Does It Make Any Difference? Part 3 What of name and authority?

We have already noted… The danger in false teachers & doctrines What God says about “good” people Church founders Church beginnings Considering that there IS a difference between the New Testament churches and churches of men, let’s look a little farther.

What about the Name? Names are used to leave impressions Sanitation Engineer Executive Maintenance Supervisor A story vs. a lie Hooker Gay Affair

What about the Name? Often hear “there’s nothing in a name,” tell that to… Marion Morrison Thomas Mapother IV Noah Kaminsky Mark Vincent John Wayne Tom Cruise Neil Diamond Vin Diesel

Ephesians 3:14-15 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named… God thinks names ARE important

Isaiah 62:2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. God promised His people a new name

Acts 11:26 and when he (Barnabas) had found him(Paul), he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. God gave His people a new name

1 Peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. Encouraged not be to ashamed, but to glorify God as a “Christian”

1 Corinthians 1:2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Romans 16:16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you

Ephesians 1:22-23 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

With Possession Comes Authority the right to command Authority defined… the right to command, Who has it? The Pope? The Southern Baptist Convention? The Watchtower Society? Pentecostal prophets? Mormon President & his 12 apostles? Lutheran Synod? Presbyterian General Assembly? General Conference of United Methodists?

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Ephesians 1:22-23 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all

John 16:13-15 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Gave His truth to the apostles

2 Timothy 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Apostles gave truth to faithful people

Galatians 1:6-9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. That truth was NEVER to be changed

Matthew 15:8-9 This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” Mixing God’s will with men’s commands makes worship vain

1 Corinthians 4:6 I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. Not exceeding, even in the presence of prophets

The church of the New Testament is different from men’s churches.

all 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, once for all delivered Jude 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work The word is all sufficient

Acts 20:32 build you upgive you the inheritance And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. The word is able to build up and save

The New Testament church, the church of Christ stands alone among the churches of men. Are you part of that body? A citizen in that kingdom?