On The Name Church of Christ
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesDate written: September 24, 1994
Scripture ref: Romans 16:16
SUBJECT: Church
TITLE: On The Name Church of Christ
PROPOSITION: To set forth a study of the implications of the name “church of Christ.”
OBJECTIVE: To teach some fundamental lessons in regard to the churches identity as opposed to the denominations.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Romans 16:16
2. About the Text:
1) Paul is writing salutations to the Romans.
2) He exhorts them to salute one another with a kiss.
3) He tells how all the churches of Christ send their greetings.
4) This is the only verse in the King James Bible that has the words “churches of Christ.”
5) Understanding that whatever can be applied to the set can be applied to a particular in that set, then we may understand that although the specific name “church of Christ” is not in the New Testament, that from the fact that the plurality of that name is in the New Testament, the singular is implied (eg. those are the books of Kevin, therefore, any one of those particular books belong to Kevin).
3. Subjective “of” (about) versus objective “of” (belonging to).
4. Ref. to S, T, P, O.
DISCUSSION: The name “church of Christ” implies. . .
I. Ownership
1. Ownership of the universal church–Matthew 16:13-20
2. Ownership of all the congregations–Acts 20:38
3. Ownership of all the members of the congregations–1 Corinthians6:20 “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
II. Authority
1. From the ownership, we can deduce its authority as well (eg. Jerry Jones owns the Dallas Cowboys–therefore, he has total authority as to how the team is to be run).
2. Thus if Jesus owns the church, then he is our authority as well.
3. Matthew28:18 “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
4. Revelation chapter five!
III. Allegiance
1. The name “church of Christ” ought to show to whom the members have placed their allegiance.
2. Colossians3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
3. Matthew16:24-26 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
IV. Exclusion
1. Naturally, if the church belongs to the Christ, then it excludes anything which does not belong to Christ. How do we know if we belong to Christ?
2. John 14:6
3. Ephesians1:3–All spiritual blessings are in Christ!
4. How does one get into Christ? Baptized into his body–1 Corinthians12:13
5. What is his body? The church–Ephesians 1:21
CONCLUSION:
1. The name church of Christ implies
1) Ownership
2) Authority
3) Allegiance
4) Exclusion
2. Invitation