298. In the spiritual sense, the name of God means everything which the church teaches from the Word, and by which the Lord is invoked and worshiped. All such things in the complex are the name of God. "To take the name of God in vain," means, therefore, to introduce any of these things into frivolous conversation, into false speaking, lying, imprecations, juggleries or incantations; for this too is reviling and blaspheming God, thus His name. That the Word and whatever the church has from it, and thus all worship, is the name of God, can be seen from the following passages:
From the rising of the sun My name shall be invoked (Isa. 41:25; 26:8, 13).
From the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, My name is great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense is offered unto My name. But ye profane My name in that ye say, 'The table of Jehovah is polluted; and ye snuff at My name, in that ye bring that which is torn, and the lame, and the sick (Mal. 1:11-13).'
All peoples walk each in the name of its God; but we, let us walk in the name of Jehovah our God (Micah 4:5).
They were to worship Jehovah in one place where He would place His name (Deut. 12:6, 11, 13, 14, 18; 16:2, 6, 11, 16, 18);
that is, where He would establish His worship.
Jesus said, Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20).
As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become sons of God, even to them that believe in His name (John 1:12).
He that believeth not hath been judged already, because be hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18).
Those who believe shall have life in His name (John 20:31).
Jesus said, I have manifested Thy name to men and I have made known unto them Thy name (John 17:6, 26).
The Lord said, Thou hast a few names in Sardis (Apoc. 3:4);
besides many other passages in which, as in the foregoing, the "name of God" means the Divine that goes forth from God, and by which He is worshiped. But the name Jesus Christ means everything of redemption, and everything of His doctrine, and thus everything of salvation, "Jesus" meaning every thing of salvation through redemption, and "Christ" everything of salvation through His doctrine.