Honoring God's name

Freed to be God’s people: a study of Exodus

Honoring God’s name–outline

Exodus 20:7

Don’t misuse God’s name, for he won’t leave you unpunished if you do

Exodus 20:7 (ESV) — 7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Why is God so concerned that people don’t misuse his name? When God says his name is “I am” in Exodus 3:14–15, he says, “This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.” He is saying he always was, is, and will be, and that is forever attached to his people.

What does God say about his name in Exodus 33:18-19, 34:6-8?

What does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain, to misuse his name? How do Psalms 86:9, 138:2, 8:1 and “hallowed be your name” in the Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9) describe how his name should be treated?

What are ways we use God’s name to support falsehood? Examples: Leviticus 19:12

 and Jeremiah 23:25. How might we say things that are true in themselves, but we falsely give it an authority it doesn’t have?

What are ways we use God’s name frivolously? What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? What does James 4:3 say is a reason we don’t receive what we ask for in prayer?

What are ways we use God’s name hypocritically? See Leviticus 22:31-33, Malachi 1:6-8, 11-14, Matthew 7:22-23 for examples. How does God’s name get used hypocritically in politics?

How is Ezekiel 36:17-28 an example of how God both brings judgment and redemption to those who have misused his name for the sake of his name?

How can people be saved through Jesus’ name? John 1:12, 20:31, Romans 10:13? Is there any hope to be saved outside of Jesus’ name? what is the mission of the church in regards to Jesus’ name? Acts 15:14, 17, Romans 1:5?

How should we live as those who bear Jesus’ name (Colossians 3:17)?