A Promise of a New Name!

ByBrian Birdow

www.cmcoc.org

The body of Christ…

• Is Un-Denominational

• Is Non-Denominational

• Is Anti- Denominational

Prefixes Defined

• Un = the absence, the reverse of, reverse action…

• Non = never, not, nothing

• Anti = against

Define Denomination• 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by

the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

• 1 Corinthians 1:12-13 Now this I say, that every one of you says, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Primary Meaning of Denomination

• IS NAME!

• Oxford English Dictionary, “denomination” (a noun) and “denominate” (a verb) originate from the Latin word “denominare,” which means, “to name, specify by name.”

• The primary definition of “denominate” is “To give a name or appellation to; to call by a name, to name (orig. from or after something).

Proper noun

• A name used for an individual person, place, or organization, spelled with initial capital letters, 

• Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, Harding Bison’s

• The New Testament church has NO proper name!

Charles Spurgeon

• I say of the Baptist name, let it perish, but let Christ’s name last forever. I look forward with pleasure, to the day when there will not be a Baptist living. I hope they will soon be gone. I hope the Baptist name will soon perish; but let Christ’s name endure forever. Spurgeon Memorial Library

Martin Luther• I pray you to leave my name alone, and call not

yourselves Lutherans, but Christians. Who is Luther? My doctrine is not mine. I have not been crucified for anyone. St. Paul would not let anyone call themselves after Paul, nor Peter, but of Christ. How then does it befit me, a miserable bag of dust and ashes, to give my name to the children of God. Cease my dear friends to cling to these party names and distinctions : away with all; and let us call ourselves only Christians after him from whom our doctrine comes.

• The life of Luther, by Stork. p.289

How do we speak??

• Matthew 26:73 And after awhile came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely you also are one of them; for your speech betrays you.

• Nehemiah 13:24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

Questions?

• How many times do we or others say….

• Church of Christ preacher…

• Church of Christ congregations

• Church of Christ__er

Objective of Lesson1. Does Christ sanction the use of differing

names and terms to identify individuals and churches?

2. Did God give a name to the church?

3. Do we use denominational speech?

4. To see how God describes those who belong to Him.

How is the church spoken of?• When I say church I mean people who have

obeyed the gospel…Those who the Lord has added to HIS church.

• Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

• Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as were being saved.

How is the church spoken of?

• Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build “my church”; and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.

• My Church---therefore it is Christ Church or body.

How is the church spoken of?

• Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against “the church” which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

• Meaning a group of called out people.

How is the church spoken of?• 1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is

at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

• Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. The churches of Christ or (Christ’s congregations greet you.

• Ephesians 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (the body which belongs to Christ)

How is the church spoken of?

• 1 Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

• Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Summary of what the church is called

My church or Christ’s church

The church

Church of God

Churches of Christ

The body of Christ

The church of the living God

Church of the firstborn

Household of faith or members of the family of faith (Gal. 6:10)

What are (were) the member called?

• Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the next day; and continued his speech until midnight.

• 1 Corinthians 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

What are (were) the member called?

• 1 Corinthians 15:6 After that, he was seen of over five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep.

• Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

• 1 John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God: therefore the world knows us not, because it knew him not.

What are (were) the member called?

• Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, so that we may be also glorified together.

• 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Summary of what we are calledDisciples

Saints

Beloved of God

Brethren

Sons of God

Children of God

Heirs of God

Royal Priesthood

Prophecy--Promise

• Isaiah 62:2 And the Gentiles shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory: and you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

Prophecy--Promise

• Righteousness/salvation would go forth from Jerusalem;

• The Gentiles would see this righteousness/salvation;

• A new name would be given; and

• The Lord Himself would bestow that new name.

Prophecy—promise fullfilled!

• Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

The order of the Gospel message

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Christians

• Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that for a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught many people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

• 1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this (NAME) behalf.

Called--- Defined• The term he used (chrematidzo) is typically used in the New

Testament in relation to those occasions when God is specifically the One Who does the calling: “to appoint, warn, or nominate, by Divine direction” (Clarke, n.d., p. 772; cf. McCord, n.d., 2:311).

• The term occurs nine times in the New Testament: Matthew 2:12,22; Luke 2:26; Acts 10:22; 11:26; Romans 7:3; Hebrews 8:5; 11:7; 12:25 (Moulton, et al., 1978, p. 1011).

• In every case, divine calling, warning, or admonition is divine calling, warning, or admonition is contextually self-evidentcontextually self-evident (cf. Thayer, 1901, p. 671; Robertson, 1930, 3:160). In fact, several translations indicate this use of the word by inserting “by/from/of God” (KJV, ASV, NASB, RSV), or “divinely” instructed/warned (NKJV) in “divinely” instructed/warned (NKJV) in some or all of the passages. some or all of the passages.