Transcript Slide 1

Did Christ Name
the Church?
Matthew 16:16–18
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Prepared by Jeff Asher (2015)
Matthew 16:16–18
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou
art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
And Jesus answered and said unto him,
Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh
and blood hath not revealed it unto thee,
but my Father which is in heaven. And I
say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build my church; and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
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Did Christ Name the Church?
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Some Oppose “Church of Christ”―
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“If all local churches used ONLY the designation
‘Church of Christ,’ we could not claim to be the same
church as the one described in the Bible” (Steve Rudd,
www.bible.ca).
“Total global uniformity of name world wide, is an
indicator of denominationalism and violates the
Bible pattern… is proof that some kind of central
world government for the church exists” (ibid.).
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)
Did Christ Name the Church?

Some Oppose “Church of Christ”―
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“It may very well be that the few local churches that
use different descriptors from the majority and put
‘Christians meet here’ or ‘assembly of Christ’ or ‘the
way’ on their signs, are keeping the collective of local
churches from straying from the Bible Pattern on a
global basis” (ibid.).
“The Bible pattern of variation in local churches is a
trademark of the first century church” (ibid).
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)
Did Christ Name the Church?
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Does Uniformity Imply Denominationalism?
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Paul expected global uniformity among the churches
(I Corinthians 4:17).
The Gospel provides the standard for uniformity of
practice (Ephesians 3:4).
Adherence to the Gospel establishes unity and peace
(Ephesians 4:3–6).
Abandonment of the Gospel results in sectarianism
producing denominations (I Corinthians 1:10).
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)
Did Christ Name the Church?
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If Uniformity Implies Denominationalism:
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Must some of us abandon immersion in order to be
sound? But, Acts 15:24.
Should some adopt the instrument to prove there is no
worldwide government? But, I John 2:19.
The premise is absurd.
• The question to be considered is whether or not
Christ named the church which He built.
• What is the scriptural answer?
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)
Did Christ Name the Church?
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What Is a Name?
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A word or a combination of words by which a person,
place, or thing, a body or class, or any object of
thought is designated, called, or known.
A mere designation, as distinguished from fact: “He
was a king in name only.”
An appellation, title, or epithet, applied descriptively,
in honor, abuse, etc.
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)
Did Christ Name the Church?
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What Is a Proper Name?
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“A proper name [is] a word that answers the purpose
of showing what thing it is that we are talking
about…but not of telling anything about it” (John
Stuart Mill, A System of Logic, 1. ii. 5),
Jeffrey Stephen Asher is a proper name according to
the above definition.
However, name can signify reputation (Proverbs 22:1;
Ecclesiastes 7:1). All that a person or thing is signified
by the name (Matthew 10:41–42).
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)
Did Christ Name the Church?
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Did Jesus Assign a Proper Name?
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I know of no passage that reveals where Christ
assigned a proper name to His people collectively.
There is a passage in which Heaven revealed a proper
name for the individual disciple (Acts 11:26; I Peter
4:16; Acts 26:28–29).
Yet, there is definitely a name, a proper way in which
to designate the church, which does tell us exactly
what it is, to whom it belongs, and under whose
authority it exists and works.
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)
of
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My Church
Matthew 16:18
Church of God
Acts 20:28
Church of God
Galatians 1:13
Church of the Living God
1 Timothy 3:15
Church
Ephesians 5:23–24
In God…In Christ
I Thessalonians 1:1
Created by Jeff Asher 2008
Did Christ Name the Church?
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One More Consideration (Hebrews 12:23)―
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Does “church of the firstborn” refer to Christ or
Christians?
Its use in the NT signifies preeminence above order
(cf. Hebrews 1:6; 11:28; 12:16; Romans 8:29;
Colossians 1:15, 18).
The plural pronoun clearly implies “firstborn ones”.
The OT concept of Israel as a nation of firstborn is
certainly in harmony (Exodus 4:22).
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)
Did Christ Name the Church?

One More Consideration (Hebrews 12:23)―
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Yet, this does not lead to the conclusion the church is
to be called the “Christian Church” (Mac Deaver).
How do believers acquire their status as firstborn ones?
They have no standing except as they are “of Christ”
(Romans 8:17; Acts 26:18; Galatians 4:7).
The “church of the firstborn” as much as any
designation, when reduced to its simplest terms, is the
church of Christ (I Corinthians 14:33).
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)
Did Christ Name the Church?
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The Churches of Christ Salute You―
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We Can Do What He Did―
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Paul had no problem in referring to all the churches in a
region as “the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16).
When he did so, there was no implication of a worldwide
church government―a denomination.
I make no apologies for it.
I recommend the practice as scriptural and precise.
Prepared by Jeff Asher (2005)