What does it mean to believe in the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:13)?

Answer

In 1 John 5:13, we come across the profound statement, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” Jesus is known as “the Son of God,” a reference made by John in this passage. John, a dedicated disciple of the Lord, consistently stressed the significance of believing in Jesus, the Son of God who came in human form.

The name Jesus is a Greek rendition of the Hebrew name Yeshua, which is etymologically connected to the name Joshua. The name signifies “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” Names carried immense weight in ancient times, and it was intentional that the Son of God was named Jesus. He is our Redeemer, the Lord who brings salvation, as stated in Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Nevertheless, it is not just the name that is significant, but the Person it represents. Jesus was a common name among Jewish men, but the Son of God chose this common name to reveal His mission. When we call upon the name of Jesus, we are specifically referring to the divine Messiah who saved us through His sacrifice, fulfilling the angel’s prophecy to Joseph in Matthew 1:21, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Beyond salvation and forgiveness of sins, the name of the Son of God also holds great authority. As Paul proclaimed, the name of the Son of God is “above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:9-10). This authority was evident as the apostles performed miracles in the name of Jesus (see Acts 3:1-6), in the act oIf believers are baptized in His name, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 2:38), and in our prayers being offered in the name of Jesus (John 14:13-14).

Therefore, while many Jewish men may have borne the name Jesus or Joshua, only the Son of God fully embodied the name’s implications. He alone provided salvation and the forgiveness of sin. He alone is the ultimate authority; He alone reconciles people to God; and He alone deserves all worship.

Given the significance of the name of the Son of God, all who profess to be His followers should hold it in the highest regard. Honoring the name of the Son of God involves more than treating the word with respect; it also involves honoring the Person whose name it is. We do this by aligning ourselves with His teachings and commands, as we are empowered by the Spirit.