March 9, 2025 Text: Romans 10:8b-13
Dear Friends in Christ,
Have you ever used your name to back the reputation of another? As a parent you have maybe had to co-sign a loan for a car or even a house for your son or daughter. You are putting your reputation on the line and backing the loan if your namesake cannot meet the obligation.
Or have you ever had this scenario? You are asked to testify on someone’s behalf in court? You have to polish and shine their name by what you say. If you are credible, people will look to what you have to say about that person.
In both of these instances you are preserving the honor of the name by your actions. This, of course, is how God works. He has promised to care for His children. He asks us to honor His name. He asks us to confess his name. When we do, the saving act of Jesus will be ours. Do you ever consider?
“GOD’S REPUTATION IS TIED TO YOUR REPUTATION”
Now at first that sentence can be a little scary. He’s God and well, we are not. God is perfect and well, we are not. God is good, right, and salutary and well, we are not. How in the world can we live up to God’s name? I don’t want that pressure, and you don’t either.
You see, if you are going to be known as a Christian, if you are going to wear that cross around your neck and share God’s Word with people, then you have a certain responsibility. If you are going to stand in the marketplace and the workplace and the family gathering as God’s child, then your actions are going to be judged.
If you are going to profane God’s name, it is profaned. You profane your own name when you do not live up to the name Christian. If your language is less than uplifting, people notice. If you are always running people down or talking negatively, people notice. If your language is always about you and less about Him as the God of your life, people notice. If you ever doubt the Word of God, people notice. Your reputation may suffer, but more importantly the Lord’s reputation may take a hit. If you don’t believe it, why should anyone else? You make Him out to be a liar or incompetent or weak or unloving.
God has put His name on the line for you. He obligated Himself to make you holy by taking your sinful shame on Himself. He fulfilled His obligation when on the cross He endured the shame you deserved. He endured the shame of the only obedient Son being forsaken by His Father. His resurrection from the dead guarantees that your name is hallowed, that means it is kept holy in spite of your shortcomings.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (v. 9). Quite simple, isn’t it? “Jesus is Lord” is the confession of the early Church. They were making a clear testimony of Christ’s deity. Christ is God.
When Christ works in our lives so that we bear His name with Christ-like behavior, then the name of the Lord is to be praised. Our reputation is saved by the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. You receive the Lord’s holiness in His Word and His Sacraments. In these Means of His Grace He delivers to you His unending forgiveness. The signs that God is faithful to His promises.
Through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the name of the Lord can be spread far and wide. All people, Jew and Greek, can call on the name of the Lord. We uphold this name by preaching and teaching his name in truth and purity. Imagine what can be done if we live what we say? As God’s child, you make a holy confession of his name. And people do notice. That is why God’s reputation is tied to your reputation.
The Lord will not let you down. Trust Him, and you will not be put to shame. The Word of faith is in your heart and in your mouth. Call upon the name of the Lord. There is a reputation on the line!
Amen.