“‘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.’”

1 Corinthians 15.1, 2; 1 Corinthians 15.58; 2 Corinthians 6.1; Galatians 4.8-11; James 1.26

God intends to glorify Himself through us, so that the earth can be filled with the knowledge of His glory as the water covers the sea (Hab. 2.14; Eph. 4.10). To that end, He has redeemed us, adopted us, and given us His Spirit and Word. He has created us in Jesus Christ unto good works, the works which He before ordained that we should walk in, the works of His Law (Eph. 2.10).

When we take the Name of the Lord upon us we embrace His purpose and calling for our lives and devote ourselves to growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 3.18) so that we might abound in good works, as God intends (Titus 3.8). Good works do not save us; God saves us. But He saves us for the purpose of bringing glory to Himself through our good works (Matt. 5.16). The Law of God – and all the Word of the Lord – tells us what those works are. We fulfill our calling and “take” the Name of the Lord as He intends as we increase in good works to the glory of God.

T. M. Moore

The Law of God is the soil which, fertilized by the rest of God’s Word and watered by His Spirit, brings forth the fruit of Christian life. If you’d like to understand this process better, and how to make best use of the Law in your walk with and work for the Lord, order the book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, from our online store.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.