Title: I will build My church!
Text: Matt.16: 13-20
Key v. 18
Matt 16:18- 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter (petros- a small stone Jn.1:42) , and upon this rock (petra – a foundation builder – Acts 4:11,12; 1 Cor. 3:11) - I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail (overcome, conquer it) against it. KJV
John 1:42- 42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. KJV
Acts 4:11-12- 11 This is the stone which was set at nought (rejected) of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. KJV
1 Cor 3:11- 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. KJV
Note:Jesus made that declaration more than 2 000 yrs., ago. Within that declaration, Jesus made it clear that the church belonged to Him and that He would build it, and that no power in Hell would be able to stop what He was declaring to do. [So, who or what is the church? What is its purpose, and how will it succeed? These are some of the questions we will investigate as we study this vital topic.]
Eph 2:10- 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. KJV
10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. AMP
Question: And what path did God arranged for us to walk in?
(But, before we find out what is God’s prearranged path for us, we must find out what is the church?)
Comment: Matthew is the only gospel where this term is found. Christ called it “My church,” emphasizing that He alone is its Architect, Builder, Owner, and Lord. The Gr. word for church (ekklesias) means:
” called out ones.” While God had since the beginning of redemptive historybeen gathering the redeemed by grace, the unique church He promised to build began at Pentecost with the coming of the Holy Spirit, by whom the Lord baptized believers into His body- which is the church. (MacArthur)
Summary:So, the church is those whom the Lord has called out and redeemed from sin, the world, and Satan to be His followers, who have beenfilled with His Spirit and placed into His body to do His will.
[3 characteristics of the church:]
- The church would be birth in power.
Acts 1:4-8; 2:1-4, (5-36 Peter’s spirit filled sermon of repentance.), 37-41Results:
1. Conviction of heart v.37
2. Exhortated to repent, and be water baptized in the name of Jesus v.38
3. 3000 souls responded.v.41
4. They devoted themselves to the apostles: teaching, fellowship, sharing meals (including the Lord’s supper), and to prayer. v.42
Important key point: Obedience to the indwelling Holy Spirit revealed those who were set apart (the church) by God. Acts 5: 32 – compare - Acts 5: 40-42
- The church would be birth with purpose.
Acts 1: 8 - 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.KJV cp. Matt. 28: 19,20; Mk. 16:15
13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] [c]God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.Phil 2: 13 – AMP
Witness = Gk. “martus” martyr – (pl.witnesses) of those who announce the facts of the Gospel and tell its findings (2:32;3:15;10:3913:31). Also, martus is used as a designation of those who have suffered death in consequence of confessing Christ (of Stephen, Acts 22:20; Antiphas (Rev.2:13; 17:6).
- The church would be birth to prevail.
Matt 16:18- 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail (overcome, conquer) against it. KJV
Comment:The Puritan commentator John Trapp explained the gates of Hades this way: "All the power and policy of hell combined."Will not be able to triumph over the Jesus Church!
(The church is part of the Kingdom of God and it will never end.)
Dan 7:27- 27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. KJV
Acts 5: 39-42 – Gamaliels advice reveals the divine prevailing character of the church.
Conclude: Jesus promise to build His church. He first sent the Holy Spirit to indwell, empower, and to place every believer into His body, the church1 Cor. 12: 13. Of whom He is the head Eph. 5:23,24. Secondly, He called His church for His divine purpose of being a witness to the world, and finally He promised the church will never be overcome.
1 Peter 2:4-6- 4 You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.5 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. 6 As the Scriptures say,
"I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor,and anyone who trusts in himwill never be disgraced." NLT