Whatsoever Ye Shall Ask the Father in My Name, He Will Give It You
The sermon emphasizes the power of Jesus' name as the key to acceptance and the substitute for our worthiness, allowing us to receive God's acceptance.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the power of presenting Jesus' name in prayer, illustrating that it is not our worthiness but Christ's endorsement that grants us access to God's grace. He contrasts two men at a bank, where the one with a worthless name is rejected while the one with the name of Jesus is welcomed, highlighting that even the vilest sinner can be accepted through Christ. Simpson urges believers to recognize Jesus as the only worthy gift to God, who is pleased with His Son, and to accept this divine testimony for their own lives. The sermon calls for a deep satisfaction in Christ as the means to approach God with confidence.
Text
Two men go to the bank cashier, both holding in their hands a piece of paper. One is dressed expensively and presents a gloved and jeweled hand. The other is a rough, unwashed workman. The first is rejected with a polite sentence; the second receives a thousand dollars over the counter. What was the difference? The one presented a worthless name; the other handed in a note endorsed by the president of the bank. just so, the most virtuous moralist will be turned away from the gates of mercy and the vilest sinner, if he presents the name of Jesus, welcomed in. What shall we give to infinite purity and righteousness? Jesus! No other gift is worthy for God to receive.
And He has given Him to us for this very end, to give back as our substitute and satisfaction.
And God has "testified" of this gift what He has of no other: in Him He is well pleased, and all who receive Him are accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 2:6). Shall we accept the testimony that God is satisfied with His Son? Shall we be satisfied with Him?
Sermon Outline
- I. The Power of Jesus' Name
- A. The Name of Jesus is the key to acceptance
- B. The Name of Jesus is the substitute for our worthiness
- II. The Gift of Jesus
- A. Jesus is the gift worthy of God's acceptance
- B. Jesus is the substitute for our sins
- III. God's Testimony of Jesus
- A. God is well pleased with Jesus
- B. All who receive Jesus are accepted
Key Quotes
“What shall we give to infinite purity and righteousness? Jesus! No other gift is worthy for God to receive.” — A.B. Simpson
“And God has ''testified'' of this gift what He has of no other: in Him He is well pleased, and all who receive Him are accepted in the beloved (Ephesians 2:6).” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We can present the name of Jesus to receive God's acceptance and satisfaction.
- Jesus is the substitute for our sins and the gift worthy of God's acceptance.
- We should be satisfied with Jesus as our gift from God.