I will build my church
I Will Build My Church
Parkside -Feb 22, 2009
The Builder
- Jesus
The Foundation
- Profession
The Building
– Believers
– Invisible
– Organic not Organizational
The Security
- Gates of Hell
- Satan’s Minions
- Death itself will not overcome the church
The Builder is Jesus who builds on the Foundation of Profession of faith His Church which is invisible and Organic and will stand the test of Satan’s attacks and will prosper even in death!
I Will Build My Church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it!
ILLUS: Building Green Campus
Email about the Keys
On Going Work for PC
I Will Build My Church Mt 16:18
Matt 16:13-20 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Introduction
As most of you know, Alistair is preaching on the Green Campus as today marks the Launch of the Green Campus
While there are many activities that must be accomplished, we have to start at the beginning and ask
What is the Church?
This portion of scripture helps us to understand the very foundational realities of the Church.
I. It has a builder
II. It has a foundation
III. It is a building
IV. It is Secure
The church built by the right builder, on the right foundation will be building that stands the test of time.
The Gates of Hell Will Not Overcome It
This is the church that Parkside, both in Green and here, desires to be a part of!.
I. Introduction
Now that we have a new president who took office in one of the most difficult financial times in America, if not the world, we still are still asking the question Who is Barak Obama?
Given the past week..
He flew to Denver to sign the Stimulus Package,
He then flew to Phoenix to address constituents
What is the message he is trying to convey?
Why did he travel to sign this bill
What drives his thinking?
We find people on all sides of the issue asking still asking themselves…
Who is Barak Obama?
Who do you say he is?
I. The Builder
We find a similar circumstance, but a far more important one in Matthew 16.
Jesus takes his disciples away from the crowds to teach them and to clarify the standards.
Matt 16:6-12"Be careful," Jesus said to them. "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
They disused among themselves what Jesus might have meant. Did he want more loaves of bread?
11 How is it you don't understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."
12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
What is the yeast of the Pharisees?
Definitions
Who are the Pharasees?
Marriam Webster says that a Pharasee was :
a member of a Jewish sect of the intertestamental period
strict observance of rites and ceremonies of the written law
and noted for for insistence on the validity of their own oral traditions concerning the law
They are the Leaders of the Jewish religion.
The first thing Jesus does is to warn them
to be on their guard against the teaching of the Pharisies and Sadduccees ( 16:1-2)
- The teaching of those in power
- the men who used Religion for Power
Easton’s Bible Dictionary says ,
“From the very beginning of his ministry the Pharisees showed themselves bitter and persistent enemies of our Lord. They could not bear his doctrines, and they sought by every means to destroy his influence among the people.”
With that as background, notice Jesus asks Peter,
Who do People say that I am?
He doesn’t ask, “Who do the Pharasies and Sadducees say that I am, but
Who do People say I am?
What do men say about the Son of Mary?
Matt 16:14-15 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah;
and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
Each of these prophets represents the end times in the Jewish mind.
Now, to be honest.. I doubt that not everyone had such a high notion of who Jesus was.
I just get the feeling that the apostles are holding back just a little of what they have heard people say about Jesus.
The Jewish leaders thought he was in league with Satan!
Calvin says at this point
Those only are mentioned by the disciples who spoke of Christ with respect; and yet, though they aimed at the truth, … all of them go astray in ther vain fancies
Hence we perceive haw great is the weakness of the human mind, for not only is it unable of itself to understand what is right or true, but even out of true principles it coins errors.
In other words, even though the disciples were trying to be kind, their answers, John the Baptist, Elijah and Jerimiah do not come close to the reality of who Christ is
15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
Peter expresses here a most remarkable insight.
He comes to recognize who this carpenter-teacher really is.
Peter spoke his now-famous words,
“You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God. “
Christ = Messiah= The Annointed One
As “the Christ,” He is the Messiah.
In Him are fulfilled all the promises of God to the nation.
In Him is the fulfillment of the
§ The Promise to Abraham that he will be the Father of many nations
§ The promise to Israel and Joseph
§ The Promise to David that one from His line would be on the throne forever
And as the Old Testament made clear, the Messiah is more than a human being;
He is God incarnate!
Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
When Peter utters these words, he is acknowledging Jesus’ deity as the Son of the Living God.
As the disciples walked with Jesus and witnessed His miracles, they came to this conclusion.
§ calming the Sea … Who is this man?
§ Healing the sick
§ Raising Lazarus from the dead
BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME ANYONE DIRECTLY ADDRESSES JESUS AS MESSIAH IN THIS GOSPEL.
When Peter declares Jesus to be “the Christ” he means:
- the long awaited Anointed One,
-the One who as Mediator was set apart or ordained by the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit, to be his people’s –
- Chief Prophet,
- Only High Priest and Eternal King
Peter’s declaration that Jesus is “the Son of the living God” can mean no less than that in a unique sense, a sense not applicable to any mortal, Jesus is, was, and always will be the Son of that God who not only is himself the only living One, over against all the dead so-called gods of the pagans (Isa. 40:18–31), but also is the only source of life for all that lives. (Hendriksen)
Again Calvin says,
The confession is short, but embraces all that is contained in our salvation
… for the designation Christ or
Anointed, includes both
an everlasting Kingdom and
an everlasting Priesthood,
to reconcile us to God and by expiating our sins through his sacrifice,
to obtain for us a perfect righteousness and having received us under his protection, to uphold and supply and enrich us with every description of blessings
Going far beyond the people, who gave a high place to Jesus and recognized him as one of the figures associated with the end-time (Jeremiah, Elijah and John the Baptist), Peter acclaims him as God’s final self-disclosure.
. There were no higher titles than these.
Let us make no mistake about it.
It is this Jesus who is the builder of the Church
I. The Builder is Jesus
II. What is the Church’s Foundation
Mat 16:17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.
Blessed - “Approved by God”
are you Simon Peter
because the Father has revealed this truth to you.
John 17:3
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
The Foundation of the Church
is the Revelation that comes from the Father
that Jesus is The Christ..
The Anointed One
The revelation to human beings that Jesus is the Christ..
That Jesus is The Savior
That Jesus is The Only way to the Father…still happens today because God the Father chooses to reveal these truths to individuals!
- that He is the Alpha and Omega
- the beginning and the end
- the Holy One of God
- God’s only begotten Son
All of this can only be revealed to man by God Himself.
Now comes the Proclamation
Matt 16:18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
I. The Builder is Jesus
II. The Foundation is the Profession that He IS THE CHRIST
And now the Building can begin.
Not until Jesus was recognized as the Messiah, the Son of God, could His church begin to be built!
If he is just a man, then his church is just another institution built by men.
While many institutions survive for long periods of time, no institution is like Chirt’s church!
Why?
Because The Church is the extension of the Kingdom of God.
Syncretism:
Today, when the world is a global village, and when the multiplicity of faiths is regarded as a fatal objection to the Christian claim of the uniqueness of
Jesus, it is easy to forget that the seductions of syncretism in religion were every bit as attractive in the world where Christianity was born, and they were steadily and consistently resisted.
“Millions died for their quiet conviction that in the world of the relative the Absolute had arrived. “
‘Syncretism. It is a far more dangerous challenge to the Christian church than atheism is ever likely to be.’
EG: The Inauguration
- Acknowledgement of all faiths
The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that Christ is both the Foundation and the Head of the church.
Acts 4:11-12
11 He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
ON THIS ROCK
But what of this phrase On This Rock
Matt 16:18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
There is much discussion about just what Jesus meant by this sentence.
But if we were standing there with Peter and the Disciples when Jesus said these words, I believe they would be clear absent 2000 years of church history and misinterpretation.
Peter’s clear proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah , is revealed to Him by God himself.
Upon this revelation to any and all men and women, Jesus builds His Church.
Eph 5:23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.
Jesus’ words here are best interpreted as a simple play on words
…in that Boulder –like Truth
came from the mouth of one who was called a small stone.
And Christ Himself is the chief cornerstone
Peter himself explains the imagery in his first letter “ the church is built of “living stones” who, like Peter, confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
You are Peter
- He is a “living stone” (1 Pet 2:5) in the temple of God
- This extends to all believers, each of whom is a temple of God
1 Pet 2:4-5As you come to him, the living Stone-- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him--5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
We must think Biblically as we come to the Bible!
ILLUS:
Abraham Lincoln was trying to make a point.
His hearer was unconvinced and stubborn. So Lincoln tried another tack
He said “How many legs does a cow have”
The man answered Four of course
Suppose you call the cow’s tale a leg, how many legs would the cow have?
The man said “Five “ of course
Lincoln came back
“Now that’s where you’re wrong.
Calling a cow’s tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg!
I. The Builder is Christ
II. The Foundation is The Revelation of His Messiahship
III.. The Building - The Church
Every building has a corner stone..
The very first
1 Pet 2:6 For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone,"
8 and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message-- which is also what they were destined for.
The Greek word for Church (ekklesia) means “called out ones”
God has since the beginning of redemptive history has been gathering the redeemed by grace… His Church
The Church is comprised of all of those called out of the darkness of the world into His Marvelous Light!
The church is comprised of
-all those who have recognized that Christ is Messiah,
the Son of the Living God
and have turned to Him in child like faith
- repenting of their sins
- asking for forgivness
-turned to follow Him
By the power of the Holy Spirit
Trusting that the Messiah has done us what we can not do for ourselves..
All of these people comprise the Church of Christ!
You are now, said he, a very small number of men and therefore the confession which you have now made is not at present supposed to have much weight,
But a time is coming when those who confess Faith in Christ shall be widely spread.
You can’t see it now, but this profession of Faith will build this small group into an growing ensemble around the whole world
The Church Visible and Invisible
While Faith is individual, it is not individualistic.
Regeneration is the prime requisite for membership in the church
The Church is an organism, not an institution.
One doesn’t join THE Church like he joins the Rec Center or Country Club
You can’t just “sign up” or pay your dues” and become a member of Christ’s church!
The qualifications for membership are beyond your ability to produce.
Membership requires:
-a revelation from the Father that Jesus is Lord
- A giving up of all
It is Christ who calls the members of the Church
John 5:21For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
It is Christ who washes away their sins
It is Christ Who gives us peace
It is Christ who gives eternal Life
It is Christ who grants repentance
It is Christ who enables to become God’s Children
John 1:12 To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--
This is a call to action!
The enunciating of the principles of the kingdom is something that demands a decision and a committal.
It is absolutely unavoidable!
It is something that is a part of the very essence of the New Testament presentation of the Truth.
It is not a Philosophy that one looks at and compares and contrasts with other philosophies.
You cannot maintain a detached attitude to the Profession that Jesus is the Christ!
The very proclamation demands a decision on your part!
Either you believe it to be true…
Or you believe it not to be true.
There is no middle ground!
This Revelation from God demands to take control of our lives!
When Jesus confronted Matthew,
He said “Follow Me” and Matthew got up and followed Him.
Jesus is saying that very thing to you this morning!
I am the Messiah..
The Christ.. Follow Me!!!
It does not say “consider me”
or Admire Me
He says “Follow Me”
The Gospel always calls fro a decision, for a committal.
It is Christ who is the author and finisher of the faith
He is the life
He is the Head of His Body The Church!
Paul declares that the Church can hoave no other foundation than Christ alone
1 Cor 3:11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Calvin says this:
It can be nothing less than blasphemy and sacrilege whtn the Pope has contrived another Foundation…
…And certainly n woerds can express the detestation with which we ought to regard the tranny of the Papal System on this single account, that in order to maintain it, the foundation of the Church has been subverted>>>
Jesus addresses Peter alone, because it is Peter alone who confessed Christ to be the Son of God
I. Jesus is the Builder
II. Belief in Him is the Foundation
The Church belongs to Jesus
And because of these truths,
There is a promise of Security that comes with being part of the Church of Christ.
III. The gates of Hell will not overcome it!
The gates of hell represents Satan and his minions, as it were, storming out of hell’s gates to attack and destroy the church.
Hell is the place of punishment for the sprits of dead unbelievers.
The point of entry for such death is through this gate.
This, then is a Jewish phrase referring to death.
Even Death.. the ultimate weapon of Satan, has no power to stop the church.
The blood of the Martyrs has sped the growth for the church in size and spiritual power.
But here Christ gives a promise of victory of His Church over the forces of evil.
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Jesus has promised that He would always cause HIS PEOPLE, to triumph over the devil and his army.
This promise was not given to the
Luke-warm Laodicians
but to Christian Soldiers
Christ will build His Church and the Gates of Hell will not overcome it.
The Security
- Gates of Hell
- Satan’s Minions
- Death itself will not overcome the church
Conclusion:
We end where we began.
Only this time Jesus is saying to YOU..
- Beware the Yeast of the Pharasees
And Jesus is asking YOU
Who do you say I am?
- a good moral person
- a good teacher
- a good example
- a prophet?
Has the Father revealed to you that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God?
Parkside Green or Parkside Main
The Builder is Jesus who builds on the Foundation of Profession of faith
His Church
.. which is invisible and Organic and will stand the test of Satan’s attacks
and will prosper even in death!
I Will Build My Church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it!
Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith 2 cor 13:5
Thou art Peter
- He is a “living stone” (1 Pet 2:5) in the temple of God
- This extends to all believers, each of whom is a temple of God
1 Cor 6:19-20
19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Eph 2:19-22 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
- and who are united to each other faith makes together one temple
and on this rockIt is evident how the name Peter comes to be applied both to Simon individually and to other believers.
It is because they are founded on the faith of Christ and joined together by a holy consent, into a spiritual building that God may dwell in the midst of them
For Christ, by announcing that this would be the common foundation of the whole Church, intended to associate with Peter all the godly that would ever exist in the world.
Eph 2:19-22
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
(NIV)
Col 1:3-6 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints--
5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.
(NIV)
Gates of Hell will not prevail against it
“it”could refer to the church or to faith.
Church is a better antecedent.
Against all the power of Satan will prove to be invincible, because the Truth of God..on which the faith of the Church rests, will ever remain unshaken
I Jn 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
Binding and Loosing