|
|
How many times have we heard the old saw? "There
is nothing in a name." Other religious variations on that
theme are, "It doesn't matter which church you attend as
long as you are saved," and "Your church doctrine is
not important as long as you are a Christian." Unfortunately,
phrases like these are easier to roll off the tongue than are
the explanations, which show them to be false.
Biblically speaking, it not only refers to what
we call a person or thing. But, "name" from the Greek
word onoma also refers to "all that a 'name' implies,
of authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence, etc.,
of everything that the 'name' covers [1]. The following passages
help to illustrate the scope of the word.
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
Him (Colossians 3:17).
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).
Whatever we do or say, let us make sure that we
have the scriptural authority to do or to say it. And, when someone
obeys the gospel of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ,
we baptize them by the authority of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We have the authority to do that, and that must be the authority
by which we do that. There is no other authority by which salvation
is possible.
Here we see our word used, not in the sense of
authority or character, but rather to denominate the people of
God.
The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And
all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which
the mouth of the LORD will name (Isaiah 62:2).
In the Old Testament God's people were referred
to as Israelites; but the prophet Isaiah said there would be a
new name given by the mouth of the Lord. "And when he
had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass,
that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and
taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first
in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). Those of us who are learners
and followers of Christ are called by His name, Christian. There
are those who have opined that the name was used in a derogatory
manner; however it is the name by which the Lord's people are
called. They are called after the name of Christ. Now, make a
list of all of the denominational names that you can think of.
Do these names honor the one name by which we must be saved, or
do they honor the inventions of man?
My wife is Mrs. Ditoro. Yep, people honor me when
they refer to her as Mrs. Ditoro. Would there be anything wrong
if people were to call her Mrs. Weimar or Mrs. Flournoy? Would
the bridegroom be insulted if the Bride were called by another
man's name? The church is the bride of Christ, and God's people
are name after His Son. Let's see now, why don't we name it after
John the Baptist? You remember that John was the friend of the
Bridegroom, the best man (John 3:29). Why do so many dishonor
the one name by which we are saved by saying the church is the
bridegroom's instead of the groom's? Many want to give the church
a name that indicates a favorite Bible doctrine, or reformer,
or some name other than the one the mouth of the Lord who gave
it.
Why not give honor to the one name under heaven
whereby we must be saved? You can be a Christian without ever
becoming a member of a denominational religion. Indeed, if you
would be a Christian, you must forsake all other names.
Are you called by the name of the bridegroom?
Are you a Christian only?
|
|