THE TRUTH ABOUT CHRISTIAN UNITY

​

Virus 1

​

​​

​​

Nomenclature Differences

​​​​

​​​​​​​​​​​“Nomenclature”: ‘a systematic way of naming things to show ownership’.

​

Introduction
This virus makes believers fight over church names and labels: “Methodist”, “Pentecostal”, “Baptist”, and so on.

​

But Jesus never gave His Church a brand name or denomination. Why? Because there is only ONE body, and He is the Head. There is one body, and one Spirit (Eph. 4:4).

 

In Nigeria, a name such as “Michael James” shows that Michael belongs to James. “Joseph John” belongs to John. But all believers belong to the SAME Owner: “the one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all” (Eph. 4:6). Names divide. Christ unites. His prayer is “that they all may be one” (John 17:21).

 

Objectives
By the end of this virus, every disciple will:

​

(1) Know what “nomenclature” means in this context: naming to show ownership.

 

(2) See that Jesus gave no brand name. He only gave relationship names.

 

(3) Understand that the Church is people, not a physical building. We are living stones, not signs (1 Pet. 2:5).

​

(4) Reject division by names. Stop saying “my church vs your church” and say “His Church” (Col. 1:18).

​

Presentation

​

1.  What “Nomenclature” Means
“Nomenclature” means ‘a systematic way of naming things’. In the context of the Church, “nomenclature” shows ownership, like a name tag on clothes.

​

But Christ never said “Name my church ‘XYZ Denomination’.”

​

2. Scripture Uses Relationship Names, Not Brand Names
Jesus did not say “Methodist Church” or “He or She is ‘Pentecostal”’. The Bible gives relationship names:

​

(1) “The Church of God in Corinth” (1 Cor. 1:2). We belong to God the Father.

​

(2) “Churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16). We belong to Jesus the Son.

​

(3) “Temple of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:21-22). We belong to the Holy Spirit.

​

All relationship names show that we belong to the Godhead. None separates us. Eph. 4:4-6 says “one body, and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all”.

​

3. The Church is People, Not a Place or Signboard

Col. 1:18 says “He is the head of the body, the church”. 1 Pet. 2:5 says “ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house”.

​

The church is not cement and roof. It is believers joined to Christ. You can remove the sign, but you cannot remove the people and still have Church.

​

4. How This Virus Attacks Unity

When we say “My church vs your church”, we cut what Jesus joined. Eph. 4:3 says “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit”.

 

Names make us think of different owners. But 1 Cor. 12:13 says “by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body... and have been all made to drink into one Spirit”.

 

One Spirit, one body, one Owner.

 

Denominational names create fences where Christ removed walls (Eph. 2:14).

​​​

Evaluation Questions & Answers​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

1. What do we mean by “nomenclature” in this context?

   • A system of naming things to show ownership. Like a name tag that says “belongs to”.

2. What brand name or denomination did Jesus give to His Church?

   • None. He used relationship names: “Church of God” (1 Cor. 1:2), “Churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16), “Temple of the Spirit” (Eph. 2:22).

3. How many bodies does Christ have?

   • One. Eph. 4:4 says “There is one body, and one Spirit”. Not many bodies for many names.

4. What is the Church according to the Bible?

   • People, not a physical building. 1 Pet. 2:5 says that we are “living stones... a spiritual house.” We are the house.

5. How do “nomenclature” differences attack Christian unity?

   • They make us say “we are different” because of names. It forgets that we all belong to one Lord, one Spirit, one God (Eph. 4:5-6).

6. Which verse shows that we all drink into one Spirit?

   • 1 Cor. 12:13. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body... and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

 

​​Prayer

Father, in the name of Jesus, forgive us for dividing Your body with names and labels. Teach us to see every believer the way You do, as one body, one Spirit, one hope. Heal the virus of nomenclature in our hearts. Let us stop saying “my church” and start saying “Your Church, Lord.” Make us one, even as You, Father, and the Son are one. We belong to You: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.