Why call it the "Church of Christ"?
The word “church” was, in the first century, not recognized as a strictly religious title. In fact, the word used in the Greek (the language in which Jesus’ followers wrote) had a much broader meaning. To the first century reader, this word “church” would simply mean “assembly” – or a gathering of people. Therefore, it was necessary to give a specific designation to such an assembly so that it could be distinguished from other groups of people. The question arises then, what name correctly identifies the church of the New Testament? Consider the following:
We can know that Christ intended that His church, which He died for, bear His name by the teachings of those who followed Him. One such example is of the account of the Jewish Sanhedrin questioning Peter and John (both close followers of Jesus). Soon after the church had been established, the Sanhedrin inquired of them (Peter and John) “by what name” they had been teaching, Peter exclaimed:
- Jesus said the Church was “His” (Matthew 16:18).
- Jesus paid for the Church with His own blood (Acts 20:28).
- Jesus saved the Church from eternal destruction (John 3:16; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 5:23)
- Jesus is “the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18,24; Ephesians 5:22-23).
- Jesus is the bridegroom and the Church is His bride (Ephesians 5:22-32; Revelation 21:9; Matthew 25:1-13).
- Jesus is returning to take His faithful Church to a new home (John 14:1-3; Matthew 25:1-13; 1 Corinthians 15:24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
We can know that Christ intended that His church, which He died for, bear His name by the teachings of those who followed Him. One such example is of the account of the Jewish Sanhedrin questioning Peter and John (both close followers of Jesus). Soon after the church had been established, the Sanhedrin inquired of them (Peter and John) “by what name” they had been teaching, Peter exclaimed:
By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:8,10-12, emp. added).
Although the Bible may not explicitly offer any official title for the Church, the Scriptures do demand that Christians put off party names and simply call themselves after the One Who saved them. Knowing that Jesus will come back to receive His bride and take her home, we had better be sure that she is wearing His name and no one else's.