Many Names of the Believers

“The Many Titles and Names of Believers”
John 3:18

Introduction

  • In the O.T. we can see the first believer in the LORD (God). All of the O.T. (Old Testament) people who believed in God proved so by their worship, service, and obedience to God as first mentioned of Abram in Genesis 15:6 (KJV), And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
  • Then you come to the N.T. (New Testament) and see where God opened the door of salvation through His Son Jesus the Christ (messiah) first mentioned in Matthew 8:13 (KJV)…And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
  • As I searched for something that God would have me deliver to you this morning, I found in a concordance a section titled “Titles and names of believers.”
  • I found 77 names given to believers in our Bible. After examining them, I am like… WOW!
  • As you know, God and Christ have many names. Satan has many names. The many names of God are names that describe a quality or characteristic.
  • Many names are given to each being to describe their characteristics.
  • Out of curiosity, how many names can you think of that depict our characteristics as believers?

I. Titles of Believers

  A) How to describe the believers

  • The “title” of a person is a description of a person. The title may describe their mannerisms, their character, their traits, and etc. A “title” can also be a claim or right to something or someone.
  • May I also remind you that God’s word describes His people, His believers, His children in many ways. Each individual way tells us what His people, children, and believers will have a desire to do.
  • Let us look at the list…
    1. Believers – is a title because it describes those who “believe” in God and His Son. Acts 5:12…And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13) And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14) And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
    2. Beloved of God – A title is given to those whom God loves more deeply than the world mentioned in John 3:16. (See Romans 1:7)
    3. Blessed of the LORD or Father – Blessed means to be made happy. God’s children and those who follow His Son will be happy.
      Matthew 25:34…Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
    4. Sons of God – This name is specific in that it gives the believers in God entitlement to all that belongs to God’s and His Son. John 1:12 (KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
    5. Children of Promise – Galatians 4:28 (KJV) Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. Just as Isaac inherited the promises of God given to Abraham, so are the believers made children of God because of His redeeming power for us.
    6. The elect of God – This title is given to those whom God has elected to be His children. Colossians 3:12… Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
    7. Servants – The title “servant” is given to someone who serves or gives service to another. I Corinthians 7:22…For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23) Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
  • OTHER TITLES…We do not have time to go through all the titles but here below are a few more that are encouraging…
  1. Called of Jesus Christ – (Rom. 1:6)
  2. Children of light – (Ephesians 5:8)
  3. The Excellent – (Psalms 16:3)
  4. The faithful – (Psalms 12:1)
  5. Fellow heirs – (Ephesians 3:6)
  6. Kings and Priests – (Revelation 1:6)
  7. Little Children – (John 13:33)
  8. People of God – (Hebrews 4:9)
  9. Salt of the earth – (Matthew 5:13)
  10. Peculiar (special) treasure – (Psalms 135:4)
  11. Trees of righteousness – (Isaiah 61:3)
  12. Vessels to honor – (II Timothy 2:21)
  13. Witnesses for God – (Isaiah 44:8)
  • In the closing point of this section on titles God has given us, lets us know what God thinks of us, and how He feels about us.
  • There are titles given to people by other people and many times they are derogatory or negative attributes that we care not to claim. All of God’s titles given to the believers are positive and encouraging.

II.  Names of Believers

  A) What to call the believers

  • Most people have more than one name. There are some people that are given many names. Some are only given initials. I remember a boy in my 3rd grade class whose name was M.L. The teacher checked out his name to find out that it is what His parents had written on His birth certificate.
  • I have given my wife (Betty) many names to describe my feelings towards her, and the way I see her, and exactly how I feel about her. Many times in the Bible you will note that we see the name of a person and then explain the meaning of that name.
  • God has changed some names in the bible after they had become believers (As Abram to Abraham…Genesis 17:5…Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.)
  • Note a few names God has given to His believers…  
  1. Brethren – This is a name given to the body of believers in Jesus Christ. In Christ’s own words He commanded us in Matthew 23:8…But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
  2. Beloved Brethren – Here is a name that believers give to one another to express their love towards one another. I Corinthians 15:58…Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
  3. Sheep – Matthew 25:32…And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
    In the John 10, we can see Jesus speaking a parable and uses this name from verses 7-16 but we will look at verse 14…I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
  4. Sons – We as believers are called “children/sons” as a title, but also called “children/sons” as a name. A title acknowledges a position. A name acknowledges the person.
  • “children (sons) of the Father” in Matthew 5:45…acknowledging our position as believers in His Kingdom.
  • “children (sons) of the Living God” in Romans 9:26…Paul’s quote here in Romans came directly from Hosea 1:10 where God had rejected the kingdom of Israel (or the 10 tribes) in Hosea 1:9. This is the opening of the church and the Kingdom of God to the Gentile nation. Because of Israel’s continual sin of idolatry and rejection of the prophets (in which case is open rebellion) they are “cut-off” and no longer considered to be the only “sons of God.”
  • “Children (sons) of Abraham” in Galatians 3:7…Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. Jews and Gentiles that share the same faith as Abraham (faith in God), are called the “sons of Abraham.”
  • “children (sons) of the Kingdom” in Matthew 13:38…The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; We can notice here another “title” as well as a name. “the good seed” as in the “seed of Abraham (those who have the faith of Abraham in the God of Abraham)”
  • “children (sons) of the day” in I Thessalonians 5:5…Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. The word “all” here means Jews and Gentiles who have faith in God. “children of light” is to say that we are children who have their understanding of God opened up. God is light. God is understanding. God imparts His light to us because we believe. “the children of the day” meaning that we are children who walk and work and breathe in the day. Day represents “light.” The night represents “darkness.”
  • “children (sons) of the resurrection” in Luke 20:36…Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.

III.  Why Have So Many Names?

  A) Endearment

  • We have already discussed that “names” are given to describe certain attributes and characteristics of the holder and giver of the names.
  • It is more important to recognize that names are given mostly as terms of endearment or dislike.
  • Nowadays, names of wives and girls range from “My Boo” to “Sweetie pie.”
  • Some names are not so pleasant.
  • I think the more names or titles you carry or are given the more endearing you become to those who call you by those names.
  • I personally thank God for all the names He has given me as a believer.