Christ Builds the Church

Matthew 16:13-19

Welcome to Mountain View Baptist Church. We are honored to have you in our services and trust God will bless you. We would love to connect with you. If are a first time guest, would you stop by the welcome center as you leave today.

Have you ever wondered who builds the church? Oh, I don’t mean physical but who builds the church. Who builds it up and grows it? Sometimes I find myself saying things like, we are building the church but truthfully, it is not us who is building the church. God shows us in this passage who builds the church. In other words, if a church is to grow and thrive, it needs to be built by Jesus Christ.

Jesus gives a very clear and powerful declaration in verse 18: “I will build my church.”

Here our Savior was teaching the disciples about the continuing work of the ministry. Without Christ as the foundation, there is nothing that can be accomplished which will last. Sometimes churches will use entertainment to gather a crowd, but God wants to build His church where He is the center of attraction. The local church should be about Jesus and Him crucified.

“The Church can't be a religious theater where paid men perform for the religious amusement of the people who pay them.” (AW Tozer)

Leonard Ravenhill says, “the average church knows more about promotion than they do about prayer.” (Why Revival Tarries)

There are many underlying, powerful lessons in this passage that Jesus shows us about the church. He wants us to realize these lessons so that the cause of the church will be recognized until He is finished with the church. If we look at the lessons here in the Bible, God’s authority, we will realize how far we have come from God’s building of the church.

I read about a church recently was struggling to reach people so they starting giving out beer in the lobby for free. I heard about one church that offered a special anointing to animals to attract a crowd. Most of you have probably heard of the many schemes people use to get people in church. There is one approach that most Christians know very little about, prayer.

“Give me a church whose greatest attraction is Jesus.” (unknown).

It seems as though we are missing it these days where the crowd is more important than Christ. Yes, we want to the church to grow and people to be saved. We want to provide space for growth, but we must be careful to not to leave Christ out of the growth. Please notice in these verses that God is teaching us very valuable lessons on He who builds the church.

Lesson 1. . .

The perception of the builder

God is calling His disciples to make a clear and definite decision about who Christ is. The church needs to look past public perception of what people say who Christ is. Each person should understand what people say about Christ and who He is are two different things.

Many today will say, Jesus was a good man, He was a great teacher, and He was a religious man, but very few say He is the Savior. Jesus was asking them the questions so He could move them from a shallow recognition of who He is, to a proper view of He is.

How do you view Him? A problem solver for your difficulties? A teacher to instruct you. A peace maker to relieve you. While He may do all of those things but Jesus is more than one who cares for all our human, earthly needs.

Jesus asks, “Whom do you say I am?” If someone were to ask you, who Jesus is, what would you say? Could you tell them who He is.

The Bible says Jesus is the virgin born son of God, who lived a sinless life. He came to the earth to die on the cross for our sins because He never sinned. He suffered in our behalf and died for us, was buried, and rose again the third day. He arose because He defeated sin, death, and the grave. He was no mere man, but Jesus is the God Man.

Jesus is asking them and us, do you know Him? Not what you hear about Him but do you know Him personally? Have you called on Him to be your Savior? If so, how well do you know Him? Do you know what He likes and dislikes? Do you know what brings joy to His heart? Do you realize how much love He wants to give you? Have you experienced the peace and joy of knowing Him through God’s Word?

When you open the Bible, you open the mind and heart of God. It is strange how many Christians know only about Jesus based on what others say? They don’t know Him personally and intimately. Let me encourage you to make it first priority to meet and know God. Before your day starts, spend time with Him. Get to know Him deeper than just a surface relationship.

Lesson 2

The identity of the builder

Peter answers rightly that Jesus is the Christ. Christ means the Messiah, the anointed One. He is the fulfillment of the old testament prophesies. Jesus is the Great I am that was revealed to Moses in the desert

Exodus 3:14 “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.” This was a very powerful declaration to us that He is not a “was” or “shall be” but He is an ever present, perfect God. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

This means when things look impossible or difficult or unbearable or unbelievable in our lives, He still is-the Great I am. This means He does the impossible, He strengthens to weak, and gives power to the humble. He is ever present, ever near, and always directing our lives

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

He is not an angry with no compassion. He is the opposite, He is the a loving, forgiving Savior who can take care anything that comes in our life. This may be why He introduces Himself as I am. Whatever you need, “He is the I am to meet that need.” You are hurting, “ I am the healer.” You are afraid, “ I am thy shield,” you are weak, “I am your everlasting strength. You are thirsty, “I am the living water.” You are hungry, “ I am the bread of life.” You are in state of unrest, “I am peace.” Whatever your state is in life, Jesus will always there for you, Christian.

What is it that you need today? Jesus will take care of that need.

As they focus on who Jesus is in their life, they are beginning to understand the totality of Jesus as the great I AM to them.

When Jesus said, “I am the Way,” He clearly intended to exclude all other ways, so beware lest you perish in any one of them! The Last Message For The Year, Volume 56, Sermon #3230 - John 6:37

Charles Spurgeon

6512 When Jesus is present, all is good and nothing seems difficult; but when Jesus is absent, all is hard.

Thomas à Kempis (Ascetical Writer)

Peter knew Jesus was the one and only Savior.

They are in an area 120 miles from Jerusalem in the northern part of Palestine. The region had many relgiions and it had been the center of Baal worship, the Greek god Pan had shrines there and Herod had build a temple there to honor Augustus Caesar. Jesus was saying Peter, now you see in this pagan religious culture what people say about me, what you do say. Religion is flesh, it is human centered, but Christianity is faith and it is Christ centered.

His person and identity must go together with His work. This confession of Peter is the cornerstone of the believer, which clearly highlights the true identity of Christ. This declaration is transformative. It is like an epiphany in the darkness of religion.

This moment, Peter is called to use his confession to tell others about Christ. This moves Peter to tell others and share the truth with others.

Jesus will use Peter as the human instrument through which He will build the church. The Lord knew that Peter could now be led into new steps of deeper truth and service.

These Jewish men steeped in Old Testament Scripture, recognized the rock as a symbol of God. The Greek word Petros means a stone and upon this rock-large rock, I will build my church. Jesus gave Simon this name of Peter which means stone. Everyone who believes in Jesus Christ and confesses HIm as the Son and God and Savior is a living stone. Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which the church is built and the truth stands.

Jesus is the foundation 1 Corinthians 3:11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” He is also the chief corner stone Ephesians 2:20 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”

Jesus Christ tells us He will build the church. Building a church is not done by human effort or some worldly scheme, He builds His church in holiness and righteousness. This means His servants He uses are to be holy and live righteous lives. He chooses to work through human servants who are yielded to Him.

When He says I will, He means I will still build the church until I am finished with it. He will still save souls, empower His servants, and He will lead the direct the affairs of His church.

We do well to remember, God will build His church.

Lesson 3. . .

The authority of the builder v. 19

A key is a badge or symbol of authority. The keys were given to Peter to open the door of faith to Jews at Pentecost. God has given Him the authority to point men and women to Jesus Christ as their only hope of heaven. Peter was not claiming any special position, he was simply given authority to preach God’s Word which ultimately established the local church when Holy Spirit came.

Jesus is the the one who has the keys. He is the authority over the church. It is before the church. The church is about Christ.

This binding and loosing is saying Peter and later the other apostles are representatives of their Lord to exercise the authority of God’s Word in preaching.

Peter was saying Jesus was both Messiah and God. He bowed to His authority and recognized all power comes from God. He is all authority. What He says is right and we are called to obey Him.

Are you here today without Christ? Will you repent of your sin and turn to Christ? Will trust Him today?

Christian, what is God speaking to you about? Has your church attendance slowed down? Has your dedication to the Savior cooled down? Today would be a perfect time to get back with Christ. Perhaps you need to come to the altar and give it all to God. Will you turn to Him today?