Church: The Name of Jesus!

"1Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer, 2And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: 3Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philemon 1-3)

Church is not about a building.

Church is about Jesus, His grace, and the identification we share with Him.

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 7)

Fellowship is based on His blood, not where individual members of the Body meet on Sunday, or any other day.

In fact, Paul saluted Philemon and the "church in his house".

Church can be at one's home.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18: 20)

How can we find church in our homes, or anywhere else? It's all about the Name of Jesus!

Today, we can come boldly to God our Father (Hebrews 4: 16), because we have the same standing as His Son, Jesus!

Why? Because we have received forgiveness in His name:

"I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." (1 John 2:12)

In this verse "children" is a term of endearment, not indicating a level of maturity, but complete identity.

We are called to believe on His name, and the full forgiveness we receive through His name:

"And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment." (1 John 3: 23)

Because of the perfect forgiveness of all our sins, we receive His Spirit:

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

Followed by the authority we have in His name:

"13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (1 John 5: 13-15)

The Church is all about the name of Jesus, and we can have church in our homes or with other believers, and enjoy His authority, because of His name!