Church of God or Church of Christ
Why does Paul address the church as “the church of God” rather than “the church of Christ”? (1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1) In these passages he is speaking to all the saints. Aren’t the saints the church of Christ?
Christ IS God (John 1:1, 14). Therefore, the terms “church of Christ” and “church of God” mean the same thing. The church which belongs to Christ belongs to God.
Matthew 16:18 makes it clear that God would build His Church.
The term “church of Christ” is not the only biblical name given to the New Testament church (cf. 1 Cor. 1:2; Acts 9:2; Heb. 12:23; 1 Thess. 1:1; etc.)
The term “saints” comes from the Greek word hagios, which literally means “most holy thing” or “one sanctified.” One is sanctified through baptism into the church of Christ (1 Cor. 6:11; 12:13; cf. Eph. 1:22-23). Therefore saints make up the church/assembly/ekklesia of Christ, the church of God, the Lord’s church.