The Designation: the
By: Aaron J. Dodson
God’s Word is our guide
Christians must not forget that the Bible
is our final, complete, and ONLY guide in spiritual matters as according to 2
Timothy. 3:16 and 2 Peter. 1:3; John 17:17, God's Word is Truth
For in God's word we search, find, and may Know and understand Truth!
(Jn.17:17)(Jn.5:39)
Today’s Confusion
With the previous being said...Many today
have a misunderstanding of the term:
What does the word church mean?
The term church as used in the New
Testament of our Lord
( See Strongs Dictionary) is derived from
the greek word ekklesia, meaning the called out (ek- out of; kaleeo- to call).
Put the two together: it means "the called out"; those called out of
the world by the gospel(2 Thess. 2:14) and have been delivered "from the
power of darkness" and have been translated "into the
When the called obey the gospel (Mk.
16:15-16; Rom. 6:16-18; 2 Thess. 1:8), they are added to the church by God(Acts
2:47). Therefore, the church is the spiritual body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23;
Col. 1:18) composed of all the called, not some building or man made structure!
The word church in the New Testament can also designate local congregations in
scripture. Such is found in Acts 5:11 of the
We should NOT therefore be ashamed of the term/designation "
Christ’s Church as found in the New Testament
If you and I were standing in a parking lot
observing my 93 Chevy pick-up and I were to say " the truck you are
looking at, is the truck of aaron dodson. That would simply mean that the truck
is mine and it belongs to Me. The same principle applies to the designation of
the Church. It is Christ's. (Matt 16:18; Acts 20:28)
Furthermore the Bible teaches that there is but one Church. Jesus said “I will
build my C-H-U-R-C-H. Notice the
singular word used. (Matt. 16:18) The idea of various denominations as is
prevalent today, is totally foreign to Jesus Christ and His teaching. The
Apostle Paul later wrote that just as there is one Spirit, one Lord, one faith,
one baptism and one God, he also wrote by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
that there is one body (Ephesians 4:4). Earlier in the same letter the Apostle
identified what the body of Christ is by saying that God put "all things
under His (Christ) feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
WHICH IS HIS BODY, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22,
23; Also see Colossians 1:18)
If the foregoing passages are not speaking of ONE church, it sure is a peculiar
way to talk of many!
The term "
It should be noted that several names are given to the Church of our Lord:
NOTE: All of these give glory to and honor Deity...: Salvation is found only in
the name of Christ (Acts 4:11-12)
the church of God 1 Cor. 1:2, 2 Cor. 1:1
the church of the Lord Acts 20:28 (ASV 1901)(NKJV Ft.note)
Any and all of these appellations are entirely scriptural!
Conclusion:
In conclusion: Read 1 Peter 4:11 " if
anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God". This passage of
scripture says that if we going to speak, let us speak the oracles of God, thus
logically we must not speak what God has not spoken; if we do speak or teach
what God has not, then we wouldn't be speaking as the oracles of God; thus we
are not pleasing to God.
The Bible speaks about one church of which Christ is its only head. The name of that church bears His name
because it is His! Let us diligently follow the pattern that the Holy Spirit
has so carefully laid out for us in the Holy Script.
Thanks for reading
NOTE: All scripture taken from the NKJV unless otherwise noted