Jesus has a "name" that is above every other name (Eph. 1:21; Phil. 2:9) but that "name" is not just an arrangement of letters that spell that word; J-E-S-U-S is not his name. His name is much more than a title or designation.

In scripture, "name" is often equivalent to "revelation": what is revealed by or known about some one or some thing. The "good name" in Prov. 22:1 is not that "Mary" is better than "Sue" but that each Mary and Sue have good character. Their reputation---what is known about them---is their "name."

Thus the "name" of Jesus is what is known about, revealed by Him. The texts above are affirming that what is known about Jesus---what He reveals Himself to be---is far above anything known about or revealed by any other individual.

An action "in" this name is one that is done in harmony with it. We do things "in the name of Christ" when those actions are based upon and in harmony with what Christ has made known or revealed.

All men are called upon to believe in the name of Christ (1 Jo. 5:13; Jo. 1:12). This is done when they accept all that Jesus claims to be (Jo. 8:24) and all that He has revealed (Jo. 8:31; Lk. 6:46). Simply believing that Jesus was a good man is not believing on His name for He has revealed many other things about Himself (Jo. 5:18; 8:46,58) that must be accepted also. And while Jesus said we must love one another (Matt. 5:44; Jo. 13:34-35; 15:12), there are other things of equal importance that we must do. Such as...

Calling upon His name (Acts 2:21; 22:16; Rom. 10:12-14). This is not an audible pronouncing of a word but an appeal to Him because of what He reveals Himself to be. Paul "appealed" (same Greek word as "call upon") unto Caesar (Acts 25:11) because he recognized that it was before him that justice would be served. So our appeal is made to Christ for only He reveals Himself to be the One who can effectively deal with our sins. This "appeal" is to His word which will judge us in the last day (Jo. 12:44-50). In His word he speaks of...

Baptism "in the name" (Matt. 28:19; Acts 2:38). The thought is not that the "right words" (whatever they are) need to be uttered at the moment of a person's baptism but that the action be done out of a regard for what our Lord has said about that action. For example, one might have "the right words" said over them as someone sprinkled water on their head but this would not make the action "in the name of" Christ for the Lord never said anything about such an action.

Then, after baptism, all that we do in word or deed (Col. 3:17) is to be done "in the name of" Christ: every action and each uttered though is done out of a regard for and based upon who Christ is and what He has said.

"How sweet the name of Jesus sounds" and similar lyrics from hymns express beautiful sentiments. Let's make sure we don't trivialize and sentimentalize these good expressions, as well as those found in scripture, and allow them to lose their force.