What is it to pray in the name of Christ?

The Larger Catechism

Q. 180. What is it to pray in the name of Christ?

A. To pray in the name of Christ is, in obedience to his command, and in confidence on his promises, to ask mercy for his sake; not by bare mentioning of his name, but by drawing our encouragement to pray, and our boldness, strength, and hope of acceptance in prayer, from Christ and his mediation.

1) Christ commands us to pray in His name. John 16:23-24

We must pray to the true God only and only through Christ as Mediator.

Any prayer to another god is not Christian prayer. Any prayer to the true God without Christ as mediator is not Christian.

2) We must have confidence (faith) in his promises. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Without faith it is impossible to please Him.

3) We must ask for mercy for His sake. Daniel 9:17

If we don't ask for mercy for Christ's sake, we are like the Pharisee who prayed "thus with himself" and trusted in himself that he was righteous. (Luke 18:19-24) Even those who mention Christ's name in prayer may still be trusting in themselves and their own righteousness.

4) Not a bare mentioning of His name. Matthew 7:21

We must not only say his name when we pray, we must trust in Christ's righteousness and mediation. We are either relying on ourselves and our own worthiness to be heard, or we are trusting in Christ.

5) From Christ and His mediation, we draw our encouragement to pray. i.e. boldness, strength, hope of acceptance. Hebrews 4:14-16; 1 John 5:14-15

We need encouragement to pray b/c we are often discouraged and we are lazy. He has opened a new and living way into the Holy Place by His blood. We ought to come and come boldly! He himself encourages us to come and to ask for grace to help in our time of need. He wants us to pray with confidence, when we pray in his name and according to His will.