WHAT’S IN A NAME?
When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind (Adam)” when they were created.
Genesis 5:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
אָדָם
Adam (“mankind”, red)
אֲדָמָה
Adamah (earth, dirt, dust, red ground, red clay)
Why do we name things?
What do names mean?
Jews will not say God’s unspeakable name for 2 reasons:
1. For fear of profaning it.
2. Because we can’t fully understand God.
Names describe our history.
Names tell others about us.
Names tell others what we do.
Names describe our relationships to others.
What names do we call ourselves?
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21 NIV
What name God calls us: CHOSEN!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV
What name God calls us: NEW!
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28 NIV
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”
Revelation 21:5 NIV
So what about you? What names are you going to listen to?