A Church With No Name?

We love to name things. In religion, this happens to be especially true. This is where the idea of the word "denomination" comes from. It means to assign something under a certain name. However, in the New Testament, the church is never given a proper name, except once (Acts 11:26). This is when God divinely called disciples Christians for the first time in Antioch. Peter said to glorify God in that name (1 Peter 4:16). Agrippa admitted that Paul's testimony almost convinced him to become one (Acts 26:28). This is the only instance though, where followers of God were given a proper name in the New Testament. We will look at descriptions (not names) that the inspired writers of the Greek Scriptures gave God's servants.

My church

After Jesus asked the apostles the opinion of what people said about Him, Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it" (Matthew 16:13-18). Jesus said, there at Ceasarea Philippi, that He would form His called-out group of people. That is what church means, a called-out, called-together group of people; His assembly. This word is not necessarily religious in flavor. It was simply used as a description of God's collective group of people that belongs to Jesus Christ, who consequently is head over His church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). This means that He has all authority and "say-so" concerning His people (cf. Matthew 28:18-20).

Church of God

Paul wrote to the, "church of God that is in Corinth" (1 Corinthians 1:2). He recognized that congregation's unique relationship to our heavenly Father. This special relationship is significant because many Jews in the First Century held the misconception that disciples of Jesus were not worshipers of the true God of the Old Testament. They viewed Christians as montheistic heretics. But, Paul asserts that Christians were (and are) indeed servants of the true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Saints

Paul addressed one congregation saying, "To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 1:1). This term saint indicates the church's special role as God's unique group of holy people. That is what saint means, holy one. As Christians, we are holy, because we have been separated from the world in the Word of God (John 17:16-17; Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9). That term is not reserved for people who lived long ago who have been canonized by a certain group, but people who have been washed and purified by the water and the Word (Ephesians 5:26).

Brothers

Some older Bible translations refer to Christians as brethren, but some more modern translations refer to us as brothers (cf. Romans 12:1; 1 Corinthians 1:10). In many cases, brothers come from the Greek word adelphoi which means siblings in a family. This is so true. Through the precious blood of Christ, we have been reconciled together into God's household, and are made brothers and sisters in our Savior, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:4-7; Galatians 6:10). Christians not only have a special relationship with God because of Jesus, but with one another because of our Savior's ransom on the cross (cf. Matthew 20:28; 1 Timothy 2:4).

God's fellow workers

What a privilege to be considered fellow workers (1 Corinthians 3:9) with the Almighty God! But with this great privilege there comes even greater responsibility. Paul compared Christians to ambassadors, ones called on to speak on behalf (as if they were) another (2 Corinthians 5:20). We labor with our God, appealing to others to accept and obey the gospel of Christ. It is important to realize that we are not alone as we continue in the Lord's work. God is right there helping and encouraging us as we continue in faithful service to Him and His cause.

Disciples

This description implies that Christians are students of God's Word. The greatest expression of discipleship is probably when Peter exclaimed, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). A Christian yearns and thirsts after God's wonderful laws and righteous statements.

These are great descriptions of God's people, may we always live up to them!