Being baptized is done in the name of a god. So, the important question is: Who is that god? Are there many gods, just a few, or is there only one? The answer is there are many gods. In fact, gods far outnumber humans, even though they are invisible to physical eyes. Because of this, we occasionally hear stories from people who claim to have encountered these various gods. However, since they cannot be seen, such stories are often dismissed as absurd. Yet, the Bible contains many stories of these gods. What’s more, believers in Jesus are not subject to being controlled by these gods; instead, they have the power to govern them. They can rule over various gods.

Are you afraid of demons? You don’t need to be. After believing in Jesus, there’s no reason to fear them. Now, we can govern them and drive them out. This is not a power reserved for a special person; it belongs to anyone who possesses the name of Jesus—that is, those who have been baptized with His name. So, while you may currently understand only a small part of the marvelous things, being baptized with the name of Jesus Christ is truly an incredible reality. And now, you’re beginning to understand it. The more you come to know, the more exciting it will be.

Therefore, this is truly a joyful thing. This joy never fades, no matter what happens in life. Even in tears, that joy remains. Before we knew God, we might have smiled outwardly, but inwardly, we were crying. However, after believing in Jesus, even when we cry, we possess an underlying joy and happiness. It is truly amazing. When I think about the happiness, the glory, and the wonderful things that await us—all held within the name of Jesus—I find myself smiling, even when I’m alone, because I’m so full of joy. If you don’t have that kind of joy, it means you’re not fully experiencing the richness of the Christian life, and you may not yet understand the full value of His name.

There are many gods in the world, and each one has a name. For example, as I mentioned earlier, when someone died, people used to write a spirit tablet for ancestral rites. On it, they would inscribe something like, “[Name] Haksaeng Bukun Sinwi (學生府君神位)” in Chinese characters. The term “Sinwi (神位)” means the personality of a god. For example, “Hong Gil-Dong Haksaeng Bukun Sinwi,” it signifies a god of the person whose name is Hong Gil-Dong. And there are also angels, and they too are considered gods, each with their own names.

But think about it—what do we call God we believe in now, the One we came to know through Jesus Christ at church? If we had to say something like, “You know, the god who raised Jesus from the dead? I believe in that God!” or “Four thousand years ago, God appeared to a man named Abraham, and because Abraham obeyed His word, many people have been blessed. I now have fellowship with that same God!”—wouldn’t that be overly complicated?

Later, this god appeared to a man named Moses and said, “I will save your nation!” At that time, where was this nation? They were living as slaves in Egypt. So, the god said, “I will go and rescue them. I will bring them out of Egypt. But I won’t forcefully drag them out. Moses, you must go and tell them to leave!” Moses needed to go to Egypt first and speak to the Israelites. He would have to say, “A certain god has sent me! He told me to lead you out of Egypt!” Naturally, the Israelites would ask, “Which god sent you? There are many gods—who exactly are you talking about?” Therefore, Moses asked God, “What should I tell them? Who should I say sent me?” This was because even Moses didn’t know the name of this god.

Then, the god answered, “I am the god who appeared to your father—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—400 to 500 years ago.” He then added something remarkable. What was added? He told Moses how to call Him. If this God hadn’t revealed the name by which He should be called, then every time someone spoke about Him, they would have had to say, “Out of the countless gods in the world, the god who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the one who sent me to you.” Wouldn’t they have always needed to say it like that?

For example, if someone were to ask me, “Pastor Ki-Taek Lee, which god do you believe in?” it would be too long to reply, “Ah, the god who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who later appeared to Moses, and who ultimately raised Jesus Christ to life from the dead.” So, wouldn’t it make sense to explain this in one simple word? And what do you think that word would be? It’s the name.

A name has various functions. There’s a name people use to call someone, and there’s a name that holds legal authority. For example, family and friends might call someone Tom, but his legal name might be Thomas.

A name used for just calling someone does not carry strict legal authority and responsibility associated with a formal legal name. It’s simply a way to distinguish one person from many others or to address someone directly. The reason I mention this is because there’s something more than just a name for calling. You’d agree that having a name to call someone is necessary, right? Without that function, people might say, “This god!” or “That god!” So, God revealed a name by which people could call Him. Do you know what that name is? Perhaps some of you have heard “Jehovah” or “Yahweh” before. These are the two common pronunciations, but when written, it appears as “YHWH.” This is a name God gave to be called and referred to, however, both “Jehovah” and “Yahweh” are not the exact pronunciations. People avoided pronouncing the word altogether because of God’s commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.” Instead, whenever the word appeared, they would simply read it as “Lord.” Over time, as centuries passed, no one knew how to say it anymore. Later, some people attempted to pronounce the word by adding vowels arbitrarily, which led to the forms “Jehovah” and “Yahweh.” Even today, most versions of the Bible write it as “Lord” in capital letters. In any case, the name written as “YHWH” was given as a name to refer to and call upon God. This name is distinct from one that holds legal authority.

For example, take the American novelist Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain is his pen name, and his real name is Samuel Langhorne Clemens. There are various reasons why people use pen names. One of them is this: when someone writes a novel, not everyone will like its content. Some might criticize or even insult the author. This was especially true in the past, when female novelists faced even more ridicule or harassment. To avoid exposing their real names and dealing with such treatment, many authors chose to use pen names.

However, let’s say someone tries to use their pen name to sign a contract at a bank. Would it hold any legal effect? No, it wouldn’t. A pen name is simply a name used for calling or referring to someone; it doesn’t carry any legal authority. It cannot represent the individual. To represent someone legally—such as proving ownership of assets, money, or a bank account—your legal name is required. How does the bank know that the money belongs to you? It’s identified through your name. Accounts are opened under your legal name. If you were to sign ”your pen name on a bank document, the bank wouldn’t release the funds. Legal documents require your official name. That name carries both rights and responsibilities. By recording that legal name, you gain access to money, exercise authority, and are able to claim your rights.

A pen name and a name with legal authority are different. A legal name reflects all the power I hold, the glory I enjoy, and even the criticism I endure. It is a name that represents the rights and responsibilities of my existence—a name that is fully and completely identical to who I am. That is the name used legally. In the same way, the name written as YHWH, which is also called “Jehovah,” “Yahweh,” and even the uppercase “Lord” is not the name that encompass God’s eternal glory and authority.

If God were to give His eternal name to someone, it would mean giving that person all the rights, glory, and good things He possesses. Giving His name means giving everything. Take the example of Joseph. He was originally the son of Jacob—one of the forefathers of Israel, along with Abraham and Isaac. Joseph, the youngest son, was sold into slavery at the age of 20. However, because he was faithful and God was with him, guiding him, Joseph rose to become the prime minister of Egypt. Not only did he excel in his role, but he also earned immense trust from the king. So the king eventually gave Joseph all the rights and authority he himself held. But how does one give authority like that?

Where was this authority held? The king of Egypt wore a ring on his finger. This ring had a large gemstone, and engraved on it was a name. Whose name do you think it was? It was the king’s name. Where would this ring be used? It wasn’t just a decorative piece or one of many beautiful rings. Not all rings are the same. This ring, engraved with the king’s name, served as his official seal—a seal ring, so to speak. It was used to stamp seal.

Without this seal, without the king’s signet, even if the king issued orders or wrote decrees to be sent throughout the land, the recipients could say, “How do we know this was sent by the king?” and dismiss it. Therefore, the seal is stamped to validate the orders.

In the past, seals were used. Wax would be melted and poured into a circular shape on the document. Once it began to harden but was still soft, the seal ring would be pressed firmly into it. When the wax fully hardened, the seal would secure the document. This seal was used not only to authenticate documents but also to seal them completely. If the seal was broken or removed before reaching its recipient, the document would lose its validity. Similarly, if the seal was intact but the imprint of the seal ring was missing, it would also be considered invalid. The signet carried authority. All power was symbolized in that signet. If the king stamped a decree saying, “Save the people!” it had to be obeyed, and if he stamped one saying, “Destroy the people!” it had to be carried out.

Therefore, the king’s authority was represented by the signet, but that is just a metaphor. The true authority lies in the name. Now think about this: how great must God’s authority be? Where is God’s authority contained? It is contained in His name. God’s authority is embedded in His name. God’s happiness, His glory, and His power are all contained in His name. Does God give that name to just anyone? No, He does not give it to just anyone.

Imagine a stranger calls you and says, “Hello, dear customer,” and they know your name. How would you feel? You might think, “How do they know my name? I don’t even know them…” and feel a bit uneasy. Someone knowing your name can feel intrusive because it means, in a way, that they have some control over you. Once someone knows your name, they can insult you directly. If someone tries to insult you but doesn’t know your name, their words won’t affect you. However, if they know your name, the insult hits home. The same applies to compliments. If someone doesn’t know your name, their praise won’t truly reach you. But if they know your name, their compliment comes to you. So, possessing someone’s name means perfect control over them.

Then, would God reveal His name to just anyone? If God were to give His name to anyone, that person could exert control over Him. They might misuse His name, or honor it, even take all of God’s happiness and exercise His authority. That’s why God doesn’t give His name to just anyone. Everything that belongs to God—His beauty, life, happiness, and all that He has created—is contained within His name. This includes the kingdom of heaven, the angels, and everything people on earth need, such as life, health, and happiness. All of these are contained within His name.

Then to whom would God give His name? Is there anyone in this world whom God would want to give His name to? Is there anyone who could truly give the glory that name deserves? Is there anyone pure enough to be worthy of receiving that name? No, there isn’t. No one is qualified to receive His name. And yet, God gave His name—His very own name—to one person. Who is that?

It is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who came to this earth 2000 years ago. When Jesus came, He did many great works, but one thing He said deeply angered people. What did He say? “I have come in My Father’s name. I do all these things in My Father’s name. The Father has given His name to Me.” Hearing this, people thought, “Wait, are you saying your name is the name of God the Father? How dare you call God your Father? How could God give His name to a person? How could the name of Jesus be God’s name?” And because of this, they regarded Jesus as committing blasphemy.

What’s remarkable, though, is that while Jesus made these claims, the works He performed were things only God could do. The blind received their sight, the paralyzed stood up and walked, and even the dead were brought back to life. He calmed fierce winds and waves by commanding them in that name. Looking at what He did, it seemed clear that God was with Him. Yet people couldn’t understand it. How could the God who is greater than the heavens give His name to one man, to a single person? This ultimately led them to kill Jesus.

But if Jesus had simply died and that was the end of it, people would have forgotten Him. However, on the third day, the tomb was empty—Jesus had risen. He rose just as He had said beforehand. Through this, we came to understand the existence of the unseen God. “Wait, it’s true! He really rose! Someone really brought Him back to life!” The One who raised Him—the name of that person—is now something we can believe in. And what is that name? It is Jesus—God’s name. Why? Because Jesus said that His name is the name God has given to Him. And though no one believed Him, He truly rose from the dead, just as He had said. Something impossible happened. This made people realize, “God really exists! And that name really is His!” Then they exclaimed, “Wow, the name of Jesus truly is the name of God!”

So, who did God give His signet to? He gave it to His Son, Jesus. With this name, Jesus carried out all His works. Moreover, He made a promise: “Until now, you have not asked for anything in My name and God’s name. But from now on, ask for anything in My name! Pray in My name, and it will be done for you!” And truly, when we pray in His name, our prayers are answered. Amazing, miraculous things happen—things beyond human understanding. This is not limited to anyone; no one is an exception. Anyone who has been baptized can experience this. Now it’s your turn to experience it in the days to come.

Then, what did He command us to do in His name? He commanded, “Be baptized in My name!” When He gathered His disciples, He gave this commandment: “Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Teach them to observe all things that I have commanded you! Prepare them so that they too can enjoy eternal life with Jesus Christ in the kingdom of heaven!” He commanded in this way.

At that time, one key instruction in His command was to “Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” So of course, we should baptize people, right? Hence, we are to go out, evangelize, and baptize in the name of Jesus. But when we baptize, what name did He say to use? He instructed us to baptize in the name of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of God that He would send.

So, you recently were baptized—under whose name were you baptized? What did the pastor say at that moment? When he said, “I baptize you in the name of __,” whose name did he mention? That’s very important. Do you remember? Or has it slipped your mind? Were you too overwhelmed at the time? How about the deacon sitting in the back? Do you remember? Even if you forget everything else, this is something you must remember.

Under whose name were you baptized? As the title shows, it was in the name of God. Here, the term “God” is synonymous with a “god.” You were baptized in the name of a god. But as I mentioned earlier, there are many gods in the world. So, whose name among all these gods are we talking about? It is the god who appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the god who later appeared to Moses, and the god who raised Jesus from the dead, we have come to know the name of this God. Why? Because of Jesus. Because Jesus said, “The Father has given me His name.” So, what is the name of God? It is Jesus. Therefore, when we are baptized in the name of God, we are baptized in the name of Jesus. Now, you might ask, “Then what is the name of the Son?” Since God the Father gave that name to the Son, the name of the Son and the name of God are the same—it is Jesus.

Jesus also promised us this: “Those who believe in Me will receive the Holy Spirit.” People in the world may receive demons, and when demons enter them, they do the works of demons. But we receive the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit carries out His work within us. This means we are to receive the Holy Spirit. You must receive the Holy Spirit going forward. When that happens, amazing things will happen. Instead of receiving demons, you must receive the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes, He comes in the name of Jesus. What is the name of the Holy Spirit? It is Jesus. This is the promise Jesus made.

So, when Jesus sent His disciples with the command, “Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” do you know what name the disciples used when they baptized people? When they baptized, they said, “I baptize you in the name of __.” Do you know what name they mentioned? It was the very name we just talked about: “I baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ!”

If they were to follow the instruction literally, as it was stated, they would say, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!”. However, if you don’t’ know the true name, it’s akin to the following conversation: “What’s your father’s name?” “Father.” “No, what is your father’s actual name?” “Father.” “I mean, what is the specific name of your father?” “Father.” How frustrating would that be? The correct response would be, “My father’s name is ___, for example, Hong Gil-dong!” In the same way, the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is Jesus. That’s why we are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

What this means is that Jesus is giving us the signet engraved with His name—the signet He received from the Father. This means we now possess an incredible authority. The extraordinary power and authority held by the God who raised Jesus from the dead were given to the Son, and the Son has shared them with us. Being baptized signifies that you now belong to the name of Jesus. Before, you did not belong to His name. But now, you have entered into His name.

One day, the Son of God will return to this earth. For now, He is in Heaven. When He comes, He will take some people with Him to that eternal Kingdom of Heaven. But for now, since He is there, He sends us the Holy Spirit, and that is why we receive the Holy Spirit. Because He is working from heaven even now, we are able to drive out demons and receive our prayers answered. Though we cannot see Him, He is there.

When He returns, He will call out. And whom will He call? In one word, He will call, “Jesus~!” At that moment, everyone who belongs to the name of Jesus will go to Him. Even those who have died—their spirits will rise. They will be resurrected and given new bodies. Those who are still alive, walking along their way, will hear Him call, “Jesus~!” and will be instantly transformed. To those on earth, it will seem as if people suddenly vanish. They will rise together into the air—the air meaning the vast expanse of space. They will go somewhere. But that won’t be the end. From there, they will return to the earth, and then, eventually, they will go to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Now think about this. When we come down from space, from the vast expanse of the universe, we’ll be with Jesus, right? And as we descend, doesn’t it seem a bit like we’re astronauts? Like astronauts invading the earth? When people hear about such things, they should repent and believe in Jesus, but instead, they will resist. When Jesus descends with His people, they will shout, “It’s aliens!” and begin to fight, even shooting at them. This story is described in the Bible—the Book of Revelation, as the Battle of Armageddon. The devil is already working to make people think this way, preparing their minds for such deception. When people suddenly disappear, instead of saying, “Wow! The Bible is coming true!” they will think, “Aliens have abducted everyone!” And when Jesus and the saints descend again, people will prepare to fight against them by causing chaos. But it will be pointless—Jesus is the Lord of power, the One who has conquered even death. In the end, He will utterly destroy them.

What’s strange is that people will still refuse to believe until the very end. They are setting everything up like that. Right now, the concept of aliens is being continually planted into people’s minds. In stories about aliens, they’re often depicted as abducting humans by pulling them up into a spaceship, floating them upwards. This is designed to confuse people about what will truly happen in the future. But our faith isn’t some science fiction story—it’s about real events that will actually take place. Even if people don’t believe, the world is steadily moving in that direction. What is written in the Bible is not something to dismiss.

So, those of us who have been baptized in the name of Jesus now possess the signet given by God. That name carries God’s authority. This is why we are told to ask for anything. It’s like placing a seal: “God, I truly need this for my spiritual life. Not so I can live comfortably, eat well, and die peacefully in this world, but so that my soul may prosper and Your will can be accomplished well. I need this and that to make that happen. God, please grant it to me!” You must place the seal for it. Without the seal, it won’t work. That seal is the name of Jesus.

This is why we always say, “In Jesus’ name, we pray!” at the end of our prayers—it’s a way of reaffirming this to ourselves. Even if you don’t verbally say, “In Jesus’ name, we pray,” it doesn’t really matter. However, when we pray, we should always hold this in our hearts: “The name of Jesus is within me. I rely on the name of Jesus, and the authority God gave to the Son is also with me. With this, I ask God for what I need.” That’s how we pray.

And it is in the name of Jesus that we drive out demons. Even if I don’t explicitly say, “In the name of Jesus,” the demons recognize the name of Jesus within me. That’s why demons tremble, even as they approach. We’ve often experienced this in church—when we try to cast out demons, they tremble. Even Semuon, Pastor Ki-Dong Kim, during his younger years, prayed a great deal and performed powerful works. Once, as he was passing by, a shaman working in a rural field stopped plowing, looked at Pastor Kim, and suddenly fell to the ground, rolling over. The demon inside her had been driven out. From that moment on, she could no longer continue her work as a shaman. The demon had recognized the name of Jesus within him.

This kind of event also happened 2000 years ago with Apostle Paul. As Paul was traveling to evangelize, a demon-possessed woman began shouting, “You are a servant of the Most High God!” The demon recognized Paul, saying, “The name of Jesus in you is truly of the Most High!” Paul then said, “Be quiet! Leave!” and the demon left her. Without the demon, the woman could no longer do anything. She had been a fortune-teller, but since the demon had been giving her the ability to tell fortunes, once it left, she lost her powers. As a result, her business failed, and the locals, angered by this, tried to capture and kill Paul. The name of Jesus within us is truly amazing.

You must clearly understand that being baptized means you have been baptized in the name of Jesus. This means you now belong to the name of Jesus. Hence, I am Pastor Ki-Taek Lee, but when Jesus comes and calls, “Ki-Taek Lee, come!” while each individual name may seem significant, but before God, we are all included under the name of Jesus. When He calls, “Jesus!” don’t think, “Oh, my name is Ki-Taek Lee, so that has nothing to do with me.” I have already become one with Jesus through His name. So, when He calls, “Jesus!” you should be able to respond, “Yes!” without hesitation.

This is why you must not leave the church. If you leave the church and claim to be “Jesus” on your own, it’s like a finger saying, “I am Ki-Taek Lee all by myself!” A finger only belongs to Ki-Taek Lee as long as it is attached to the body. Once detached, it’s no longer Ki-Taek Lee. In the same way, if you leave the church and say, “I am Jesus,” you become a heretic. True faith is recognizing, “Within the church, within Jesus Christ, I am loved the same as Jesus, and I share the same authority as Jesus.” That is what the faith life means.

From now on, you need to carefully consider what Jesus did, what He endured, and what glory He received. Why? Whose is it? Because all of that is now yours—it’s not someone else’s. Everything Jesus experienced is what you will experience, and the glory He received is your glory as well. If you think it belongs to someone else, that shows a lack of faith. But if you believe, “All of this is mine,” that is true faith. That’s why we strive to attain the glory Jesus received, and if Jesus suffered, we willingly endure suffering with Him for this.

So, I bless you in the name of Jesus to clearly understand how precious the name of Jesus is within you, to cherish it deeply, use it fully, and glorify His name in all that you do. When you do, He has promised to give the Holy Spirit as a gift. I’ll share more about the Holy Spirit next time. Here in the church, you will always have many chances to hear about the Holy Spirit.

Now that we personally possess the name of Jesus, let us expect this: the Holy Spirit, who once worked only through God and revolved around Him, will now dwell within us, guide us, and work in our lives. I bless you in the name of Jesus that this will become your reality. Let us pray.

God our Father, we thank You for not only saving us, who were originally destined to hell, but also for uniting us with Jesus Christ, allowing us to share in God’s authority and glory. We pray that Your great love may fill the hearts of our souls with Your happiness and joy. As You have promised, pour out the Holy Spirit upon them, that the Holy Spirit may be with them forever. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen!