"WEAR HIS NAME ONLY"

When it comes to names, does it make a Difference? Division is wrong, and the wearing of different religious names is largely responsible for division.

The apostle Paul, inspired by God, wrote: "Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it hath been signified unto me concerning you, my brethren, by them that are of the household of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos: and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?" (1 Cor. 1:10-13). 

Notice that the division that existed at Corinth, and was condemned, involved following different men and wearing the names which designated the differences.

Actually, there are several reasons religious division is wrong: doctrinal differences and different desires (of both men and women) when it comes to worship, and many more. But for our time today, we will look only at the religious names that people wear.
As the apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:3-6 "giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all." 
The Lord never intended that His people be divided. Notice that there is "one body" (or church, Ephesians 1:22-23) and there is only "one faith".

The Lord never intended that there be different faiths or different bodies (churches).

The division in Corinth is exactly what we see in any city today. There are a number of religious groups, all claiming to follow Christ, but wearing different names. 

If it was wrong in Corinth as Paul says by God's Holy Spirit, it is just as wrong today. The question needs to be asked and honestly answered: 
"Is Christ divided?" 

Wearing the names of Paul or Peter or Apollos divided the followers of Christ into different groups. Why do we think wearing many different names today would not divide us? 
Are we to expect that the same Christ would say anything different to us today?
The religious name a person wears is a true index to what he honors. For instance, the name "Lutheran" honors a person, Martin Luther. 
"Episcopal" honors the type of government, not Christ.
"Baptist" honors the practice of immersion and not Christ's teaching of it properly.
The name "Methodist" originated for the manner of the worship assemblies.
And, of course, "Christian" honors only Christ, the Savior of mankind.

The very purpose of these names is to keep people separated. That was true in Corinth, it is true even in 2013.

The Lord, after His resurrection, gathered His apostles, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." (Mark 16:15-16). 

They did what He told them, and the result is: "Then they that gladly received HIS Word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And the Lord added to THE church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:41,47).

These believers were simply called "disciples." Disciple means: "follower." We read of "John's disciples" and the "disciples of the Pharisees" (Mark 2:18). 

Those people who heard the teachings of Jesus, and followed Him and HIS teachings, were called His disciples. But notice this: "The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). 

The name was so common later that King Agrippa said to the apostle Paul, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28). 

He was familiar with that name, "Christian," as were most people at that time. And the Lord later commended the church in Pergamos in these words, 
"Thou holdest fast My Name, and hast not denied My faith" (Rev. 2:13). 

Wearing the name of Christ was vital then, and it is just as vital for us today.

There was a reason "Christian" was given as a name for the disciples to wear. This was to fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah 56:5, 62:2, and 65:15 which foretold that a new name would be given when the Gentiles were brought into the fold of God, and that God would give this new name. 

God gave the name "Christian" (Acts 11:26). This name means: "of Christ, or pertaining to Christ." so "Christian" indicates that a person belongs to Christ. 

"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." (1 Peter 4:15-16).

The Scriptures give the reason for holding high the name of Jesus Christ: "And in none other is there salvation: for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved"(Acts 4:12).

Does it make a Difference? Ask the average person 'What religion are you?' and notice the first thing out of their mouth, baptist, methodist, presbyterian, lutheran, catholic, nazarene etc.

To whom do you belong? As for me and my house, we will serve 'The Lord'!