What Is His Name?

20 February 2014

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And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. - Luke 1:59-63

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As God commanded Abraham (Genesis 17:12), Zacharias and Elisabeth have a ceremony to circumcise their son. The Jews took on a tradition, not a commandment, of naming the child on this because Abram’s name was changed to Abraham on the day he was circumcised.

When it came time to name the baby boy, everyone agreed that he should have his father’s name, Zacharias. That is, everyone agreed except Elisabeth. We don’t know how heated of an argument ensued, but an debate did occur at this point.  It was not a custom among the Jews to name a child anything but a name already used in the family.  It promoted the heritage and showed honor and respect.  By going outside the norm, the people thought Elisabeth was being disrespectful, particularly to her silent husband who could speak for himself.

Therefore, the family went to Zacharias and used some form of sign language to ask him what he would like to name the child. His is response caused them all to marvel!

He wrote on the tablet, “His name IS John.” Notice that he did not say I would like to call him John.  He said that his name was already John for he knew that God had named the child even before he was born according to the testimony of Gabriel.

The people marveled that Zacharias agreed with Elisabeth on choosing a non-family name.  They, no doubt, marveled at the emphatic way he declared that the baby already had a name. And they were really about to marvel at what happened next…

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Tags: elisabeth, gospel_of_luke, harmony_of_the_gospels, john_the_baptist, zacharias

Welcome

Brentwood Hills Primitive Baptist Church is a community of believers working together to transform our lives to the image of Jesus Christ. We believe it is our duty and privilege to live the gospel of the doctrines of grace in such a way as to edify the families within our church and other children of God in our community. Through regular worship based on strong Biblical principles, fellowship, admonishment, and outreach, we glory in the grace of the sovereign God working in our lives thereby showing the Spirit of God in the world.

Brentwood Hills was organized in 1906 in Fort Worth, Texas as Laodicea Primitive Baptist Church. You can find much of the history of the church, as well as other churches here: Primitive Baptist History Database

We identify ourselves as an old-line Primitive Baptist church. If you read our Articles of Faith, you’ll see that we hold to such doctrines as the inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. We recognize the King James Version (KJV) as the only English translation worthy of being called the Bible. We believe in salvation solely by the grace of a sovereign God. We believe that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, came to the earth to do the will of His Father, which was to deliver from the sentence of death all those the Father gave Him before the world began. We believe that Jesus fully satisfied the Father by atoning for all the sins of all His people. In time, we believe the Holy Spirit comes to each person that belongs to Jesus and regenerates them. Then (and only then) can anyone have faith, which is a fruit of the Spirit, by which you are able to believe the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether or not you ever hear the gospel, or believe it if you did hear it, or obey it if you did believe it, rest assured that Jesus will remain forever faithful to you because, if He died for you, He will never deny that you belong to Him.

We believe that everyone for whom Christ died will without fail be raised again from the dead to a glorified life. Even if we are alive when He returns to raise the dead, we shall be changed to a glorified life. All the Redeemed will meet the Lord in the air. Then He will take us to Heaven and there we shall forever be with the Lord. The wicked will be raised at the same time as the righteous, but the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment along with Satan and his angels. Until that glorious day when Christ returns to raise the dead, He has provided a place for His people to find rest for their souls. This place is the Church. Jesus Christ set-up His church on this earth before His death on the Cross. The church is there for those of His people who have come to believe that God saved them by His Son, Jesus Christ. To believe that Christ “paid it all” gives believers the strongest motivation to serve Him. Once enlightened to this glorious truth, then the child of God should feel an obligation to become and remain an active member of the His church. To serve the Lord in His church makes for one of the great blessings to experience this side of Heaven. It fulfills you to serve in His church and it gives your life purpose and meaning.

Living in Liberty

Elder Bryce Lowrance

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