The Name Above All Names: Holding God in Highest Reverence
“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for theLORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” – Exodus 20:7
I. The Grace of Knowing HisName
[2] …but in these last days he has spoken to usby his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also hecreated the world. [3] He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exactimprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Hebrews 1:2-3
II. The Danger of Making Lightof His Name
“To ‘take’ God’s name means, centrally, tobecome a Christian. A woman ‘takes’ her husband’s name when she takes hermarriage vows. By these vows she promises exclusive commitment to her husband.If, however, she is then unfaithful and breaks the marriage covenant, she hastaken her husband’s name in vain. In a similar way, we profess our faith inJesus Christ and are privileged to be called Christians. But if we are notsincere and become covenant breakers [by sinning], we have ‘taken his name invain.’ – G. I. Williamson,Commentary on the Westminster Larger Catechism
III. The Ways We Take His Namein Vain
A. The Unchanged Life
B. TheWorthless Vow
C. The Silent Witness
IV. Making Much of the Name ofGod
A. Proclaimingthe Gospel
B. Thanksgiving
