Some examples of the way that the self-discipline of choosing the right perspective empowers godly character. Forgiveness: refusing to demand that another person treat me perfectly when God has forgiven a thousand times more imperfections in me. Humility: recognizing that God and others are actually the ones responsible for the achievements in my life. Contentment: realizing that God has already provided everything I need for my present happiness. Patience: realizing that others’ imperfections that inconvenience me provide the opportunity to show them Christ-like unconditional love.

It has been said, probably mostly in the manufacturing world, that imitation is the highest form of flattery. I think there is truth in that statement—at least when it comes to how we pattern our life. The highest of all compliments to another is probably having a passion to be like him or her. When it comes to thanking Jesus for his unfathomable grace and love for me, I’m not sure anything would mean more to him than passionately seeking to BE LIKE HIM. This episode is the third in our study of the astonishing first chapter of 2nd Peter in which God tells us that his divine power makes it possible for us to do that very thing–become partakers of his divine nature, escaping the corruption of our sinful desires. Today, we examine step 3 for accessing that divine power.
Let’s review what we have seen in this text, Peter 1:3-8, so far. We noted last week that this 3-step process of becoming Christ-like, ends with the promise that continuing this process of growing into Christ-like character guarantees that our lives in Christ will NOT BE ineffective or unfruitful. Verse 8: For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being INEFFECTIVE or UNFRUITFUL in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We noted that Peter explains this three-step process beginning in verse 3: His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the KNOWLEDGE of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. Step #1 in being transformed into the likeness of Christ is KNOWING him well, personally, gazing upon his gory and excellence. Paul sends us the same message about how we are transformed writing, And we all…. BEHOLDING the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (2 Cor 3:18).
Last week, we examined step #2 in this process of accessing the power of the Holy Spirit to become Christ-like. Verse 4: by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, SO THAT THROUGH THEM you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. Why are God’s great and precious promises a key to a Jesus-like heart? Perhaps it is because our self-centered preoccupations, compulsions, fears, and anxieties so take over our hearts that they push the Christ-like heart commitment to love God and others to the side. However, when I can transfer all those self-centered preoccupations to God, knowing he will take care of whatever I fear or worry about, I am emotionally free to focus on loving—God and others. For example, if my heart is filled with anxiety over whether I have the money to pay my mortgage, I will not be able to concentrate on listening well or notice another’s needs. I am too preoccupied with worry. But claiming God’s promise in Phil 4:19, My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus sets my heart free to focus on others.
So, step #1 in this pathway to Christ-like heart attitudes is abiding in Christ, the Vine, walking with him and being transformed as we see his glory and moral excellence. Step #2 in this pathway to Christ-like attitudes is walking daily by faith—trusting in his great and precious promises to provide all we need. Today we come to step #3: Verse 5: MAKE EVERY EFFORT to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control, with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. Step #3 in this pathway to Christ-like heart attitudes is to be intentional about building Christ-like character. That is what Peter commands. Make every effort to build a golden chain of virtues.
Let’s look at this list of virtues.
Faith
The beginning virtue, FAITH, refers back to step 2–living daily by claiming the promises of God. The foundation of Peter’s golden chain is trusting God’s promises, which frees our hearts to be OTHER-focused instead of SELF-focused. Escaping from desires ruling my heart that exhibit preoccupation with ourselves is only possible by trusting Jesus to worry about all those concerns SO WE DON’T HAVE TO. Let’s consider how this works.

If the fear of being rejected is dominating my heart, I will not be sensitive to the other’s needs to be affirmed and valued, but unconsciously maneuver to make sure I am seen in the best light. However, if the truth of Zephaniah 3:17 captures my heart, reassuring me that I am deeply loved by God, such confidence will drive out my self-centered need to feel valuable, empowering me to love others well by affirming THEM. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
If my heart entertains secret doubts about God’s goodness, I will not want to come into his presence. Hebrews 11:6 says, Whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. But if I claim Ps 34:10, I will run to God. Even the young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
If God has ordained circumstances that are painful for me, filling my heart with doubts about his love, rebellion may creep into my heart. But if I claim God’s promise in Rom 8:31-32, rebellion flees from my heart (momentarily)! If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Then my heart is free to love God in his love language, “If you love me keep my commandments” (Jn 14:5).
If the fear of being alone overpowers my heart, I will easily compromise my moral convictions to fit in. The potential pain of being left out drives me. But my heart is freed from this fear when I lean upon Is 41:10. Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my right hand. I can take a stand for righteousness that will also help others in the room do what is right.
When my heart is empty and I feel unsatisfied, like trying to follow Jesus is not worth it, discontent, and envy of others can take over. But when I lean on the truth of Psalm 37:4, Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart, my heart is free to take my empty tank to God to fill.
When I am at the end of my rope, having asked God over and over to change a situation which causes a lot of pain but he refuses to do so, distrust can take over my heart. In such moments, I need to rely upon verses like, I Pet 5:7, You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him, for you are his personal concern.

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At the great day of the Lord’s return all misunderstanding will be removed, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. At that day the angels who cease not day and night to cry, “Holy Holy Holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory,” will continue signing as they shout his praise. The fulness of the prophecy will be revealed when the whole “earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory.
Matthew 25:31
Several years ago, my family was at the Rocky Mountain National Park. One clear night, we drove on a road that climbed to more than 10,000 feet above sea level. There we parked our car, turned off the lights, got out, and looked up. The words of Psalm 19:1 have rarely been so evident, “The Heavens declare the glory of God.” The sight was breathtaking. The stars were without number. The shooting stars were passing by every thirty seconds. The Milky Way was as recognizable as the moon. Why was it so magnificent to behold the heavens? Because they were declaring the glory of God.
While the heavens declare the glory of God, the heavens are not themselves the glory of God. Scripture testifies that God’s glory is above the Heavens (Psalm 57). The Creator’s glory is greater than the glory of the creation He made. The heavens declare God’s glory because they were made by the glorious God. God in His infinite mercy and wisdom did not stop with the declaration of His glory in His creation but He went further and revealed His glory in His Son Jesus Christ.
Christ, the eternal Son of God is far above all creation for He is the brightness of [God’s] glory, and the express image of His person (Heb. 1:3). In Christ Jesus all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily and in the person of Christ, God’s glory is exalted!
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Written by Dr. Barry Waugh, B.B. Warfield |
Wednesday, January 10, 2024
Consider the greatness of the Son of God….As the Crucifixion and Resurrection remembrance called Easter approaches, it is hoped this list of designations helps readers to think of the greatness of the Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus.

“What’s in a name?” asks Juliet as she speaks to Romeo from the balcony in Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. Whether a rose be called by another name, it would still have its sweet fragrance. But when it comes to the designations or names of Jesus in the New Testament there is quite a lot in a name with each one fully inspired and providing information about his person and work.
The list of designations for Jesus that follows this introduction was drawn from the “Index of the Designations of our Lord” on pages 307-11 of The Lord of Glory, which was written by B. B. Warfield and published by the American Tract Society of New York in 1907. The book was written to show the abundant evidence from Scripture testifying to the divinity of Christ in an era when his identity as the Son of God was not only increasingly questioned by some professing Christians but also denied. Editor John H. Kerr of the American Tract Society compiled an index of the designations for Jesus in the book with page references for the purpose of locating occurrences, so since the references are not needed for the current purpose, the page numbers have been removed. Some designations have been relocated in the list and use of “the” has been eliminated because it occurred repeatedly and interrupted the flow. For example, instead of listing “Author (the) and Perfector of our Faith,” for “the Author and Perfector of our Faith,” as did Kerr, the entry is written “Author and Perfector of our Faith.” Warfield was grateful to Kerr for his indexing work.
Any value the book may have is very greatly increased by the full and accurate index of the passages of Scripture cited, which has been prepared by the Rev. Dr. John H. Kerr, Secretary of the American Tract Society, to whom also is wholly due any accuracy which may have been attained in printing the book. The great pains which Dr. Kerr has taken in verifying the numerous references with his own hands and otherwise watching over the actual printing of the book, have made the printed volume almost as much his as the author’s; and the author takes this opportunity of acknowledging them and returning his thanks for them. There are two other indexes, one of which gives a list of the designations our Lord employed in the New Testament, while the other notes the authors cited.
The list that follows includes 163 designations for Jesus in the New Testament. Some of the terminology could have been updated but I wanted the list to read as the designations were presented in The Lord of Glory. Note that the list includes only those designations mentioned by Warfield in the book and may not be a complete list of New Testament terminology about Jesus. Clarification comments are included in brackets.
It is a devotional experience to read through this list and consider the aspects of Jesus’ person and work brought out by each one. The terminology is rich in its theology with an abundance of Old Testament language that looks forward to and describes Jesus. You might find it beneficial to read the list aloud and consider the greatness of the Son of God particularly in our era of suspicion regarding the supernatural. Even though Bible readers will be familiar with the terms, it is a different experience to read them gathered in a list. As the Crucifixion and Resurrection remembrance called Easter approaches, it is hoped this list of designations helps readers to think of the greatness of the Incarnation, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension of Jesus.
The Names and Designations of Jesus in the New Testament
AdvocateAdvocate with the FatherAlpha and OmegaAmen, the Faithful and True WitnessApostle and High Priest of our ConfessionAuthor and Perfecter of our FaithAuthor and SaviorAuthor of LifeAuthor of SalvationBeginning and the EndBeginning of the Creation of GodBelovedBishop of our SoulsBread of GodBridegroomBright and Morning StarCaptain of SalvationChosen One of GodChristChrist a KingChrist JesusChrist Jesus our LordChrist Jesus our SaviorChrist Jesus the LordChrist of GodChrist the King of IsraelChrist the LordChrist the Son of the Living GodComforterComing OneDespot [a household master or lord]DoorEffulgence of God’s GloryElect of GodEternal LifeFaithful and TrueFaithful and True WitnessFaithful WitnessFirst and the Last and the Living OneFirstbornFirstborn of the DeadGloryGodGod and Savior, Jesus ChristGod over allGod’s ChristGod’s Own SonGod’s Son, JesusGood ShepherdGood TeacherGreat God and SaviorGreat Shepherd of the SheepGuideHe that hath the Keys of DavidHe that hath the Seven Spirits of God and the Seven StarsHe that hath the sharp, two-edged SwordHe that Holds the Seven StarsHe that is Holy and TrueHe that Loved us and loosed us from our sinsHeir of all thingsHigh PriestHoly and Righteous OneHoly OneHoly One of GodHoly ThingHouse MasterImage of GodImage of God’s SubstanceImmanuelJesusJesus ChristJesus Christ our LordJesus Christ our SaviorJesus Christ the LordJesus Christ the NazareneJesus Christ the RighteousJesus Christ the Son of the FatherJesus MasterJesus of NazarethJesus our LordJesus, surnamed ChristJesus, the GalileanJesus, the King of the JewsJesus, the NazareneJesus, the Prophet from Nazareth of GalileeJesus, the Son of DavidJesus, the Son of GodJesus, the Son of JosephJesus, the Son of the Most-High GodKingKing of IsraelKing of Kings and Lord of LordsKing of the JewsLambLamb of GodLamb that hath been slainLifeLife EternalLightLight of ManLight of the WorldLion that is of the Tribe of JudahLiving OneLordLord and ChristLord and GodLord and SaviorLord and Savior Jesus ChristLord ChristLord JesusLord Jesus ChristLord of GloryLord of Lords and King of KingsLord of the HouseLord’s ChristManMan ChildMasterMaster and Lord Jesus ChristMaster of the HouseMediator of the New CovenantMessiahNazareneOnly begottenOnly begotten from the FatherOnly begotten GodOnly begotten SonOnly begotten Son of GodParacletePriestPrincePrince and SaviorPrince of LifePrinciple of the Creation of GodProphetRabbiRabboniResurrection and the LifeRighteous OneRoot and Offspring of DavidRuler of the Kings of the EarthSaviorSavior of the WorldSent of GodServant of GodShepherdShepherd and Bishop of our SoulsSonSon of AbrahamSon of DavidSon of GodSon of JosephSon of ManSon of the BlessedSon of the Living GodSon of the Most HighSon of the Most-High GodTeacherTrue God and Eternal LifeWordWord of GodWord of Life
AMEN, AND AMEN
Dr. Barry Waugh attends Fellowship PCA in Greer, SC. This article is used with permission.
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