"Church Of Christ" is the Official Name of the One True Church

THE ONE TRUE CHURCH HAS NO OFFICIAL NAME?

OTHERS DENY THAT the one true Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ has an “official name.” They even asked, “Where in the Bible can you read that the Church built by the Lord Jesus Christ has an official name?” This is what they insist because of the fact that the name of their church cannot be read in the Bible and they are not called in the name “Church of Christ.”

DOES THE ONE TRUE CHURCH

HAS AN OFFICIAL NAME?

Let us first take into consideration the meaning of the word “official.” This word means “authorized by an authority, approved, issued or given by an authority” (Encarta Dictionary, copyright 2009 Microsoft Corporation)

In light of this fact, thus, when we say “official name” it means the “name” authorized, approved, issued or given by an authority. Does the Church establish by the Lord Jesus Christ has an “official name” (a name authorized, approves, issued or given by an authority)? This question is definitely answered by James 2:17:

“Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?” (James 2:7 NKJV)

The verse proves that there is a “noble name” which the disciples are called. In other translations of the Bible, it says, “the holy name which was given to you”:

“‎Do they not say evil of the holy name which was given to you?” (James 2:7 Bible Basic English)

The Catholic English Bible called “Douay-Rheims” used the word “invoked”:

“Do not they blaspheme the good name that is invoked upon you?” (James 2:7 Douay-Rheims)

Thus, the Bible clearly tells that there is a name given and invoked upon the one true Church established by Christ. The one true Church is distinguished and called in the name of Christ:

“Is it not they who slander and blaspheme that precious name by which you are distinguished and called [the name of Christ invoked in baptism]?” (James 2:7 Amplified)

God is the one who gave this name to the Lord Jesus:

“And now I am coming to you; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one just as you and I are one.” (John 17:11 TEV)

The one true Church is called in the name that the Lord God gave to the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus is made Lord and Christ by the Lord God:

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36 NKJV)

Because “official name” means “the name authorized, approved, issued or given by an authority,” thus, it is wrong to say that the true Church established by Christ has no official name, because the Bible clearly states that tThere is a name "which was given," "which hey are called" and "invoked" to the Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Lord God, the highest authority in heaven and in earth, who gave this name. Thus, the one true Church has an “official name” or name given by God.

“CHURCH OF CHRIST” IS THE OFFICIAL

NAME OF THE ONE TRUE CHURCH

“Official name” means the “name authorized, approved, issued or given by an authority.” The name “Christ” is the name the Lord God gave. How is the one true Church called in this name? This is answered in I Corinthians 12:12:

“For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ.” (I Cor. 12:12 NTME)

Even the Catholic authorities testified that the one true Church or the Church founded by Christ is called in the name “Church of Christ”:

“5. Did Jesus Christ established a Church?

   “Yes, from all history, both secular and profane, as well as from the Bible considered as a human document, we learn that Jesus Christ established a Church, which from the earliest times has been called after Him the Christian Church or the Church of Christ.” (Cassily, Francis B., S.J. Religion: Doctrine and Practice for use in Catholic High Schools, p. 442-443.)

WHY “CHURCH OF CHRIST” IS THE OFFICIAL

NAME OF THE ONE TRUE CHURCH?

It is only right that the one true Church founded by the Lord Jesus Christ is called after His name, because He is the founder and owner of the Church:

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18 NIV, emphasis mine)

Christ is also the head of the Church, and the Church is His body:

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” (Colossians 1:18 NIV)

Christ is the "husband" and the Christ is His "wife":

"For a husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body." (Ephesians 5:23 TEV)

The verse also explicitly states that the Church is the one that will be saved by the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because Christ is the owner, the founder, the head, the husband, and the Savior of the Church of Christ, thus, it is only right to call the one true Church founded by Christ as "Church of Christ."

OTHERS ARE ONLY DESCRIPTIVE PHRASE, EXPRESSION 
OR TERM FOR THE “CHURCH OF CHRIST”

“BODY OF CHRIST”

The Bible mentioned “body of Christ” (cf. Colossians 1:18) to describe the relationship of the Church with the Lord Jesus Christ:

“This mystery is very great, but I speak concerning [the relation of] Christ and the church…

“For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body.” (Ephesians 5:32 and 23 Amplified)

“CHURCHES OF THE GENTILES” 

AND “CHURCHES IN JUDEA”

“Churches in Judea” (cf. Galatians 1:22) indicates those members of the Church of Christ in Judea:

“And I was still not known by sight to the churches of Christ in Judea.” (Galacia 1:22 RSV)

“Churches of the Gentiles” (cf. Romans 16:4) are the Gentile members of the Church of Christ:

“They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.

“Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.” (Romans 16:4 and 16 NIV)

“Church of God in Corinth,” “Church of the Thessalonians” and others are but locale churches,but all belong to one body of Christ, the Church of Christ:

“For just as the human body is one and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many as they are, constitute but one body, so it is with the Church of Christ.” (I Cor. 12:12 NTME)

“CHRISTIANS”

The members of the Church established by Christ are called “Christians.” Those outside of the “Church of Christ” are not Christians according to the Bible:

“For if a man can't make his own little family behave, how can he help the whole church? The pastor must not be a new Christian because he might be proud of being chosen so soon, and pride comes before a fall. (Satan's downfall is an example.) Also, he must be well spoken of by people outside the church-those who aren't Christians-so that Satan can't trap him with many accusations and leave him without freedom to lead his flock.” (I Timothy 3:5-7 Living Bible)

However, this is not the “official name” for “official name” means “name authorized, approved, issued or given by an authority.” The origin of the name “Christian” is given in Acts 11:

“And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26 NKJV)

“CHURCH OF GOD”

In I Corinthians 1:2 we can read “Church of God”:

“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” (I Corinthians 1:2 NKJV)

But, this is only to show that the “Church of Christ” is also of God. This is what the Bible testifies in I Thessalonians 2:14:

“Brothers and sisters, you followed the example of the churches of God in Judea, churches of Christ Jesus. For you suffered from your compatriots the same trials they suffered from the Jews.” (I Thessalonians 2:14 CCB)

The “Church of Christ” is also the “Church of God,”; the “Church of God” is also the “Church of Christ” because Christ said, “All I have is yours, and all you have is mine”:

“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.  10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them.” (Juan 17:9-10 NIV)

However, the “official name” is “Church of Christ.” How official or authoritative the name “Church of Christ”? This is what the Bible says in Acts 4:12:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NIV)

No one can claim that they are the one true Church if they are not called in the name “Church of Christ.” The Bible said, “...there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

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