The name of the church that was established by Christ

There are many religions nowadays that claims that the name of their church was the true church established by Jesus Christ.

Well, lets find it out what is really the name of the church that is founded by Jesus Christ by looking up to the bible. 

Let’s read matt.16:18:

“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

Jesus built not just any church but HIS CHURCH. If he is the founder of his church, meaning to say, he is also the OWNER of it.

But wait, what do you think is the relation of Christ to his church?

Lets read Col. 1:18 that says,

“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

 

If Christ is the head and the body is the church, what should be the name of Christ's Church? What do you think the church should be named if it is Christ, WHO IS THE OWNER of the Church?

Yes! The name of the church built by Christ is the Church of Christ.

But why? 

What do you think is the relation of Jesus' name in terms of salvation?

Lets read Acts. 4:12:

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."”

It is said that our salvation can only be found in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, so it is therefore that his church must be named after him because this is the church that he will save:

“For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.” Eph. 5:23

Other names of the church

But if we will look in the bible, there were many names that is being referred to the church that is established by Christ, why is it?

Just for example, in the New Testament it is said “churches of the saints.” (I cor. 14:33) This is not the official name of the church that was established by Christ, instead, it only refers to the kind of its members. 

Lets read I cor.6:11 that says,

“Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

The said “churches of the saints” only refers to the kind or characteristic of the members—as they were sanctified. 

 Lets read I cor. 1:2 and Rom. 1:7 that says,

“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:“ 

“to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

That they were chosen to be holy and blameless, let’s read Eph. 1:4:

“Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,

that we would be holy and blameless before Him In love”

We can also read from the New Testament the alleged names of Christ's church:

“church of the firstborn” (Heb. 12:23)

“churches of Galatia” (Gal. 1:2)

“churches of Macedonia” (II cor. 8:1)

“churches of the Gentiles” (Rom. 16:4)

“church of God which is at Corinth” (I cor. 1:2)

“church in the Antioch” (Acts 13:1)

“church in Jerusalem” (Acts 8:1) 

and etc.

All of these do not refers to the name of the church that was established by Jesus Christ, but refers to the locales or places that was gone by the Church of Christ. 

So, it is not suitable to call the Christ's church “Church of the gentiles” if some Jews were members of the church. Also, the church in Jerusalem is not suitable to be called “church of Macedonia”, right? 

So, the right name to be called in the church that was established by Christ should be:

“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.” 

In tagalog, 
"Magbatian kayo ng banal na halik. Bumabati sa inyo ang mga iglesia ni Cristo"

Romans 16:16

 

“Church of god”

In the New testament, many times they call the Church of Christ “church of god”. (I cor. 1:2. 11:22, 15:9; II cor. 1:1; gal. 1:13;I tim. 3:5, 15)  

We must notice the times were Apostle Paul use the term “church of god”, he always refers it to the gentiles that are members of the Church of Christ. The gentiles are not part of the Israelites, meaning, they dont God. 

Lets read Eph. 2:12 that says,

“Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”

In the past, they dont have God and they are not God's people, Let’s read Rom. 9: 24-25:

“Even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles. As He says also in Hosea, "I will call those who were not my people, ‘my people’, and her was not beloved, 'beloved.'"

And they do not know God:

“not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God;” Because they were led in mute idols" I thess. 4:5

let’s read I cor. 12:2 that says,

“You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols,

however you were led.” But when they become a member in the church of Christ, they were no longer strangers,

lets read Eph. 2:19 that says,

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household”

Therefore, in all of these, the term “church of god” is used only to the gentiles TO LET THEM BE a member of the church, to let them know that this church HAS GOD and that they are now IN GOD.