FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
“And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: And be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:13-15)
Q. Does the name matter?
A. God meets Moses in the burning bush, Moses asked God who shall I say has sent me? Then God reveals to him His name for a memorial: And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? [14] And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. [15] And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. Exodus 3:13-15.
God reveals His name unto His people so they can identify who He is. And also God gives this name for a special reason, ‘my memorial unto all generations.’ Thus for identification purposes, the name plays a cornerstone role.
Way back in Genesis, God gave names: “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; [2] Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.” Genesis 5:1-2.
The name “Adam” to signifies man’s origin which is dust. Thus the name is a continual memorandum to remind man of his beginning and who he is with reference to his Maker. In pronouncing man’s judgment after his fall, God says this to man:
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3:19.
And Paul writes: “The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. [48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. [49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 1 Corinthians 15:47-49.
Thus Adam carries his identity in his name. The man Adam then called his wife Eve which signifies her special role of being the ‘mother of all the living “And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.” (Genesis 3:20).
Names were given by God to mean one’s call. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. [2] And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. [3] And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, [4] As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. [5] Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. Genesis 17:1-5.
Because the name ‘Abram’ did not represent his call, God changes his name to Abraham to mean what his call was.
Also on Mount Carmel the prophets of Baal called on the name of their gods but there was no voice nor any that answered. Then Elijah says to them: [24]And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. [26] And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 1 Kings 18:24, 26.
There is a name above all others. Wonderful to hear, bringing hope and cheer: the powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ: And every knee, every name should bow: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. And through this name. Philippians 2:9-11.
Q. Is there only one true Church?
A. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12.
The bible admonishes all believers to oneness. Now I beseech you, brethren, by 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 perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. [11] For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. [12] Now this I say, that every 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 in the name of Paul? 1 Corinthians 1:10-13.
All of God’s people are called into oneness of faith, oneness of baptism, a unity of purpose because He is one: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, [2] With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; [3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Ephesians 4:1-6.
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.1 Corinthians 14:33. Then in the midst of this sectarian clamor and religious din one wonders, Where is that one true Church? Then Jeremiah shows us how to find this way: “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jeremiah 6:16.
In this Jeremiah sets a blue-print for identifying the good way: It is found in the old paths; it is not a new movement. And this good way is found in the oldest record ever written which is the Word of God.
From the beginning of time God established a relationship with mankind for them to fear and worship Him alone and have no other name besides His. From Eden, through to the wilderness worship in the tabernacle, known as the Tent of Meeting the people of God revered His name and any mention of another name was met with wrath from God as seen throughout the scriptures: Then a house of God is built in Shiloh (Judges 18:31). Then later king David desires to build a house for God’s name.(2 Samuel 7). But God forbids him giving that privilege to Solomon his son. Solomon then built this house at Jerusalem for God’s name (1Kings 5:5)
Built at Jerusalem, yet not named after the great city. built after the reign of a king whom the scripture calls ‘a man of God’s own heart’ 1 Samuel 13:13-14 but not built for this king’s name. Though David was a man og God’s own heart, the temple was built for God’s name. Even now there is no other name to take the place of God’s name if we recognize that ‘it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psa 100:3. “For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? [5] Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? [6] I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase, [7] So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.[8] Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. [9] For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. [10] According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. [11] For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:4-11.
So when the temple was finished, God put his name there forever: “And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the LORD, and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, [2] That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.[3] And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. 1 Kings 9:1-3.
The house is given God’s name and throughout the old testament, is referred to as the House of God (Judges 18:31, Judges 20:18, 26, 31, Judges 21:2, 1 Chronicles 6:48, Ezra 1:4, Ezra 4:24, Nehemiah 13:7-11…”
This house of God, known to us as the Church of God is that one old church and those who are called to worship therein are called the saints of Christ: “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, [2] Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: 1 Corinthians 1:1-2.
Christ purchased this one church by his blood ” Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Acts 20:28.
Q. Why do you keep the Sabbath when Christ did away with it? (A) In his own words Christ says He did not come to abolish but to fulfill: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.[18] For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. [19] Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. St Matthew 5:17-19.
According to the prophecy of Isaiah Christ was to uphold the law and to magnify it and he did so. “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Isaiah 42:21.
And he was obedient unto death. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8.
Obedience means he was subject to the Father’s commandment as Christ also says his Father gave Him a commandment: For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. [50] And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. St John 12:49-50.
Jesus kept the Sabbath: “And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. St Luke 4:16″ And He is the Lord of the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. (St Mark 2:28)
The Sabbath continued to be kept by the followers of Christ long after His ascension. For Jesus Christ warned his disciples about the siege and destruction of Jerusalem which occurred in AD 70, after His ascension to heaven: “But pray that your flight be not in the winter or on the Sabbath day” (Matthew 24:20).
If Jesus’ death abolished the weekly Sabbath, why then would he be concerned about a flight on a Sabbath Day or praying if the Sabbath would no longer be in force? Paul in the Hebrews writes years after Christ ascended that there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God: “For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. [5] And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. [6] Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: [7] Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. [8] For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. [9] There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. Hebrews 4:4-9.
But Paul said Christ abolished the law. Which law was he talking about then? (A) “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [15] And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. [16] Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: [17] Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. ” Colossians 2:14-17.
Note: ‘Which are a shadow of things to come’ The weekly Sabbath is given as a memorial of God’s creation, It looks back, it is not a shadow of things to come: ‘For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.’ Exodus 20:11.
There are however other sabbaths besides the seventh day Sabbath which were given in Leviticus 23. All these looked to the future work of Christ, thus ‘were a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ” Colossians 2:17. “These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: [38] Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD. Leviticus 23:37-38.
Again the sabbath of the Lord does not look into the future; it looks back to the work of creation thus cannot be a shadow of things to come but a celebration of what had already come, which is the work of creation, “For in six day, the Lord made heaven and earth..”