“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Verse 16 talks of the word of Christ dwelling in us, and how this is expressed in psalms and hymns with grace in our hearts to the Lord.

The use of the term “the name of the Lord” became meaningful to me when someone explained that this could also be taken as “the person of the Lord”.

Pr 18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
Is 30:27 Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar, Burning with His anger, And His burden is heavy; His lips are full of indignation, And His tongue like a devouring fire.
Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. – we are saved by the person of Jesus, and not a grammatical phrase.

So, this verse applies at a number of levels, and can be taken to mean – doing everything:

1. 1. By his permission, by his authority;
   2. Under the banner of the Lord Jesus, to give him the glory;
   3. In the strength and guidance of the Lord Jesus – we are doing things we wouldn’t choose to do for ourselves, and couldn’t do unless Jesus equips and guides us;
   4. In the person of the Lord Jesus – as Jesus lives in us through his Spirit, all we do is not through our old selves, but by Jesus doing those things through us.

As Galations 2:20 explains:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”