the only line that God calls us to draw.
That line is between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. It's the line between those who bear the name of Jesus, the name of the one true God, and those who do not. While we tend to divide over countless issues, the only division that truly matters is whether or not someone bears the name of Jesus.
Today, we’re diving back into Revelation to explore a key motif in the letters, one that extends throughout the entire book and even reaches back into the Old Testament. To understand this theme of "the name" in Revelation, we need to look at what "the name" means throughout the Bible. We'll study the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the book of Revelation to unpack this concept.
We’ll ask three questions:
What does it mean to bear the name?
Who bears the name, and whose name do you bear?
How do we live in light of the name we bear, the name of Jesus?
Let’s start with the concept of the name, often referred to as "name theology." This is the study of God in relation to his name. The theme of "the name" is woven throughout the scriptures, beginning as early as the Torah, the first five books of the Bible.
The Jewish people had a profound understanding of "the name." They even had a specific word for it: HaShem, which means "the name." They would use HaShem instead of directly speaking the divine name, Yahweh, which is often translated as "Lord." Sometimes, we see combinations like Yahweh Elohim, translated as "Lord God," or Adonai Yahweh, which is technically "Lord, Lord," though it’s often rendered as "Lord God" in most Bibles.
For ancient Israelites, the name of God carried immense weight and significance. Their tradition taught that speaking the divine name lightly or without reverence could dishonor it. To avoid misusing the name, they replaced it with HaShem. While this tradition is not rooted directly in biblical commands, it reflects their reverence for the power and holiness of God’s name.
In the Ten Commandments, we find an important reference to the name. Exodus 20:7 says, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain." The word "Lord" here is in all caps, indicating that it’s the divine name, Yahweh.
Many interpret this verse as a prohibition against using God’s name profanely, such as in curses or exclamations like "Oh my God" or "Jesus Christ" in a disrespectful manner. While it’s certainly wrong to use God’s name irreverently, this verse is actually addressing something deeper.
The phrase "take the name" in Hebrew carries the idea of bearing or carrying. It’s like carrying a burden or wearing something, like a garment. To "take the name of the Lord in vain" means to carry his name without purpose or to misrepresent it. It’s about taking on God’s name, identifying with him, but living in a way that dishonors him.
This understanding of bearing God’s name goes beyond speech. It’s about our identity and how we live as those who claim to follow God. When we carry his name, we represent him to the world.
It makes me think of how people wear Christian T-shirts. I know some people who have great Christian T-shirts, and it reminds me that Sunrise needs to put out another T-shirt soon. I was just talking about this with a few others the other day. Wearing a shirt with the name of our church also bears witness to Jesus, who is the head of our church. In a way, we are claiming the name of Jesus by wearing it.
That’s what we’re talking about here: the Israelites claimed to worship the one true God, whether they said, "We worship Yahweh," or "We worship HaShem"—the name. They were claiming to bear the name of the one true God. Yet, as we see throughout Israel’s history, they didn’t always live in accordance with that claim. They would say, "We’re Israel, God’s chosen people," but then fail to act like it.
If you read the book of Amos, for example, you’ll see how they neglected the poor, persecuted each other, charged massive amounts of interest on loans, and failed to keep God’s laws. They were breaking God’s covenant while still claiming to be his people. Even in Moses’ time, this hypocrisy was happening, which is why God, through Moses, gave the Ten Commandments. One of those commands says: Do not bear the name of Yahweh in vain. In other words, don’t claim the name of Yahweh and then live in a way that dishonors it.
This theme runs throughout the Old Testament and into the New Testament. In the New Testament, we see this idea of "the name" come up in two notable ways. First, in the Gospels, Jesus confronts the religious leaders. He asks them, "Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46).
When Jesus says, "Lord, Lord," he’s drawing on Old Testament language. The Hebrew words Adonai and Yahweh are both translated as "Lord," and together they emphasize God’s divine authority. In Greek, this phrase becomes Kyrios, Kyrios. Jesus challenges the religious leaders: "Why do you call me Adonai Yahweh but refuse to obey me?"
Now, it’s important to note that these leaders didn’t actually believe Jesus bore the divine name. They didn’t recognize him as Yahweh. So his point is that while they claim to worship the one true God, they dishonor him by rejecting Jesus. They were taking God’s name in vain—not by speaking it improperly but by failing to live out their supposed allegiance.
Jesus regularly associated himself with the kingdom of God. He declared himself to be its king. To the Israelites, this was a radical claim, because they believed Israel was God’s kingdom, and unless someone was part of Israel, they didn’t belong to God. Yet Jesus repeatedly said, in effect, "I am the king of the kingdom of God. I am the king of Israel. I am the king of all things. I bear the name."
This claim infuriated the Jewish leaders. Throughout the Gospels, we see their growing hatred for Jesus, particularly because they recognized that he was acting like the Messiah. They understood what this meant: if Jesus truly was the Messiah, he was claiming to bear the divine name, Adonai Yahweh. This is why they accused him of blasphemy before Pilate and why they said he was breaking Jewish law.
Their accusation had weight. If Jesus was not the Messiah—if he was not the Christ, the Savior of the world—then their charges would have been valid. If Jesus didn’t live a perfect life, die for our sins, rise from the dead, and ascend to the throne on high, as Philippians 2 describes, then yes, he would have been a blasphemer, deserving death according to Jewish law.
But Philippians 2 shows us the truth about Jesus. Paul writes, "For this reason"—because Jesus died on our behalf—"God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9). The HaShem. Paul continues, "So that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2:10).
Think about that. "Every knee will bow" includes every spiritual being in heaven and every person on earth. All creation will bow at the name of Jesus.
This incredible association that the Apostle Paul makes regarding Jesus in Philippians 2 is one of the clearest declarations in the New Testament that Jesus is, in fact, the Adonai Yahweh of the Old Testament. Jesus himself is the Lord God. He doesn’t just bear the name—he owns the name. It is his name. That’s the weight of it.
When we understand this from Philippians 2 and see how this theme flows through the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, John—and even Acts and the rest of the New Testament, it prepares us for the book of Revelation. Remember the pro tip: where have you read this before? Where does this connect?
In Revelation, the theme of "the name" appears repeatedly. I haven’t counted how many times it shows up, but it’s everywhere, and it should make us think back to the name in the Old Testament. What name is this?
Here are a few examples from Revelation:
Revelation 2:3: Endure for the name.
Revelation 2:13: Hold fast to Jesus’ name.
Revelation 2:17: Believers receive a white stone with Jesus’ new name.
Revelation 3:8: Do not deny Jesus’ name.
Revelation 11:18: Those who fear the name of the Lord will be rewarded.
Revelation 15:2: Those who bear Jesus’ name will conquer the beast and those who bear the beast’s name.
Notice the Exodus 20 language here—bearing or claiming the name. Those who carry or claim Jesus’ name are victorious over the beast. The beast also has a name, and we’ll touch on that in a moment.
In Revelation 15:4, those who persevere to the end glorify the Lord’s name. There is eternal glory tied to the name of Jesus.
In Revelation 19:12, Jesus has a mysterious name that signifies the very Word or reason of God.
In Revelation 19:16, Jesus bears the name King of Kings, Lord of Lords. This title declares that there is no power higher than him—it’s the language of absolute sovereignty, of being seated on the throne on high.
Then we see the opposite: the names of the kingdoms of this world and of the satanic beings. These beings are either Satan himself or his agents. For example:
Revelation 6:8: Satan’s angel is named Death, and with Hades, he kills with sword and famine.
Revelation 8:11: The devil’s name is Wormwood, which means "poison."
Revelation 9:11: Satan’s name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon, meaning "destroyer."
Revelation 13:1: The beast has blasphemous names, which are direct attacks against God.
Revelation 13:6: The beast blasphemes Jesus’ name, fulfilling its role as one who opposes God.
Revelation 13:17–18: The beast requires people to bear its name or its number, 666, and persecutes those who refuse to do so—Christians who faithfully bear Jesus’ name.
Revelation 14:11 warns that those who bear the beast’s name will never find rest, peace, or shalom.
Revelation 16:9 shows that those who follow the beast blaspheme the name of God.
Revelation 17:3 reveals that the scarlet beast is covered with blasphemous names.
Revelation 17:5 describes a woman—likely representing Jezebel—who rides the beast and bears a mysterious name on her forehead: Mother of Harlotry and Detestable Things. This woman carries the name as a representation of the biblical character or motif of Jezebel.
In Revelation 17:8, we read that those whose names are not written in Jesus’ book of life will be astonished when they discover the identity of the beast. When the beast is revealed, even we who follow Jesus will be amazed. Revelation 20:15 continues this theme, stating that those whose names are not written in the book of life will be thrown into the eternal lake of fire.
This brings us to a reflection on names. Our names—your name, my name—need to be written in Jesus’ book of life. Revelation 3:5 tells us that our names are written in the book of life if we follow Jesus. And in the second half of that verse, we see a remarkable promise: if we confess Jesus’ name before the world, he will confess our name before the Father. What an incredible assurance.
Revelation 13:8 explains that those whose names are written in the book of life will not be slaughtered in judgment as the rest of the world will be. Revelation 14:1 paints a picture of those who bear the name of Jesus and the Father standing with him on Mount Zion—the place of worship. Finally, Revelation 22:4 promises that we will bear the name of Jesus perfectly and eternally before his throne.
This is a comforting truth: if you feel burdened by the fact that you don’t perfectly bear or live out the name of Jesus now, Revelation assures us that, in eternity, we will bear his name in perfection.
The names in heaven also reflect this theme. Revelation 21:12 tells us that the gates of the eternal city bear the names of the tribes of Israel, showing Israel’s eternal significance. Revelation 21:14 reveals that the foundations of the city bear the names of the apostles. This blending of the names of Israel and the apostles signifies one eternal people of God. While there may be confusion in the Old Testament about Israel and in the New Testament about the church, Revelation unites these themes, showing that all of God’s people belong to this eternal city, Israel.
Revelation 3:12 adds one more layer: all who follow Jesus, along with the saints of the Old Testament, will bear the name of God’s eternal city. Together, we become one people of God, bearing his name forever.
Let me summarize because that was a lot to take in. Throughout Revelation, the theme of HaShem—the name—saturates the text. Jesus bears the divine name; it is his name. The names of the rebellious are blasphemous, God-hating names. Those who rebel against God and do not claim Christ’s name are blasphemers, whether they recognize it or not.
You may think, “I don’t hate God, even though I’m not a Christian.” But by denying the one true God and his authority, you elevate something else—whatever it may be—as superior. In doing so, you blaspheme the name of Jesus.
God’s people, however, claim Jesus’ name, and their names are written in heaven. This is the beautiful promise of eternal security. If Jesus’ name is everything to you—if you claim it and follow him—your name is already written in the book of life. Before the foundations of the earth, your name was written in his book. And one day, that book will be opened at the final judgment as you enter perfectly and eternally into his presence.
Even heaven itself bears the name of God’s people—Israel, the apostles, and the prophets. Together with the church, we bear the name of God’s kingdom. The promise of Scripture is clear: He will be our God, and we will be his people.
That’s the essence of name theology, HaShem. But next, we must ask ourselves: whose name do we claim? Do we bear the name of Jesus, or do we bear another name?
Let’s turn to that question now. Do you claim the name of Jesus? Do you bear his name in how you live, or do you bear the name of the beast, Satan, or perhaps your own name?
Let me explain what I mean. In Genesis, early in human history, people sought to make a name for themselves. This story is often called the Tower of Babel. Humanity, united under one language, said, “Let us make a name for ourselves.” They weren’t merely seeking personal fame; they wanted to establish a name for humanity among the gods and within the divine realm.
This theme of humanity striving to establish its own name is present throughout Scripture. In the Garden of Eden, God gave humans the role of ruling the world righteously, having dominion, and multiplying to fill the earth. But instead of doing it God’s way, humanity fell into sin, disorder, and rebellion.
In Genesis 11, humanity is living in rebellion, choosing sin over God’s ways. They declare, “We’re not going to make a name for ourselves God’s way. Instead, let’s build a huge tower that reaches to the heavens, and we’ll make a name for ourselves.”
The text says:
“Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4).
But what happens? God comes down, confuses their language, and disperses them across the earth—the very thing they were trying to prevent. Their attempt to build a name for themselves, apart from God, resulted in division and scattering. This story shows that human efforts to glorify themselves instead of glorifying God will ultimately fail.
Yet, the human tendency to make a name for oneself hasn’t changed. Everyone, in some way, is trying to make a name for themselves. We see this when we elevate celebrities, politicians, or other public figures to pedestals. By doing so, we often celebrate people who, like the builders of Babel, are focused on their own glory rather than God’s. Sometimes we even lift them up to figurative (or literal) thrones of power, like presidencies or leadership positions, in ways that are unhealthy both for them and for us.
But we are not called to bear our own names. There is no righteousness in glorifying our own name. This stands in stark contrast to the call to bear the name of Yahweh.
Think about how this connects to Exodus 20, centuries after the events of Babel. God gives Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, including this one: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7). This command is not just about speech; it’s about how we live. To claim the name of Yahweh and yet live in a way that denies him is to make his name meaningless.
The principle here is clear: Don’t live like the world while claiming to follow the one true God. But the narrative moves forward in the New Testament, where we see that Jesus doesn’t merely bear the divine name—it is his name. We are called to bear and claim Jesus’ name.
Now, let’s look at an example from 1 Corinthians. The Apostle Paul addresses some serious issues in the church at Corinth. There were people in the church who claimed to bear the name of Christ—they called themselves Christians, attended worship, and participated in the community. But one person, in particular, was engaging in a level of immorality that shocked even the pagan culture around them.
Paul writes:
“When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 5:4-5).
Here, Paul is saying that when the church gathers in the name of Jesus, they are under his authority—not Paul’s, not their own, but Jesus’. Paul instructs them to hand this person over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. This doesn’t mean condemning the person to eternal damnation; it means removing him from the community of believers so that he might experience the consequences of his actions and, hopefully, repent.
The principle is this: It doesn’t matter what someone claims to believe if their actions show they bear a different name. This person claimed to follow Jesus, but his life told a different story.
The world looks at the church, and when it sees people who claim the name of Jesus living in blatant sin, it says, “How can that person call themselves a Christian? I want no part of that.” Even the surrounding culture found this particular sin appalling, and it damaged the witness of the church. Paul’s solution was to hand the man over to his true master—Satan—so that the consequences of his sin might ultimately lead him to repentance.
This passage challenges us to examine ourselves. Are we bearing the name of Jesus in how we live, or are we, by our actions, showing that we bear another name?
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 5:5, “Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.” Notice the hope embedded in this verse: "that his spirit may be saved." What Paul is saying is this: perhaps, through experiencing the consequences of his sin and the pain it causes, this person might repent. He might return to Christ, claiming the name of Jesus again—but this time, doing so in righteousness.
That’s the principle for us to reflect on: What name do you claim? And does your life provide evidence of who you really belong to? Are you claiming the name of Jesus, but living in a way that doesn’t align with that claim? These are the questions we must consider. Whose name do you claim? And does your life bear witness to that name?
As we prepare to talk more about living by the name, let’s reflect on what it means for Jesus’ name to shape our lives. If we’ve uncovered anything about the concept of the name—the HaShem—it’s that the name of Jesus carries power and identity. His name identifies who we are.
Let me illustrate this with a personal example. In the Delgado family, there are certain ways we do things—habits and values Jamie and I have prayerfully designed for our family to center our lives around biblical principles. These choices often stand out, and sometimes our kids ask, “Why don’t we do what other families do? That family seems like good Christians; why can they do this and we don’t?”
The answer is simple: it’s not about judgment or saying one way is better than another. It’s just that this is how Delgados live. We’ve ascribed value to our family name. As our kids grow and go off on their own, they’ll choose how to live out their name in ways that reflect their values.
Now think about how the name of Jesus works. His name is meant to influence more than just what we say; it’s meant to transform the way we live. In the same way that I hope my family’s name influences the way my kids and I live, the name of Jesus should shape every part of our lives.
Let’s turn to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation. This was a solid, biblical, and theological church. They had sound doctrine and were committed to scripture in ways that other churches didn’t seem to be. But they had a problem: their faith lacked a public presence.
Jesus says they had “lost their first love” (Revelation 2:4). They weren’t loving each other, nor were they loving people outside their community. They were introverted—focused on what they did best: reading the Bible, discussing it, and teaching it. While their biblical knowledge was a strength, it also became a limitation.
Even so, something good came from their biblical centrality. In Revelation 2:3, Jesus says, “I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.” Look at that phrase: “for my name’s sake.”
The Ephesian church endured great persecution and trials because they understood the weight of the name they bore. Their understanding of scripture gave them a deep grasp of name theology—the glory of God’s name in the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Jesus. They understood that Jesus, as the inheritor of the divine name, rules as Almighty. Philippians 2 shows us that Jesus, through his obedience to the point of death, was exalted and given the name above all names. Colossians 1 reminds us that Jesus has always been Almighty, existing before all things and holding all things together.
The Ephesians bore the name of Jesus faithfully through trials and difficulties. Their example challenges us to reflect on how we are living out the name of Jesus. Does his name shape our lives, or are we living in a way that denies the name we claim?
The Ephesians understood the promises of Jesus about the future and eternity. That understanding gave them the ability to endure hardships patiently, even with peace—a shalom that allowed them to deal with the world around them, including their persecutors, in a calm and cordial way. Their peace came from knowing and trusting in Jesus’ plan as revealed throughout the narrative of Scripture.
This is exactly what we, as Christians, are called to. We’re not called to anxiety when diseases arise in the world. We’re not called to fear when politicians leverage crises like pandemics for personal gain. We’re not called to hopelessness when elections don’t go our way. Even if these things feel like persecution, our response as Christians is not despair or hostility.
Instead, we are called to endure patiently, with peace and shalom, maintaining a good reputation with those around us, as Paul instructs in 1 Timothy. Why? Because the name of Jesus is supreme, his purpose is supreme, and his authority is supreme. When we understand these truths, we realize we have nothing to fear. We don’t need to worry. Don’t you know about Jesus?
That’s the application of the verse we’re looking at. For his name’s sake, can you step back from the stress, the hype, or the panic about the state of the world? Whatever you think is leading the world "to hell in a handbasket," it’s all part of the biblical narrative. It’s the same pattern we see throughout the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the book of Revelation. God’s promises are unfolding.
Let that bring you great joy, peace, and hope, because the day of the Lord is drawing near. That’s the promise: we can endure hardships because of Jesus’ promises.
Now, let’s turn to the church of Pergamum. This church publicly proclaimed their faith in Jesus, even in the face of intense persecution. In Revelation 2:13, Jesus says:
"I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. Yet you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was put to death among you, where Satan lives."
This phrase, “holding on to my name,” carries the idea of a firm grasp—like holding onto something so tightly that you won’t let it go. The church in Pergamum was holding tightly to the name of Jesus, refusing to let go, even as persecution intensified.
Antipas, mentioned in this verse, was likely a prominent believer, possibly a government official, who was known for his faithfulness to Jesus. Notice that Jesus doesn’t just call him a follower or a believer—he calls him “my faithful witness.”
What is a witness? A witness is someone who testifies to what they’ve seen or heard. Picture a court scene: “Officer, I saw the car veer into the other lane and crash into the truck.” That’s what a witness does—they testify to the truth of what they’ve experienced.
Antipas was this kind of witness. He went out and boldly testified, “You wouldn’t believe what Jesus has done!” He was so faithful in proclaiming Jesus that even death couldn’t stop him. The text tells us that Antipas was put to death in the place where Satan lives—likely a center of pagan worship or significant spiritual opposition.
But despite the danger, Antipas did not deny his Lord. He willingly endured persecution, even death, because he understood the eternal value of proclaiming Jesus’ name. His faith was so strong that he was willing to be burned at the stake for the sake of the gospel.
That brings us to a challenging question: Is your faith so bold, so deeply rooted in your heart and mind, that others can look at you and say, “That person must be a Christian. That’s a follower of Jesus”?
This is about the public proclamation of our faith. Whether we do it with words or simply by how we live, our lives should testify to Jesus. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 3:15 that we should have such a strong conviction of Jesus’ holiness that our lives compel others to ask us about the hope we have. That’s when we have the opportunity to share the gospel, to point others to Jesus, and to proclaim his name.
Antipas understood this, and so did the church in Pergamum. They held onto the name of Jesus and proclaimed their faith boldly, no matter the cost. What about us? Are we willing to do the same?
Does the way you live proclaim that you’re a Christian? And when opportunities arise, are you ready to explain your hope in Jesus? Can you say, “Let me tell you why I live this way. It’s because of Jesus. Do you know why I’m not anxious about the presidential election? Do you know why I’m not worried about the constant news cycles or the coronavirus? Do you know why I have peace?”
The answer is simple: because the Bible tells us this is all going to happen. And after this? Glory, peace, and eternity with Jesus—perfect forever. But that eternity is only for those who follow him. Can I tell you how to follow Jesus? Because I see your anxiety, and I think you need this.
That’s the kind of witness we’re called to be. This is what the church in Pergamum understood. They grasped the weight of the name they claimed when they said they were Christians. It shaped their lives and their testimony, just like it did for Antipas, and it shaped their entire church.
Continual Belief
The final church we’ll discuss today is the church in Philadelphia. This church endured persecution, particularly ideological persecution from the Jews who denied Jesus as the Messiah. These Jews sought to confuse, slander, and influence the Christians, trying to pull them away from their faith. In some cases, this kind of pressure caused people to abandon their faith and return to Judaism. We see evidence of this struggle in the book of Hebrews.
But the Christians in Philadelphia didn’t fall prey to this. They held firmly to their belief in Jesus. They committed themselves daily to his name and his truth.
As believers, there’s a tension in Scripture. On the one hand, we are eternally secure—Jesus tells us that no one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand. On the other hand, passages like Hebrews 6 warn us not to abandon our faith or the name we proclaim.
Doubts will come. That’s normal. But when doubts arise, how do you respond? Do you settle them with the Lord? Do you bring your questions to him in prayer? Do you seek answers in Scripture and within the church? Doubts are human, but don’t let them drag you into apostasy—abandoning your faith entirely.
The early Christians had a practice of daily commitment. While we don’t know if the church in Philadelphia specifically followed this tradition, many early believers would rise in the morning and begin their day with prayer—committing themselves anew to following Jesus. Before doing anything else, they would pray for strength and guidance, dedicating their day to the Lord.
Do you do this? If not, would you? Would you commit each day to the Lord so that your life reflects him day by day?
This series is titled All Glory Be to Christ because all glory belongs to him. How dare we live a day for our own glory? How dare we dedicate a season to glorify a politician, a nation, or even ourselves?
Let me take it a step further. How dare we glorify something like our skin color, ethnicity, gender, or generation? How dare we say, “This day is for Millennials, or Gen X, or Boomers”? How dare we have a day that is not for the glory of Jesus?
When we glorify something other than Jesus, we blaspheme God’s name. We mimic the beast in Revelation, elevating another name above the name of Christ. Isaiah warns us: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 29:13). Our lives reveal what we truly worship.
Can we honor Jesus and glorify him every day? Can we instill this into our routines, morning by morning?
This motif of the name in Revelation goes beyond the name we claim. It speaks to how that name shapes our lives, our priorities, and our worship. Let us live for his glory, proclaim his name, and commit each day to him.
It’s not just about the Christian T-shirt you wear or the name you claim. It’s about the way you live out what you say you believe.
Prayer:
Let’s pray. Lord, we come before you, thankful for the name—thankful for HaShem, the name of Jesus, who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Fully God, yet coming in our place to save us from our sins by dying on the cross.
We are so grateful that Jesus proved his authority, power, and worthiness by rising from the dead and ascending to the right hand of the Father, to the throne of God. There he is seated, demonstrating his authority over all things, his power over all things, and the radiance of his glory, which draws us closer and nearer to him.
Lord, we pray that we would always see Jesus on his throne—daily, moment by moment. And today, this day that we call the Lord’s Day, we commit our hearts and minds to you. This day is yours, Lord; it is for your glory. Let us not glory in any other name today, because there is no other name in heaven or on earth that compares to you.
You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. You are everything to us. Be the center and the focus of all that we do. Lord, help us fulfill the calling you’ve placed upon us as your church: to shine as a light into the darkness around us. May we, as your people, reflect your glory and help others see the dividing line between your kingdom and the world.
Let the light of your name shine through us into the darkness, so that people in our community would see that light and find freedom—freedom from every form of bondage they are in. We specifically pray for those who are enslaved to sin, striving to make a name for themselves, or trapped under the power of another name or authority, whether human or spiritual.
Lord, we ask for freedom in your name. We pray that they would come into your kingdom, bear your name forever, claim your name, and live for your name. Use us, Lord, in this mission. As we look forward to another season at Sunrise Church, help us move into our community boldly, proclaiming the glory of Christ.
We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
