Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus, They Shall Call His Name Immanuel — The Prophecy and its Fulfillment

This is the second part in a series of five articles on Why was Christ given two names, Jesus and Immanuel, and what it means to us? You can read the first part here.

Isaiah’s Prophecy

The prophet in Isaiah 7:14 hinted at the birth of the coming Messiah, by foretelling a sign before King Ahaz of Judah.

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and will bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 RcV)

Then in Chapter 8:10, Isaiah assured his people what that name means, “…for God is with us.”

The context of Isaiah’s prophecy regarding the birth of “Immanuel” as a sign fulfilled during the reign of King Ahaz alone requires a full article that will not be covered here. So we limit our story to its ultimate consummation in the New Testament with the coming of the promised Messiah.

Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 1, verses 18–23 introduces us to Him.

JESUS, for “He shall save His people from their sins”

Now the origin of Jesus Christ was in this way: His mother, Mary, after she had been engaged to Joseph, before they came together, was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being righteous and not willing to disgrace her openly, intended to send her away secretly.

But while he pondered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife, for that which has been begotten in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:18–21, RcV)

IMMANUEL, meaning “God with us”

Now all this has happened so that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel” (which is translated, “God with us”).(Matthew 1:22–23, RcV)

Unto us, a child is born, Unto us, a Son is given

In fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6, Matthew chapter 1 closed with the birth of the child with Joseph calling the firstborn Son of Mary, Jesus.

And when Joseph awoke from his sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to himself his wife. And he did not know her until she bore a son. And he called His name Jesus. (Matthew 1:24–25, RcV)

But why was the Messiah given two names and what does it mean to the world and to us?

In order to realize the significance of the Savior’s names, we have to understand how full salvation is administered to all who believe in the Messiah. This is something the majority of Christians do not grasp because it is not so clearly taught in Christianity.

So, let’s get into the Scriptures and I’ll show you how these names are as pivotal as life or death to all men.

God’s complete salvation comes in stages

Contrary to what some Christian theologians teach that “Once saved you are always saved,” God’s salvation of man is accomplished progressively in stages. Each stage is a milestone that is fulfilled or derailed depending on man’s response to God’s conditions. The process is plainly declared by God in Jeremiah 32:37–40 as well as in Ezekiel’s prophecy, first in chapter 11.

Therefore say, Thus says the Lord Jehovah, I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

And they will come there and take away all its detestable things and all its abominations from it.

And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them; and I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh,

That they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them; and they will be My people, and I will be their God.

(Ezekiel 11:17–20, RcV)

Then it is given again in more detail in Ezekiel 36:22–28.

Let’s unscroll this passage and note the process.

Purpose: We are saved for the sake of God’s name, by His grace, to be His testimony

Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Jehovah, I am not doing this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you went.

And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations will know that I am Jehovah, declares the Lord Jehovah, when I am sanctified in you in their sight. (Ezekiel 36:22–23, RcV)

To fulfill that purpose, God set the process in stages.

First, He will set us apart from among nations to be His people

And I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24, RcV)

This is what God told Israel after He redeemed them from their bondage in Egypt.

And Moses went up to God, and Jehovah called to him out of the mountain, saying, Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the children of Israel:

You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

Now therefore if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My personal treasure from among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine.

And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:3–6, RcV)

Then in Leviticus 20, God reiterated this claim over them.

You shall therefore keep all My statutes and all My ordinances, and do them, so that the land into which I am bringing you to dwell in does not vomit you out.

And you shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am about to send away before you. Because they did all these things, so I abhorred them.

But I have said to you, You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am Jehovah your God, who has separated you from the peoples.

And you shall be holy to Me, because I Jehovah am holy, and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.

(Leviticus 20:22–24 & 26, RcV)

The Apostle Peter in his first epistle reminds even us New Testament believers that we are of God, His people.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people acquired for a possession, so that you may tell out the virtues of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Who once were not a people but now are the people of God; who had not previously been shown mercy but have now been shown mercy. (1 Peter 2:9–10, RcV)

Second, He will wash and cleanse us from our sins

And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you will be clean; from all your filthiness and from all your idols I will cleanse you. (Ezekiel 36:25, RcV)

Third, He will give us a new heart and put a new spirit within us

I will also give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take away the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26, RcV)

Fourth, He will put His own Spirit into that new spirit given to us in verse 26 enabling us to obey His command

And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and My ordinances you shall keep and do. (Ezekiel 36:27, RcV)

Jeremiah prophesied of the same when He spoke about the New Covenant which will be given, “…I will put My law in their inward parts and write it upon their hearts, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.” (Jer. 31:33, RcV)

John the Baptist was sent for the purpose of baptizing with water as recorded in Luke’s gospel, to prepare the way for the coming Messiah who will baptize us with the Holy Spirit, regenerating our souls to a new life in the Spirit.

John answered and said to all, I baptize you in water, but He who is stronger than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He Himself will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire, (Luke 3:16, RcV)

To understand more on this topic, you can read the other article here.

And finally, we will be joined to Christ Himself

Yes! We will be joined to Christ Himself and to others who are reborn of the Spirit to be the holy people for His expression, His church.

And you shall dwell in the land which I gave to your fathers; and you will be My people, and I will be your God. (Ezekiel 36:8, RcV)

Now, all that I have laid out above is just the first part of the great salvation which God prepared for us. After this, once we are born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5–7) and have been regenerated becoming members of His body, the church, then comes the next baptism. What?

Baptism with fire!

Yes. That is what John the Baptist said in Luke 3:16, isn’t it?

…”I baptize you in water, but He who is stronger than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. HE HIMSELF WILL BAPTIZE YOU IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FIRE. (Luke 3:16, RcV)

The prophet, Malachi forewarned us about this.

I am about to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me; and suddenly the Lord, whom you seek, will come to His temple. And the Angel of the covenant, whom you desire, He will come, says Jehovah of hosts.

And who will endure the day of His coming? And who will stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.

And He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi (referring to the priesthood) and purge them like gold and like silver, and they will offer to Jehovah a sacrifice in righteousness. (Malachi 3:1–3, RcV)

And Zechariah, the prophet tells us how God will bring His people through it and notice who will be left behind.

And in all the land, declares Jehovah, Two parts in it will be cut off and will die, But the third part will be left in it.

And I will bring the third part through fire And refine them as silver is refined And try them as gold is tried. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, “They are My people,” And they will say, “Jehovah is my God.”

(Zechariah 13:8–9, RcV)

“But,” you ask, “By what way is He going to try us?”

Well, there’s a condition in which God acknowledges us to be His people and here it is. Take note of the “IF” and the “THEN” for both are in the package.

Now therefore IF you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, THEN you shall be My personal treasure from among all peoples, for all the earth is Mine.

And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5–6, RcV)

If the “IF” condition is not met then, the “THEN” promise cannot be expected. That is always God’s principle in the Scriptures. So take note of this when you read the Bible. You will see this all throughout the Scriptures.

In that same way, He tests us whether we obey or disobey. And if we are faithful through each and every test by obeying His voice and keeping His commandments, He transforms us into the image of His firstborn Son, from glory unto the glory of the Father, the invisible God.

One may argue, “But no one has or ever fully obeyed God’s commandments, except Jesus Christ!” Somehow, that is the false assumption of many New Testament believers. Who can blame them? False teachers abound in Christianity today, as the Lord prophesied (Matthew 24:11). But “Leave them alone,” Jesus said, “They are blind guides of the blind; and if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:14, RcV)

But really, has anyone ever fully kept and followed God’s commandments, besides the Son of God? Have you heard of Joshua and Caleb?

Hear the LORD’s testimony about those true followers of God!

Only My servant Caleb, because he had a different spirit and has fully followed Me, will I bring into the land which he entered; and his descendants shall take possession of it. (Numbers 14:24, RcV)

Your corpses shall fall in this wilderness, and none of you who were numbered, according to the number you counted from twenty years old and upward, who have murmured against Me, Shall come into the land, in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. (Numbers 14:29–30, RcV)

Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not fully followed Me; Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, because they have fully followed Jehovah.(Numbers 32:11–12, RcV)

There you go!

Having laid out the foundation, we shall see in the next chapter of this series how the names given to the Messiah correspond to the stages of our salvation and the realms of our earthly existence.

Thank you for reading. See you in the next issue. Shalom!

Let us know what you think or if you have any questions about God and/or His Word, just write in the comments section below. If there is any topic you want us to address in this newsletter, tell us and we will try to respond.

(This article was first published on Medium).