ANTIOCH CHURCH OF CHRIST

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Message - Re: Is there anything in a name? Posted By Ken Olison on 11/12/2005 8:05:00 PM - Subscribe to this discussion here - Subscribe

Why was there not only one name when people refered to the church, even though there is only one body?

   The mistake in the question is the implication that because there are different terms used to refer to the church, that there is then more than one church. There are several terms used in the bible to refer to God, Israel, Jesus, Babylon, and many other people and places. However just because they are refered to with more than one term, does not mean there is more than one.  For example: Israel is refered to as the people of God, The chosen people, The twelve Tribes, ect. However there is still just one Israel. All of the terms used are refering the same people.

  In the case of the church, the phrases and terms used in its reference are always to serve one of two purposes; a) its ownership, B) its location.   Using the term Church of God, as found in Acts 20:28 is to refer to the Church of Christ, designating ownership of the church.  Church which belongs to Christ.  We know that the "God" in Acts 20:28 refers to Christ because it was Christ who shed his blood to purchase the church.
  I Thessalonians 1:1 "...unto the church of the Thessalonians" was given as a salutation of the epistle to designate the location in which the letter was to be delivered.  It is unscriptural to think that the Thessalonians had a different church, with different doctrines and teachings than the one church of God simply because a different term was used to refer to it. On the contrary, the bible says that we are all the teach the same thing. I Cor. 1:10
   The Lord named the Church when he claimed it as His. Mathew 16:18 "and upon this rock, I will build MY church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against IT."  Simply stated Jesus claimed to build HIS church, not a church, and not many churches.  He stated that the gates of hell shall not prevail against IT.  If he meant for more than one, he would have said the gates of hell shall not prevail against THEM.
   When you own somthing, it takes on your name.  Your wife takes your surname, your children take your surname, you put your name on your house deed, and your car pink slip.  Is there anything in a name?  Anyone who says there is not anything in a name I will write for them a check in the amount of $1000.00.  However I wont need to sign it, because there is simply nothing in a name.  I may even sign the check and give it to that person who thinks there is nothing in a name.  But I will caution to check the "pay to the order of" line on the check, since there is nothing in a name, this check doesnt necessarily need your name there now does it?

Current Replies - Parent Post - Main Board

Re: Is there anything in a name? - B. D. Phillips 1/25/2008 4:13:00 PM

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