why what is the name of Christ's church?

Question

jesus said upon this rock i will build my church. some say he was talking about Peter but why would he say that to a guy who would deny him when he is faced with death, Peter was not strong enough to handle christs church. if Jesus Christ built a church what would he call it? is it the Church of Christ?

Answer 1

Are names important? Sometimes they are. Who’s name do you want on your paycheck? Does it matter if someone else’s name is on the title of your car or the deed to your home? You work hard to purchase these items, you own them, and, therefore, you want the proper name on the documents that show this ownership.

Our Lord also made a purchase. He bought the church at a very costly price (Acts 20:28). He built it and called it “my church” (Matt.16: 13-18). He has rightful ownership.

Other references to the church in the Bible show this ownership. These include “the churches of Christ” (Rom.16: 16), and “the church of God” (Acts 20:28), etc. But, unlike these names, many churches today have names that are not found in Scripture, and that do not identify the owner and builder.

But notice, Christ did not purchase a building. The church is made up of the His followers. When we wear the name “church of Christ”, we name Him, we identify Him, as the “head of the church” (Eph.1: 22-23) and we identify ourselves as a group that is trying to follow the “doctrine of Christ”(2 John 9). In contrast, a member of a denomination is identified by name as one who follows the leadership and doctrine of that denomination.

Christ’s headship over the church is compared to a marriage relationship (Eph. 5: 21-32). Jesus loves the church and it is called the bride of Christ. The bride shows honor to the groom when she agrees to wear his name.

Suppose, for example, Mr. Smith asks his girlfriend to marry him. She agrees, but says, “Our friend Mr. Jones is a good man, so when we get married, instead of being called Mrs. Smith, I want to be called Mrs. Jones.” Would Mr. Smith have a reason to question her loyalty to him? Would he feel honored? Why would a bride wear another man’s name? Why would a church want to wear a man-made name?

We don’t have to wear a man-made name. Just as the church is called several names in Scripture, we as individuals are given names to wear. Followers of Christ are simply called things like “saints” or “disciples”. But there is also a specific name given.

1 Peter 4:16 says, “If a man suffer as a Christian… let him glorify God in this name”. Since the Bible gives us a name to wear (Christian), we do not need another name, but some are not content to be known simply by “this name”.

We were never meant to be a hyphen-named Christian.
The Corinthians had this problem. Some were Paul-Christians, Apollos-Christians, and Cephus-Christians. (1 Cor.1: 10-13).

Because they were divided by these various names, they were called “carnal” and not “spiritual”(1 Cor.3: 1-4). You see, a single name promotes unity, but multiple names encourage divisions. We should be content to wear the name God has given. (Isaiah 62:2)

Is a name important? Names show honor, identify ownership, promote unity (or division), recognize leadership, signify submission, denote doctrine, and demonstrate loyalty. If these are important, then names are also important.

Answer 2

Jesus called Simon Peter, son of John, as Cephas or Rock in John 1:42. Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times that evening. This is in Matthew 26:31-35, Mark 14:27-31, Luke 22:31-34 and John13:36-38. Jesus, during His 40-day stay on Earth after His resurrection, entrusted His flock of lambs and sheep to be taken care of by Simon Peter (John 21:15-19).

Did you know that in the Philippines, there is a three-million-strong sect that calls itself as “Iglesia ni Kristo”? Did you know that this group says that they are the ONLY ones who will go to Heaven because it is only their church that carry His name? (Sorry then for others!?) How about those in other countries which has the equivalent of that name? Here in Australia, there is the “Church of Christ”. Will those people who belong to this “Church of Christ” not go to Heaven as well? Is belonging to a religious group, such as “Iglesia ni Kristo”, a guarantee of one’s passage to Heaven? I doubt it. Just think of the purpose of keeping its adherents. Why?

Answer 3

Is Peter a or the foundation of the Church? He is both, for he is one of the foundations, and the chief of them, upon which Christ built His Church. Peter being the foundation rock upon which Christ based the whole building.

Answer 4

Church in the Bible is a translation of the word Ecclesia. In fact this word can also mean Congregation, Following or Assembly. There is no evidence that Christ or his early followers conceived of their belief as having a structure and hierarchy as it does now. The evidence is that it was more a spiritual community than anything else. IE "Wheresoever two or three are gathered together in my name there I am in the midst of them" Gospel of Matthew

The word Ecclesia has been translated as Church by... suprise, surprise... the Church & all the other Churches so they could justify their existence. The Catholics in particular liked the passage you refer to as they used it to claim lineage from Peter. But Peter saw Christianity as an essentially Jewish faith. It was Paul who brought it to the Romans. It was over this that Peter & Paul fell out.

In the event Paul's version of Christianity won out while we know little about Peter's. You are right, Peter was not up to the job. But Christ saw Peter as his successor and appointed him. He did not appoint Paul, even though Paul claims Christ came to him in a vision. We have no idea what Christianity would have become had Peter been its leader.

Christ predicted Peter would betray him and forgave him in the process. Perhaps Peter had to deny him having heard the prediction to learn something about himself...

Who knows?

Answer 5

I believe that the reference was to Peter's statement just prvious to Jesus words. There was a group of disciples who followed Jesus but I don't thing he called them a church. How can you give all you have to the poor and build a building that is used a few hours a week?

Answer 6

The Apostles just called it "the Church". There was no need for another name since there was no other Church. But history clearly reveals that by the end of the 1st Century, "the Church" was calling itself "The Holy Catholic Church". And that same Church has been calling itself by that name ever since.

It is also clear that the Apostle Simon was indeed the Rock upon which Christ built His Church. Note: the man's name was Simon, not "Peter". "Peter", meaning "Rock", was a title conferred upon Simon on that occasion. Before Christ said to Simon "Thou art Peter" - "Thou art Rock" - no-one had ever called Simon by that name. "Thou [Simon] art REock, and upon this Rock I will build by Church" couldn't be clearer. Thereafter, Simon was referred to as "Simon Peter", meaning "Simon the Rock".

Answer 7

Church of Jesus

Answer 8

Matthew 16:16-18
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The rock that Jesus was referring to was the statement from Peter "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. " This is what the church is built on.

Peace be with you

Answer 9

When Jesus says "on this rock" He is referring to Himself as the Rock. When Jesus continues to say " I will build My church" He is referring to a spiritual church comprised of all believers. He was not referring to a building with four walls.

Answer 10

Jesus never preached building a church, he exstablished no one religion, those are the making of man. He was talking in a metphor of faith in God is being strong like a rock and becomes the foundation of your church, your body temple for which God resides in.

So NO CHURCH was ever established by Jesus. mankind did that afterwards, and it all is mans interpretation from there on out. Seek God within your blessed temple of God, within your body, the divine Vessel.