Are Titles Really Important?

Most of us can’t get through a single week without referring to someone by their “title.”  In many cases it is tied to their “rank” within an  organization (e.g., a military “Captain” or “Sergeant”), in other cases an elected office such as “Senator” or “Councilman.”  Titles are also used to denote those with  special qualifications in their particular vocation such as “Doctor” or “Pastor.”  While these titles span a wide range of purposes, they all have one  thing in common – they are granted and used as a sign of authority and respect.

This past Sunday we started considering some of the titles given to Jesus in The Bible.  The first title we examined for Jesus stems from Matthew 16 when Jesus asked His Disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”  Peter replied emphatically, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Peter nailed that one!  While Jesus has at least 256 names/titles in Scripture, this was the one which Jesus was looking for from His Disciples.  How do we know this?  Because in  the next verse, Jesus tells Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in Heaven.”  Jesus is telling Peter that he did not come  up with this title on his own or from hearing it from another man, but that this title was revealed to Peter by God Himself.  

With at least 255 other titles to His credit, why does Jesus make such a big deal about this one?  Because of the fact that Jesus is THE Christ and THE Son of The Living God.  No other individual in all of Scripture shares this title with Jesus. And John 3:18 declares: “Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” Jesus is God’s ONE AND ONLY Son… there are no others. Why is this  so important?  Because our entire salvation rests on it!  Jesus HAD TO BE the one and only Son of God in order to be the perfect sacrifice to redeem us from our sins. 

As we prepare to observe the Lord’s Supper this coming Sunday, I challenge you to reflect on the FACT that Jesus is God’s One and Only Son.  I believe that when we fully realize all that title means it will drive us to obedience and worship of our only Lord and Savior.

-Pastor Dave Jones