Unfathomable Grace

The “Prosperity Gospel” is universal. There is no place on Planet Earth where this heresy is not promoted via pulpits, books, podcasts, websites, revival meetings, radio programs, or television networks. Sadly, “Health and Wealth” proponents are unbiblical, untruthful, unkind, and everywhere. Consequently, as a student of Scriptures, a zealot of the Gospel, and a lover of my neighbors, I have learned to loathe the “Name It and Claim It” doctrine.

However, I am proud to promote and preach the “Re-Name It and Claim It” doctrine. Of this Gospel-truth, I am not embarrassed. Allow me to explain.

In the Old Testament, God “renames” certain individuals:

• Abram is renamed Abraham.
• Sarai is renamed Sarah.
• Jacob is renamed Israel.
• No Mercy is renamed Mercy.
• Not My People are renamed My People.

In the New Testament, Jesus “renames” one of his Apostles:

• Simon is renamed Peter.

In Heaven, God promises to “rename” those who gather about his throne:

• Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
• Revelation 3:12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
• See also Isaiah 62:2 and 65:15

In the meantime, as the Holy Spirit causes men and women to be born again, God “renames” his children. Though being totally depraved sinners, they are re-identified or renamed “Saints.”

• Jesus prays for his saints. (John 17:15-17)
• Jesus’ Apostles consider and call us saints. (1 Cor. 1:2; Gal. 1:6)
• Jesus’ Apostles present the Spirit as he who motivates our practice as saints. (2 Cor. 3:18; Col. 3:10; 1 John 3:2)
• Jesus’ Apostles promise our future as perfected saints. (1 Thess. 4:3; 5:23)
• Jesus’ vision presents himself as surrounded by saints. (Rev. 8:3-4)

This being revealed, and this being true, what do we do with the fact that we do not look like saints? We do not live up to our names. Too often, we look more like “aints” than “saints.”

This surely is true for me. People about me can easily see my spiritual folly, practical disobedience, and lack of charity. More than they can see, I sense my own disbelief, spiritual dullness, self-love, neighbor-hate, and a host of other hidden affections. Even more than this, blinded by my own self-righteousness, I do not see my sin and transgressions with the clarity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Trust me, Saint Joe is so un-saintly.

I am sure the same can be said for you.

But know this, the same is true for all those “renamed” in the scriptures. Though Abram is renamed Abraham, which means “Father of a Multitude,” it takes several decades for him to bear his first son, and in his natural life he never sees children as numerous as the stars. Sarah is hardly “Princess-like,” and Israel never looks like the “Prince of God.” In his inspired biography, there is nothing regally noble about him. The same is true of Peter. He is so slow to grow, and he consistently looks so unsteady — so “un-rock” like. Yes, throughout the Bible, when God proclaims someone’s new name, it is not immediately apparent why he proclaims such. It seems to take a long time for his “renamed” people to grow into their name and live up to their God-proclaimed identity.

So, what should we do with our new name or our “renaming?” What options do we really have? Are we really going to conclude God is failing, mistaken, pretending, or lying? Can he who speaks things into existence ever be wrong?

No my friends!

God is the one who knows us best.

God is the one who loves us most.

God is the one who influences us most.

God is the one who is always winning.

God is the one who is always true. He never lies.

Therefore, there is only one right response. We should agree with God, and since our Heavenly Father has rebirthed us and “renamed us,” we should “claim It,” wear it well, and enjoy it.