¹³ Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” ¹⁴ And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” ¹⁵ Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.'” (Exodus 3:13-15 NKJV)

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God is everlasting; thus, it logically follows that His name would be forever as well. As highlighted in the introduction to our series on the names of God, names have importance. They are not flippant, but have meaning in whatever context they are given in. What I find so fascinating is how the name YHWH has been viewed throughout the millennia. We are going to take some time looking at how this name has been viewed historically, as well as within God’s Word.

What Is His Name?

The given name of God in the original Hebrew consists of four consonants, but is pronounced yeh-ho-VAW. This has led to some people romanizing it as “Jehovah” in recent years, but many people still adhere to the traditional inserting of vowels into the consonants to produce “Yahweh” (pronounced yah-WAY). But what does this word, this name, mean exactly?

If we take a look at the Strong’s Concordance entry for this word, we find that it means “(the) self-Existent or Eternal.” Right away, this name has uniqueness. God’s very name implies His everlasting nature. None other can claim to have existed on their own terms, without the involvement of a Creator, before everything else was (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; Colossians 1:17). Thus, we can know right from the get-go the following:

1. God has always existed; He was not created.
2. God will always exist.
3. God’s capability of existence rests solely in Himself.

The Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon adds another layer to the name of God: “the absolute and unchangeable one.” Not only has God always existed, He has remained the same throughout all time and will continue to do so. This is where we get terms such as “the immutability of God,” denoting His unchanging nature. I have heard God once compared to the Grand Canyon. When we look upon the vastness of this great and awe-inspiring landmark, we wonder at its formation. How could such an imposing monument of sediment be eroded in such a manner? It seems impervious to the elements when one gazes upon its magnificence. But the creation cannot outdo the Creator. God is not weathered; He is not eroded. The God Who breathed existence into being has not changed, adapted, or evolved in any manner (Hebrews 13:8).

That is why we can truly trust in God as our solid Rock. He will never be turned to sand. He will not be smoothed, nor shall He be shaken. It brings to mind the words of that old refrain:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

Why Is His Name Important?

Our ministry verse at Blue Letter Bible is Psalm 138:2, which says, “I will bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.” (NASB95) As Christians, we know the seriousness of God’s words; they are not to be taken lightly. Here, the Psalmist is worshiping God, giving Him glory for Who He is. But what is interesting here is that he does not say, “give thanks to you, my God.” He specifically is giving thanks to God’s name. That is because, as seen in our previous section, God and His name are inseparable. You cannot have one without the other. There is no God without YHWH.

Let’s look at another verse. In Proverbs 18:10, it says, “The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is set securely on high.” (LSB) Again, we see a clear equating of Yahweh Himself with His name. Not only that, but we find there is meaning for us here as well. God’s name is not merely an identity or a definition. It is a refuge and a safe haven for His children. Those who believe in His name (cf. John 1:12-13) are secured by their Father’s state of existence.

A couple of years ago, I had the wonderful opportunity to travel with my wife to Europe for a few weeks. It was amazing to see the wonderful architecture and craftsmanship that went into the medieval buildings in England, Scotland, and Ireland. As we were walking up the long, winding staircase of a tower in Blarney Castle, I realized something: “Who would want to try and invade this? It seems so secure.” The steps were twice as high as normal ones, never in a straight line. At one point, I had to almost crawl on my hands and knees to properly climb it. And I was not wearing any armor or carrying any weapons; how did soldiers manage this? If the work of man’s hands can be so intimidating, how much more secure is the name of God?

Thus, we see that we can be secure in Yahweh. His very name, His very identity, denotes safety. As a child, there were people I knew were safe. I had spent time with them and they had gained trust, allowing me to relax around them. The mere thought of my being with me (cf. Deuteronomy 31:6, 8) should cause all of the dread and concern to be replaced with inexplicable relief and joy.

Glorifying YHWH

Growing up as a kid, there were certain people’s names which held weight, right? If you were friends with Zach or knew Pastor Bob, you were a big deal. God is no different; we have merely lost the respect that is due His name. Surrounded by a world who has no problem saying, “Oh my God!” or “Jesus Christ!” as an expletive, we find ourselves desensitized to it. In fact, some of us (myself included) find it coming out of our own mouths in such a way! In the words of Paul the apostle, “May it never be!” (LSB)

Instead, remember this the next time you find “OMG!” on the tip of your tongue. If your father, pastor, or boss were standing right next to you, would you use their name in vain, as a curse or an expletive? Because God is much more than all three of those combined. So treat the name of Yahweh, “I Am Who I Am,” with the utmost deference, respect, and worship.

The study materials from The Scofield Reference Bible are now available on Blue Letter Bible. This extensive work, published in 1909, was born out of C.I. Scofield’s conviction that printed Bibles were lacking thorough, in-line study resources. He then undertook the task of creating his own with the help of a wide group of conservative Christian scholars.

In the introduction, (which you can read here), the “distinctive features” of this work are clearly outlined. The following is a synthesized list of these features:

1. An enhanced, purposeful system of reference seeking to display Christ from Genesis through Revelation in a clear, connected line
2. A collection of detailed notes, summaries, and definitions “winnowed and attested” from the works of contemporary theologians of the author’s time
3. Explanatory footnotes and helps to provide clarification and context to sections not easily understood by a modern, English reader
4. Summaries to topical lines of reference to guard against “hasty generalizations” and to explain Scripture’s total view on a subject
5. Definitions for complex theological terms laid out in “simple, non-technical terms” to promote understanding
6. Introductions and analysis for each book of the Bible
7. Subheadings utilized to divide Scripture into paragraphs while “preserving the chapter and verse division”
8. Extensive explanation on the Prophets, which the author felt were grossly misunderstood during his time by the average reader
9. Analysis of biblical covenants to connect them together and to Christ
10. Distinguishing of the Dispensations to show “the majestic, progressive order of the divine dealings of God with humanity”

The Blue Letter Bible content team has also included significant value to this resource through several additions, such as the following:

• Definition of older terms (examples: Genesis 1:24-25; Proverbs 2:7)
• Clarifying statements that do not make sense outside the author’s context (example: Exodus 25:39)
• Linking to the original Hebrew & Greek words (examples: Job 9:9; Romans 1:8)
• Directly linking to appropriate search results (example: Romans 3:23)

We pray that this comprehensive work is of benefit to you during your time of study. It is truly a blessing to provide a volume so similar to ours in its intent; to reveal the written Word of God so that the reader may better know the living Word of God, Jesus Christ. May God bless your time in His Word!

Blue Letter Bible is delighted to announce our partnership with The Bible Says, our newest content provider. The Bible Says is an ongoing, verse-by-verse commentary which will cover all of Scripture. Their aim is to explain deep scriptural truths in an easily understandable way for the average person while also serving as a key study resource for ministry leaders. Several writers have contributed to this resource, using purposeful hermeneutics that seek to rightly divide and interpret the Word of God. The following is a direct quote from their website’s About page:

“At The Bible Says, we focus on providing biblically grounded content that is both accessible and authentic. Our team is dedicated to careful study of each passage, drawing from history, language, culture, and theology to shed light on Scripture’s enduring relevance.”

We want to thank The Bible Says for partnering with us to provide their resources in English, Chinese, and Portuguese. It is such a joy to come alongside like-minded brethren who share our mission of providing scripturally sound and biblically faithful resources to better understand the Word of God. To start reading, head over to their author page on our website. You can also head over to The Bible Says website to learn more about the philosophy behind their commentary.

The story of Simon Peter is one of great drama. Viewed by many as the most important of Christ’s disciples, his life was characterized by a series of soaring highs and deep lows. There were times his faith was lauded, but he also experienced significant stumbling. He was called “blessed” and “Satan” by Christ within the same chapter (Matthew 16:13-23).

Many Christians today identify very closely with Peter because of similar peaks and valleys in their own lives—I know I certainly do!

Peter’s life is truly full of irony. When Christ renamed him Cephas (the Aramaic form of Peter; John 1:42), his name came to mean “a rock.” And yet, Peter’s walk was anything but solid. His faith was often small, and his mouth too quick to speak. But Christ still used him mightily for the furtherance of His kingdom and gospel despite these shortcomings. In this miniseries on the Apostle Simon Peter, we are focusing on how he was used by God for the gospel. There is so much to be gleaned from this man’s life, and it is worthwhile to devote the appropriate amount of time to it. As we examine the life of one of the Twelve Apostles, I pray you will be encouraged to consider how God uses you despite your failings and weakness.

A Predictable Beginning

In John 1, we get to see the calling of Simon Bar-Jonah. Andrew, his brother, was a disciple of John the Baptist. John was walking with Andrew and another disciple when he saw Christ, prompting to cry out, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (John 1:36) Andrew and his fellow disciple immediately ran to Christ, and began following Him. Later, Andrew came to Simon and told him he had found the Messiah. In the Jewish culture, this was a massive detail. Oppressed by the dictatorship of the Roman empire, Jews chafed at their subjugation. The promised Messiah of old was believed to be the one who would come and rescue them from Roman rule. Thus, I am sure Peter was most intrigued and even excited to meet this Man who had impressed his brother.

When Andrew presented Simon to Jesus, He bestowed Simon with a new name: Peter. We do not know exactly what Peter was thinking, but I am sure he was amazed at Christ. Who was this carpenter Who wielded His words with such authority? After this initial meeting, Jesus and His disciples were invited to a wedding in Cana. At this wedding, Peter saw the impossible: this Man turned water into wine (2:1-11). It begins to settle in: maybe this really is the Messiah they have all been waiting for. While they remain Christ’s disciples, Peter and Andrew return to fishing on the Sea of Galilee.

One day, Peter and Andrew were packing up from a fruitless night of fishing without a catch (Luke 5:1-11). Jesus came to them, and told them to cast out once more. Here, we see the burgeoning disbelief Peter would unfortunately come to characterize during the earthly ministry of Christ. He immediately questions, wondering what the point is when they have been working tirelessly through the night for a catch to no avail. However, he still relents and does as he is asked. Lo and behold, his nets are overwhelmed by the sheer number of fish, requiring two boats to even pull in the catch. Immediately, we see Peter’s response to Christ; he falls on his face, crying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (v. 8) Jesus here encourages Peter to not be afraid (not for the last time), commissioning him, Andrew, James, and John to now be fishers of men. And so, they leave behind everything and follow Him.

Much like Peter, many of us have rough beginnings to our faith journeys. We question the will of God, wondering what the point is. Why must we repeat the same things that we already tried and failed in? We diminish the impact of having God in our lives, ignoring His unlimited power and knowledge. Even Abraham was guilty of wondering at the power and ability of God (Genesis 17:17). But our God is so faithful, isn’t He? Even when His children wonder at what He puts before them, He remains patient and works all in their lives to their benefit (Romans 8:28).

The Ups and Downs of Ministry

Now commissioned as a disciple (and later as one of the Twelve [Matthew 10:1-2; Mark 3:13-16; Luke 6:12-14]), Peter began to accompany Christ as He went about His earthly ministry. He watched his Master perform numerous signs and wonders for the populace, including the miraculous healing of his own mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41). He heard numerous teachings and parables, many of which left Peter and his fellow apostles confused (Matthew 13:10). Peter was also sent out, along with the rest of the Twelve, giving them “power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases” (Luke 9:1). We could dive into many of the accounts featured from the ministry of Christ, but there are three I want to focus on for Peter. While all of these events are recorded in the three Gospels, I will be focusing on Matthew’s rendering of them.

The first is Peter’s walking on the water, which can be found in Matthew 14. After Christ feeds the five thousand, He sends the disciples away in a boat to the other shore. Christ then sends the people away so He can retire to the mountain and pray. As Peter and his fellow disciples load up, I am sure confusion was rampant. Why were they leaving their Master behind? Should they stay with Him to make sure He was protected and looked after? Whatever their musings amongst themselves, they depart into the sea once more. Unfortunately, they are unable to make it to their intended destination. Instead, they are beset by a violent storm and caught up by tossing waves. While inclement weather was a common hazard for many of these men (especially the fishermen such as Peter, Andrew, James, and John), there was a certainly an aspect of discomfort and fear present among them.

Suddenly, in the early hours of the morning, they spot something moving across the water towards them. A human figure was walking across the turbulent waves towards them! Panic set in, many thinking it was a ghost or some other spirit. However, the specter calls out to them; it is Christ! I can only imagine how awe-inspiring it was to see this firsthand. You are sitting in a boat that has been tossed about for hours on end, and you see the Man who just turned five loaves of bread and two fishes into enough food to feed thousands of people walking across the water towards you. Personally, I would be speechless. But not Peter.

Peter answers Christ, asking if he can join his Master. Here, we see the faith of Peter. He does not question how Christ is doing this miracle. In fact, he automatically assumes Christ has the power and authority to permit him to do the same. And so, he says, “Command me to come to You on the water.” (v. 28) Christ tells him simply to come; and so, Peter gets out of the boat. Soon, he is walking towards Christ. The shock of the other disciples must have been palpable. Of course, Jesus could walk on water; they had seen His power. But now Peter also was walking! He continues out towards Christ, his focus and gaze fixed squarely on his Master. But the moment he notices the turbulent wind and waves, doubt comes crashing down, pulling him below the water. He cries out in fear for the salvation of Christ, which is quickly rendered to him. And Jesus simply says, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (v. 31)

Are we not just like Peter here? We can have all the assurances in the world. We can be walking forward steadily, unhindered as we focus on God and His power. But the moment our attention slips away from Him, we notice he turbulence of the world. Anxiety and fear overtakes us as we drown in the problems of this carnal life. We cry out for salvation from our current situation. And yes, praise God for His deliverance in those times! But why did we falter? Had we merely continued to keep our gaze heavenwards on the destination instead of on the path we were on, we would not have stumbled. This is the lesson from Peter here: keep your gaze heavenward (Colossians 3:1-2).

Secondly, we have Peter’s confession of Christ as the Messiah, which is found in Matthew 16. Jesus asks the disciples who the people say He is (16:13-14) before following up by asking them their own thoughts. This is when we see Peter blessed with knowledge not his own: “You are the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God.” (v. 16) Jesus praises Peter for this revelation that has been given him. I’m sure Peter was feeling pretty proud of himself after this. Throughout the Gospels, there is a consistent power struggle amongst the apostles of who is the greatest among them. And here, Jesus is telling them all that Peter was given some special knowledge. Wouldn’t we also feel pretty important in the same situation?

Unfortunately, Peter’s triumph is short-lived. A few verses later, Peter is taking aside Jesus and rebuking Him. Rebuking Him! The reason for the rebuke was Christ’s discussion of His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. I have no idea what was going through the minds of the rest of the disciples, but Peter obviously focused only on the negative portion. I imagine He, feeling very self-important and protective of Christ, saw it as his duty to dissuade Christ of such “foolish” notions. Christ’s response is cutting: “Get behind Me, Satan!” (v. 23) The devastating effect that must have had on Peter is difficult to think about. How would we feel if our Savior called us by the name of our greatest enemy, Lucifer himself? But we are the same as Peter, thinking we know what is best for God. Let us learn from this example and submit what we believe is best to God’s perfect will.

The third and final instance is the transfiguration of Christ (17:1-13). We have a definite time frame of when this occurs, a mere six days after Peter’s quick rise and catastrophic fall. Sadly, he is not done sticking his foot in his mouth yet. Christ takes Peter, James, and John to a high mountain where they see something amazing. Christ began shining, His robes turning stark white, and he was joined by Moses and Elijah as they conversed before the three disciples. We then have Peter do something incredibly foolish, possible spurred by a desire to redeem himself after his early failure. He offers to build three tabernacles for Christ, Elijah, and Moses.

In the other two accounts found in Mark and Luke, it is made clear this was a wrong move. Peter had just equated the Man he himself had said to be the Son of God with Moses and Elijah, two lowly mortal men. Immediately, the voice of the Father thundered from heaven, commanding the three to hear the words of Christ. In fact, God interrupts Peter, giving him no time to wonder whether he had made an error. Terrified, the three disciples collapsed to the ground. When they dared look up, Elijah and Moses had disappeared, leaving Christ alone standing before them. Again, we see Peter’s desire to do something for God. He is missing the point, just as you and I do every day. We can do nothing for God, for any work we can conjure up is meaningless before His glory (Isaiah 64:6).

Our God Is Patient

As we complete our examination of this first part of Peter’s journey, I find myself amazed at how both Peter and I never learn our lessons. Oftentimes, I find I create my own problems. The Lord gives me a task to do, but I am not satisfied with being diligent to what He has given me. Instead, I must over-analyze, seeking a better path if there is one. There is only one path you will find yourself going down when you second-guess the perfect plan of God; it is one of misery, failure, and defeat. And yet, I never learn. Just like Peter, the next day comes and the cycle continues to repeat. I know that many, if not all, reading this relate closely to these accounts as well.

What is the purpose then? What theological significance can we glean from Peter’s actions in these accounts? It is simply this: God is patient. In spite of his many failings, Christ never once turned His back on Peter. Peter lost faith in Him, rebuked Him, and demeaned Him before His Father. But Christ remains faithful to the faithless. Just as God promised the Israelites (Deuteronomy 31:6), Jesus is never gone from our side. He stands before the throne of the Father, interceding for us. He stands beside us, empowering us to weather the storms of life. All you and I must do is keep your eyes focused on Him. He has given us the gift of eternal salvation; now, we must depend on Him for daily salvation as well. Seek Him at all hours of the day and in all things, whether they be blessings or trials.

Names are a very important part of identity. Parents sometimes spend hours researching and considering what to name their soon-to-be-born children. Businesses hold entire meetings at their inception to craft the perfect name for their brand. And people create names that they use to make fun of others, abusing the power of names. But more than the identity a name bestows upon an individual, each name has meaning to it. This is a concept we can see heavily drawn upon in Scripture.

In the Bible, it is almost terrifying how accurate many of the names given to some of these people are to their respective lives. Here are a few examples:

• Abel can mean “breath,” “vapor,” or “insubstantial.” Sadly, this would prove to be prophetic as he was killed early in his life by his older brother, Cain.
• Abraham (meaning “father of many nations”) was born Abram, which means “exalted father.” And yet, he did not sire a child by his wife for 100 years.
• David means “beloved” or “favorite,” which can be seen in multiple ways throughout his life. The most prominent example would be that he is called the man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22).
• Judas bears the same Hebrew name as Judah: Yehudah (meaning “praise” or “thanksgiving to God”). The irony that the one would betray the Lion of Judah bore a similar name should not be lost.

Clearly, names are important in God’s Word and are not meant to be taken lightly. But we must remember the One name above all other names (Philippians 2:9), which is the name of God. The name of God can be a sensitive subject, especially when one considers the fact that we are not meant to take the name of God in vain (Exodus 20:7). The Jews used to take this commandment so far that they would not even utter or write the word “God,” much less the name of God.”

As we realize the importance of names (especially God’s), it is extremely worthwhile to begin examining them, as we briefly did above. With that in mind, we will be taking some time here on occasion to review the names of God. In fact, the Blue Letter Bible website has an entire article on the names of God in the Old Testament. While not exhaustive at the time of this writing, it features several wonderful names of God, all of which we will be covering. I highly recommend giving it a read, and have included an excerpt from the article below.

In the Old Testament times, a name was not only identification, but an identity as well. Many times a special meaning was attached to the name. Names had, among other purposes, an explanatory purpose (e.g., Nabal, whose name means “fool,” is the target of Abigail’s explanation to David: “For as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him:” – 1Sa 25:25). Throughout Scripture God reveals Himself to us through His names. When we study these names that He reveals to us in the Bible, we will better understand who God really is. The meanings behind God’s names reveal the central personality and nature of the One who bears them.

Who is God to you?

Is He your Most High God, All sufficient One, Master, Lord of Peace, the Lord Who Will Provide? Is He your Father? We must be careful not to make God into an “it” or a “thing” to which we pray. He is our Jehovah Raah, the Lord our Shepherd. God knows us by our name, shouldn’t we know Him by His?

Hallowed be Your name?

To hallow a thing is to make it holy or to set it apart to be exalted as being worthy of absolute devotion. To hallow the name of God is to regard Him with complete devotion and loving admiration. God’s name is of the utmost importance (Neh 9:5); therefore we ought reserve it a position of grave significance in our minds and hearts. We should never take His name lightly (Exd 20:7; Lev 22:32), but always rejoice in it and think deeply upon its true meaning.

The Creation Week account is one subjected to much analysis, debate, and intrigue. For us as humans, however, the most significant event of this account is the creation of mankind. Many, if not all, of us know the story. But today, we are going to take a brief look at the lives of the father and mother of the human race: Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” ²⁹ Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; ³⁰ and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. ³¹ God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:26-31 NASB95)

Let’s start by looking at the first man, Adam. Formed from the dust of the earth (Genesis 2:7), he was tasked by God to cultivate and tend to the garden (2:15). All of the fruit was free for his eating, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (2:16-17). The consequence was assured death. And so, Adam began to work, watching over the beautiful Garden of Eden and naming all the creatures (2:19-20a). However, there was still a missing piece.

God desired for Adam to have a helper (2:18) but was unable to find one suitable among His creations (2:20b). And so, God put Adam to sleep as He completed another miracle of creation, taking Adam’s rib and fashioning it into the first woman (2:22), who would later be called Eve (3:20). And so, the two came together as man and wife, naked and unashamed in their blameless state (2:23-25).

It is at this point when God examines His creation and declares “it was very good.” He thus rested on and sanctified the seventh day (which would later become the Jewish Sabbath). His creation was beautiful and untainted. Man was fulfilling his intended purpose, and woman was the perfect partner and helper to him. Sadly, as we all know, the story does not end there. Evil lurked.

As we move to chapter 3, some unknown amount of time has passed. The woman is walking through the Garden and meets the serpent, who “was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made” (3:1a). Several texts throughout Scripture support that Satan was somehow connected to this serpent, although the exact details are not laid out for us. Instead, the intention of the Word is to make clear that this is a formidable opponent for Eve.

The serpent begins its awful work of temptation with a seemingly simple question: “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?’” Immediately, there are two concerns. Pastor David Guzik addressed them in this way:

1. Satan’s first attack was leveled against the Word of God. If he could make Eve confused about what God said, or to doubt what God said, then his battle was partially won.
2. Satan took God’s positive command in Genesis 2:16-17…and rephrased it in a purely negative way: “God won’t let you eat of every tree.”

And so, we see that Satan from the very beginning was a deceiver. He sought to sow discord, seed doubt against His Creator in a petty attempt at revenge. But Eve does not realize.

Instead, she responds that they are forbidden from eating or touching the tree in the middle of the garden (3:2-3). From context, we know this to be the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan immediately refutes this, now blatantly falsely accusing God of being two things: a liar (3:4) and selfish (3:5). He states that Eve will not die, and that God wishes to keep the knowledge of good and evil to Himself. And this is true, as we see when Eve and Adam eat the fruit (3:6-7a). Yet, the serpent still deceived. He framed this knowledge as something desirable to seek after. It was not.

Ashamed of their sin (now having the knowledge of good and evil), they covered their shame and hid from God (3:7-8). As God walked through the Garden, searching and calling for them, Adam reveals himself and proclaims his shame (3:9-11). This begins a sequence of events where God curses the serpent, woman, and man separately (3:12-19). All three deal with consequences from their actions. Amidst it all, though, is the promise of redemption through the seed of the woman (3:15). This sets the tone of God’s gracious redemption throughout history, both in the present and in the future.

Adam and the newly-named Eve (3:20) are cast from the Garden, barred from entry (3:22-24). They set out into the greater part of Creation. And man never returned to Eden.

Adam and Eve proceeded to live a very full life. While their first two sons had an unhappy ending to their tale (4:1-24), Adam and Eve went on to have multiple sons and daughters and lived a full life (4:25–5:5). They brought up their children to honor and rightly fear God. Realization set in. Adam and Eve’s sin had brought about the knowledge of good and evil. By shunning the good obedience of God, they introduced the evil of sin to the world at large.

The world continues to fade. Sin still reigns supreme. But we praise God for we have seen the God’s promise in Genesis 3:15 begin to be fulfilled through Christ’s death. While Christ’s heel was bruised by Satan’s temporary defeat of Him, we look forward to when our Savior returns and crushes the serpent’s head completely.

Much like Adam and Eve, we as believers are tempted by false, empty promises of the flesh. Our human desires overcome our knowledge that what we are doing is evil. God sees that. And just as he covered Adam and Eve with the animal skins (3:21), so are we covered by the perfect redemptive atonement of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (Hebrews 10:5-10). All glory be to the one Who sits on the throne!

New Year’s resolutions are a funny business. Around the time when the old year is ending and the new one is beginning, we start to examine our performance during the previous year. We ask questions, such as, “Did I lose enough weight? Did I read the Word every day? Did I spend more time with my kids and/or spouse?” Many of the things we seek to be resolved on are very good. However, the downwards trend of all these goals is part-and-parcel with the tradition of setting them. That is why I am of the opinion we should take inspiration from one of the most resolved Christians in history: Jonathan Edwards.

If you do not know who Jonathan Edwards is, a quick Google search will remedy that. In short, he was one of the most prolific members of the church during the 18th century, helping spearhead a spiritual revival in a growing North America. Edwards has many works, but is known for two: a sermon titled “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and his personal resolutions. These resolutions were added to several times over Edwards’ life, but the list was first created in 1722 when he was 19 years old. Many who knew him claimed that he reviewed these resolutions once a week to keep himself committed to them.

This was not some menial commitment to follow a popular trend. Edwards sought to revitalize his Christian life by committing to a code of conduct that he based off of God’s Word. He prefaces his list with the following: “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.” My encouragement this year is to follow in the purposeful resolution of Edwards. Whether you adopt his exact list, adapt it, or create your own from scratch, seek God’s grace as you remain resolved in the things He has put on your heart.

The following is a list of Jonathan Edwards’ 70 resolutions as outlined by Desiring God, presented in numerical order:

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.
2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.
3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.
4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.
9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.
10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.
11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.
12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.
13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.
14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.
15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.
16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.
18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.
19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.
20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.
21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.
22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.
23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.
24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.
25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.
26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.
27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.
28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.
30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.
31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.
32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.
33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.
34. Resolved, in narrations never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.
35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.
36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.
37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.
38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.
39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.
40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.
41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.
42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.
43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, 1723.
44. Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.
45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12-13, 1723.
46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.
47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peace able, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723.
48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.
49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.
50. Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.
51. Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.
52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.
53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.
54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.
55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.
56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, 1723.
58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27, and July 13, 1723.
59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 2, and July 13.
60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4 and 13, 1723.
61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.
62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.
63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan. 14 and July 3, 1723.
64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.
65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26 and Aug. 10, 1723.
66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.
67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23 and August 10, 1723.
69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.
70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

When we consider the person of Christ, many different words may come to our minds. Righteous. Sacrifice. Perfect. Sinless. All-powerful. All-knowing. Wise. God. And all of these indeed correctly identify Jesus Christ, the Son of God Who perished for our sins on the cross millennia ago. But, there is a word that we often associate with God that is rarely associated with Christ specifically: majesty (or any derivatives thereof).

Upon realizing this, I was shocked. How could we not consider a person of the Trinity—God Himself—to not be majestic? After all, the definition of majesty is “sovereign power, authority, or dignity” or “royal bearing or aspect.” As the sovereign God of the universe Who will one day rule this earth, why do we not attribute such a word to Jesus? But when you look at Scripture, we begin to see why this is the case.

When human beings think of something majestic, we think of grandiose monuments (the pyramids), breathtaking views (a beach sunset), or powerful beasts (lions and eagles). But Scripture does not portray the first coming of Christ in any sort of majestic way. Let’s take a look at a few Scriptures to see what I mean.

No Fame or Monument to the Name above All

Throughout history, historical figures have been immortalized in awe-inspiring statues and artwork. They have been given a monument to their names. And yet, what do we see for the One Whose name is above all names (Philippians 2:9-11)? There is no statue made of Him for nearly two millennia. Many paintings of Him are relegated to churches or catacombs for hundreds of years, admired secretly amidst persecution. However, there is one time we see during His life where He is given a monument:

³⁵And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. ³⁶And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. ³⁷And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (Matthew 27:35-37 NASB95)

Only in Christ’s weakest moment, His darkest hour, was He given a mocking monument. The God of the universe hung on a dead tree for the sins of mankind…and He was effectively given a headstone. And yet, we see that He actively avoided fame and glory. He ordered His disciples to tell no one of His true identity (Matthew 16:20; Mark 8:29-30; Luke 9:20-21). He told those He healed in His ministry to tell no one of what happened (i.e. Mark 7:36). There was not only a lack of desire to be elevated in the eyes of man, but a purposefulness in avoiding it as well.

A Plain Appearance & Regular Demeanor

Even though Christ has been portrayed many times throughout history, it was often as a soft-faced, handsome man. It was someone that you looked to and thought of as a leader. He was radiant, shining with a heavenly light as people and angels lowered themselves before Him. But this was not reality! Instead, Isaiah clearly states that he was altogether unassuming in appearance:

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. (Isaiah 53:2 NASB95)

Christ was not a handsome man. In fact, he was not ugly, either. He was, in every way, physically average. He would have looked like a stereotypical Jew from His area. In His calling to walk as we walked and live the life of a man (Hebrews 2:17), He needed to do so in a regular environment. For not only was His appearance plain, but His occupation was that of a plebian craftsman—a carpenter. Christ was not a ladies’ man; He was not the popular boy in school. We can even see the reactions of His countrymen who know Him when He returns to Nazareth:

When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him. (Mark 6:2-3 NASB95)

These people could not fathom that Jesus, son of Mary and Joseph—a mere carpenter—was teaching them the Word of God. They found themselves aghast at the fact that this mere mortal with no proper training was taking the stage, so to speak. And yet, this is where we see the difference between Christ and man. Where one would normally be offended by people saying such things, Jesus merely remains silent, already aware of the fact that His people would turn on Him in such a manner.

The Lamb of God, not the Lion of Judah

Many terms and titles have been used to refer to the Son of God throughout Scripture. Two of the most well-known ones, however, are “Lamb of God” and “Lion of Judah.” How can Christ be both a meek little lamb and a conquering lion? That is because, in the first coming, His purpose was to be meek and ultimately sacrifice Himself. Upon His second coming, He will take the kingdom of earth that is rightfully His and rule with an iron rod.

But as we see, Christ’s earthly ministry consisted of continued meekness and gentleness. Despite knowing that His own people would turn against Him (John 1:10-11) and what awaited Him on the cross, He still came as a man. He still ministered to those who were hurting and broken. He still communed with men who would abandon Him at the first sight of danger (Mark 14:43-50). And it was all because of His unending, undying love for us (Ephesians 5:1-2).

And so, He made Himself the perfect example for us. We as Christians are not meant to be proud kings, but humble servants (John 13:5). We are not meant to amass tremendous wealth and power for ourselves, but instead must look to our future riches. Christ may have been the Lamb of God during His first advent. But upon His return, He will embody the conquering, ruling nature of the Lion of Judah (Revelation 19:11-16).

The Majestic Nature of Christ

Christ’s majesty is not one that we typically consider to be “truly majestic.” It was unassuming and quiet. It never encroached into Christ’s ministry. He was majestic merely by being so. All who met Him realized there was something different about Him. In the classic novel Ben-Hur, we see the awe that the titular character has when Christ gives him water to drink. It is not mere gratitude; it is the realization that there is something more to this Man.

The Gospels were not the entirety of Christ’s story. The Old Testament did not spend over 30 books building up to a mere carpenter with flowery words who would perish on a cross. It built up to the sacrificial love of a perfect God Who came in the form of a man. And it continues to build up to the future reign that He will have over all the earth (Philippians 2:9-11).

Pastor Tony Clark first joined our library of content providers back in 2022. Since then, he has been an immense blessing to our user base with his insightful expositions on selected books of the New Testament. We are overjoyed to announce that we have two more of his audio series—one on Matthew and another on Mark—to our website and apps. This means Pastor Clark’s teachings on Blue Letter Bible now include all four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles.

When we asked Pastor Tony what he had to say about these books, he said, “In Matthew and Mark, my hope is that listeners will see Jesus as He is, both the long-awaited Messiah and the Suffering Servant.” As you dive into these wonderful messages, we encourage you to seek out the revelation of Christ as both Savior and Servant.

To start listening to Pastor Tony Clark’s messages on the Gospels or the Acts of the Apostles, head over to his author page.

We are excited to share our recent improvement to the “Tools” button on our website with you all: the “Previous” and “Next” buttons. It may seem like a small addition, but we know that it is one that will significantly speed up your study. Originally, if you wanted to view the study tools available for a different verse than the one currently selected, you had to click that verse’s unique “Tools” button. Now, we have added the ability to navigate between verses within the “Tools” window.

For example, if you are examining the original Greek of John 3:16 and want to move quickly to verse 17, you simply click or tap the “Next” button to shift to that verse’s interlinear view. Likewise, if you wish to go back to verse 16, you can click or tap the “Previous” button. Below is a screenshot highlighting the new buttons in the “Tools” view:

This has been a long-requested addition to our tools by many of our users. Our desire is that it would create a smoother experience as you continue to dive deep into God’s Word!