All In His Name

APPLICATION ARTICLE | Jason Lankford | Conway, Arkansas

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17)

One of the most commonly quoted verses I have heard in my life is Colossians 3:17. And for a good reason, considering these words have such great implications in our lives as Christians. How so? Let’s unpack the main aspects of this passage and shed light on the manner of life Paul is calling us to have in Christ Jesus.

All of Who We Are
We must first realize that whatever is meant here in this text is intended to affect every aspect of who we are. We often tend to compartmentalize our lives, separating certain things from other things that are seemingly unrelated. Paul’s statement in Colossians 3:17 should affect every single compartment; we should be completely transformed. This verse is all-inclusive; there is nothing that lies outside its intended control. “Whatever you do” is synonymous with “in ALL that you do.” Our full self, even our words, and deeds, are to continually be bearing witness to the name of the Lord Jesus.

Before clarifying what Paul meant by “in the name of the Lord Jesus,” let’s make sure we have accepted this one point. The very heart of the Gospel teaches us that in Christ Jesus, we are someone completely new.

2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” If you look just before that in verse 15, Paul writes, “and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” In Christ, our whole perspective on life is to change. Our direction, our purpose, everything is affected by our being created new in Christ. If we have not come to terms with the fact that Christ intends to take over completely, then we’ve not yet understood the nature of the Gospel. Or maybe it is that we realized it when we first committed our life to the Lord but have become callous towards the idea. Will you soften your heart once again to let the love of Christ take control (2 Corinthians 5:14)?

So What Does It Mean?
What does Paul mean by saying all that we do should be “in the name of the Lord Jesus”? Let’s first note that “in the name of” is a common phrase throughout the Old Testament. The High Priest was one who ministered “in the name of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:5). A prophet was one who spoke “in the name of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 18:22; Jeremiah 26:16). David fought Goliath “in the name of the Lord” (1 Samuel 17:45). People put their trust “in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 20:7; Psalm 124:8). The phrase, “in the name of the Lord,” was an appeal to the power and authority of the Lord their God.

Consider in the New Testament the account in Luke 20:1-8. The religious leaders came to Jesus, saying, “Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is that gave you this authority” (verse 2). As they heard Jesus speak, watched him perform signs and even observed him “cleanse the temple,” they wanted to know “who are you acting on behalf of?” Their hard hearts blinded them to the fact that He was acting on behalf of the Father they too claimed to represent. Jesus responded with a question of his own in verse 3, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me, was the baptism of John from heaven or from man?” You know how the rest of that account unfolded, but the point I want you to consider is that Jesus sets his question up as a parallel to their own. Their asking him “by what authority” is the same as Him asking, “where did it come from? What is it’s source?” Acts 4:7 helps us connect the question posed to Jesus and what Paul writes in Colossians 3:17 because the people asked Peter and John the same question with slightly different wordage. They asked, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” Now we start to understand what Paul means in Colossians 3:17. The phrase “in the name of Jesus” is a reference to his Lordship and authority. Paul is telling the Colossian brethren, and us today, to let all that you say and do come from God. Is God the source of your living? Do your words and actions point to Him?

This passage is important to consider because it’s a text that says something about Christ’s position as Lord, and it also says something about our relationship to Him. We are a representative of the Lord. When I do or say something in His name, I’m acknowledging that He is Lord and that what I am doing is a representation of His Word. For example, in 1 Samuel 25:9, David sends his men to go and speak with Nabal about provisions for him and his men, and the text says that the men “said all this to Nabal in the name of David.” They were speaking to Nabal as a representative of David. They were speaking his words, not their own. They were faithful representatives. The NLT (New Living Translation) translates Colossians 3:17 in the following way: “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Are you a faithful representative of the Lord? Are you honoring Him as Lord? Being a faithful representative of Christ demands that we accurately represent Him, that we speak, and do by what He has declared true.

Are you actively living in the name of the Lord Jesus? Did you honor Christ as Lord in the way you spoke with your neighbor, co-worker, spouse, or children today? Did you honor Christ as Lord at work or at school? How about while doing your taxes? Did you show honesty and integrity even though it meant some sacrifice? Did you honor Him by forgiving someone who had wronged you? Did you honor Him in how you worshiped? Do you honor Him in how you come into His Word, seeking to hear His voice and follow only those things that you know to be true? How about in your purity and your faith? If you notice the context of Colossians 3, you will see that Paul spends a good bit of time telling Christians that being in Christ demands us to put to death certain conduct (verses 5-11). Then, Christians must put on holy conduct (verses 12-16). Don’t let Satan convince you that there’s a part of your life that Christ doesn’t intend to change!

Don’t Neglect the Thankful Heart
Let’s not conclude without honoring the last part of what Paul says in Colossians 3:17: “giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” There’s a certain kind of heart that God desires behind the words and deeds. Have you ever had a job you just absolutely hated? A position you held just because you needed the money, but you didn’t care about the company, its success, or your boss? On the flip side, have you ever had a job you absolutely loved? The company stood for something respectable, and it made its success with integrity. The company made more than adequate provisions for you, and it was a joy to work for your boss. Because of that, it made you want to come to work each day with a commitment to doing your best because you appreciated the opportunity given to you. Have you ever known that? Yes, the Christian’s life is to be a life full of good and Christ-honoring words and actions. But behind those actions should be a heart overwhelmed with joy and gratitude because of the realization that in Christ Jesus we have been snatched out of hell’s grip and “translated into an eternal kingdom of life” (Colossians 1:13-14). That reality far surpasses the value of a respectable company and a kind boss. What Jesus has done for us has eternal implications. That you and I have hope in him speaks of God’s immeasurable grace. Are you thankful for that? Yes? Good. Let that thankfulness bear fruit by honoring Him as Lord in all things.

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April 2020 | GROW magazine