In the name of Jesus

In the Name of Jesus

We read in the New Testament:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)

We read in John that in response to a question from Philip Jesus said to his disciples:

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13)

We have presumed that to mean we must say "In the name of Jesus."

There is power in praying in the authority of Jesus Christ, by the authority He has given us according to His will.

It's like when a police officer says, "Stop in the name of the law." The police officer is saying that because he is standing in the place of the law and speaking on behalf of it. To the degree that he speaks for the law, he can enforce the law and has authority. When he steps outside of the law, he has lost his authority even though he still says, "Stop in the name of the law."

When we step outside of Jesus' will we have lost our authority though we still say, "In Jesus' name."

Praying in the name of Jesus is when we come to God not in our power, not in our righteousness. We come on the merits of Jesus, not on our merits" and God hears us for Jesus' sake

In the prayers of the Bible we never see a prayer that ends with the phrase "In Jesus' name. Amen," even though the same text teaches us to pray in Jesus' name. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to draw the conclusion that we are, first, to pray in the name of Jesus, and second, praying in the name of Jesus doesn't mean ending our prayer with the phrase "In the name of Jesus. Amen." It is never done in the New Testament.

Acting in the name of someone, in the sense that the Bible authors used it, was what the person stood for, the substance of their character, or their authority.

When we pray in the name of Jesus or baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, what we are doing is acting in their authority, in their stead, according to their command, and consistent with their desires.

When we pray in the name of Jesus it might be better for us to drop the phrase "In the name of Jesus" altogether because generally we don't mean, "I am praying in the authority of Jesus Christ." Practically speaking, it means the prayer is over. That is the Christian exit. Amen.

Dispense with the empty words. Instead, approach the throne of God based on the authority of Jesus Christ. If we are thinking that way and that is our attitude, it doesn't matter what we say at the end of the prayer. God will hear us according to His promise.

"Grace to you and peace in the Lord Jesus Christ." That would be an example of a prayer that we see often at the beginning and sometimes at the end of Epistles. Paul says, "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father", he reflects a prayer there. "I pray that the eyes of your heart might be opened that we would understand the length and breadth and depth of the love of Christ which is beyond comprehension." Paul gives a prayer.