acts 4:10-12 (nkjv) 10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of israel, that by the name...
TRANSCRIPT
Acts 4:10-12 (NKJV)
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
THE IDENTITY OF THE CHURCHActs 4:10-12
Identity Of The Church
Over the first part of this year, we have been doing a series of lessons designed to show the distinctiveness of the church
We have looked at the NT church and seen the practices and make up of the first Christians
We want to be the church of the NT
Identity Of The Church
The question has been asked, what’s in a name?
Are names that important?
We understand names because we use them in our society
In fact, man has always used names to identify people, places and things
Identity Of The Church
If names aren’t important, then why do we continue to give names?
If names aren’t important, then why don’t people name their kids Hitler, Lucifer, or Judas?
If names aren’t important, then why did God give certain names to people?
Identity Of The Church
Certainly names are important, as the name of the church should be important as well
There are 3 main things that names do that we are going to look at today
These are the reason why we are called Christians or members of the church of Christ
Identity Of The Church
1. Describes Us
One of the main reasons a name is so important is because it describes us
We often see names given in the Bible that are used to describe the person, place or thing
We see examples of this all throughout
Identity Of The Church
1. Describes Us
Eden (pleasure); Adam (man); Eve (life, living)
Abraham (father of a multitude)
Moses (drawn)
Ebenezer (stone of help)
Identity Of The Church
1. Describes Us
Jesus (Jehovah is salvation); Emmanuel (God is with us); Christ (anointed)
Peter (rock)
Golgotha (skull; place of a skull)
Barnabas (son of encouragement)
Identity Of The Church
1. Describes Us
So it’s obvious to see that names do describe us
How do you wish to be described in a spiritual way?
We are Christians because we are followers of Christ (Acts 11:26)
Identity Of The Church
1. Describes Us
The name “church of Christ” also describes us
It tells others who we are and what we believe (Rom. 16:16)
Could you imagine being described in a way that doesn’t represent who you are?
Identity Of The Church
2. Deeds Us
A name not only describes who we are, it also deeds us
This means that it shows who we belong to
My last name is Frederick, and when people hear that who know my parents, they know who to associate me with
Identity Of The Church
2. Deeds Us
The name we wear describes who we belong to
If I wear the name of Christ, then I am His
A wife takes the last name of her husband to show who she is joined to
The church belongs to Christ (Matt. 16:18)
Identity Of The Church
2. Deeds Us
Acts 4:12 tells us that there is no other name by which we are saved
Why would we not wear the name of the one who saved us?
We should be proud to be called “Christians” & “church of Christ”
Identity Of The Church
2. Deeds Us
Remember Paul’s reaction to those who said, “I am of Paul”?
I Corinthians 1:10-15
Paul did not want others to be called by his name or the name of any man
Identity Of The Church
3. Distinguishes Us
A name describes us and deeds us
It also distinguishes us from others
When people say “Ryan”, I’m the only one here that gives attention to that name
I know that when that name is said, they are talking about me
Identity Of The Church
3. Distinguishes Us
The name of Christ distinguishes us from others in this world
It says something about the difference between the saved and the lost
In the same way, the name “church of Christ” distinguishes us
Identity Of The Church
The question is, how does the world view Christians?
How do others view the “church of Christ”?
Do they view us as a group of people trying to live like Christ in the world, or a group of Christians trying to live as the Bible commands?