The Church That Jesus Built

Matt 16:18

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.

If you ask Any architect or five-year old child playing with blocks they will tell you that the most important part of any building is the foundation. It makes no difference how pretty the windows are, it makes no difference how elaborate the ceiling or the walls may be. It makes no difference if there is central air & heat, gas efficient appliances, or extravagant landscaping, if the foundation of a building is not stable and secure. then the building itself is sure to fall. The foundation of a building determines how long the building will be, the foundation of the building determines how wide the building will be, and the foundation of the building determines how high the building will go. And oftentimes The foundation of a building determines whether or not the building will be able to withstand the earthquakes, storms and adverse weather that are sure to come. The foundation of the building is absolutely critical to the stability and longevity of the building.

Now I assure you that I have not come this morning to give you a lesson on architectural design, but I’ve discovered that a strong foundation is not only essential for the construction of a good and stable building, but it is also essential for the construction of good and stable churches. Mark Twain once said that the church is a place where nice respectable people stand in front of other nice, respectable people and urge them to be nicer and more respectable. my brothers and sisters, If that is all the church does, then the church is guilty of falling short of what Jesus intended for it to be.

If a church is to be all that God has called it to be, it is absolutely essential that it stand on the right foundation. Many of our churches today are dying because they have abandoned the true foundation of the church and have erected their churches on the sinking sand of worldliness and humanism.

many churches seem to be built on some futile and faulty foundations. There are some churches that are built on the faulty foundation of social standing and political clout. Other churches are built on the personality of some pastor or leader. Other churches pride themselves in the fact that they have large facilities and spacious sanctuaries. And the question for all of us this morning is what is the true foundation of the church? What is that which the church stands on? This is not just a meaningless intellectual question that is best left to seminary professors and theologians, but this is a question that cuts to the very heart of who we are as the Body of Christ she be and do. If our foundation is messed up, then our vision and ministry will be messed up. If our foundation is messed up, then we will surely fall under the pressure of a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to the gospel of Christ But I want you to know today that when I speak of the foundation of the church, I’m not talking about the foundation of the church building, but I’m talking about the foundation of the people who make up the church. As a church, what are we standing on as we move forward to win the world for Jesus Christ? What authority do we have to speak to men on behalf of God?

Well, in our scriptural text today, we find Jesus with his disciples as they stood in the shadows of the great coastline city of CAESEREA PHILIPPI. Caesarea Philippi was a bustling city which was known for its idol worship and emperor worship. It was a city known for its many and various false gods. Everybody in Caesarea Philippi had a god. And in the midst of this city of false gods Jesus asked his disciples, “WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I AM?” And His disciples told him that some said he was John the Baptist, some said he was Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. And then Jesus asked them, “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” And under the power of the Holy Spirit Peter responds, “YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVIVNG GOD!” And tucked away in verse 18 of this 16th chapter of Matthew, Jesus gives us a picture of the church that he has built. In verse 18, Jesus teaches us about the INFALLABILITY OF THE CHURCH, THE IDENTITY OF THE CHURCH, AND THE INVINCIBILITY OF THE CHURCH.

First of all, Jesus teaches us about the INFALLABILITY OF THE CHURCH, Webster’s dictionary defines the word “infallibility” as that which is without error, that which is true, a doctrine that has stood the test of time and is regarded as trustworthy, steadfast and reliable, and I know that Jesus talks about the infallibility of the church, because He says in verse 18, “UPON THIS ROCK I will build my church…” What was Jesus talking about when he said “UPON THIS ROCK, I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH?” What rock was Jesus talking about?

Well, there are those who believe that Jesus was saying that He would build his church upon the rock of the apostle Peter. There are people in our world today who believe that this verse teaches that Peter is the head of the church, and that the modern-day church should honor the apostle peter as the foundation of the church.

But my brothers and sisters, that’s not what Jesus is teaching here. In order to understand what Jesus is saying here you have to understand that in the original language of this text, Jesus is using a play on words to describe the infallibility of the church. You see, when you look at verse 18 in the original Greek, you’ll discover that the name “PETER” and the word ‘ROCK” are two very similar Greek words. The Greek word for Peter is “PETROS” WHICH literally means “A SMALL STONE” and the Greek word for “ROCK” in this text is “PETRA” which means a huge rock. Peter’s name (petros) means a small stone, but the rock that Jesus was talking about (petra) Means a huge, mountainous rock. So what rock was Jesus talking about?

Jesus was talking about the rock-solid, foundational truth that Peter had declared up in verse 16 when Peter declared under the power of the Holy Spirit, “THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.” This is the infallible, foundational, rock-solid truth of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the truth the Jesus embodied, this is the truth that the apostles preached, this is the truth the early church fathers believed, taught, and died for. We believe that He is the Christ, He is the Messiah, He is Immanuel, he is the bread of life, He is the son of the Living God.

And my brothers and sisters, this eternal, infallible truth needs to be iterated and reiterated throughout our world today, because there are philosophers and theologians today who are trying diligently to redefine who Jesus is. There are so-called experts in our world today who are trying to get us to abandon our biblical understanding of who Jesus is. They don’t have a problem with Jesus being a good, moral teacher. They don’t have a problem with Jesus being a profound prophet or a benevolent doer of good deeds. But when you start talking about Jesus being God in human form, when you start talking about Jesus being the expressed image of the heavenly father and the only way to find reconciliation with God, then they have a serious problem with that.

But I beseech you this morning, my brothers and my sisters, don’t let the world change your view of who Jesus is! Don’t believe the media madness! Don’t give in to the Hollywood hype! The world teaches us that there are many ways to God. The world teaches that every religion is the same; the world teaches that everybody is going to heaven. But I’ve come by to let you know today, that no matter how unpopular it may be, no matter how politically incorrect it may be, I’m going to preach what the Bible says! And the Word of God is clear that Buddha is not the way, Confucius is not the way, Muhammad is not the way, yoga and meditation are not the way, good works are not the way, religious ritual is not the way, new age religion is not the way, secular humanism is not the way…JESUS IS THE WAY, the truth, and the life!…JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.. Jesus is not just a good man, but he is the Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus was not just a profound prophet, but he is the Christ, the Son of the Living god. He’s not just a moral teacher, he’s not just a miracle worker, he’s not just some ancient character from days gone by, he’s not the man upstairs, he’s not your co-pilot, but he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

This is the eternal message of the church! this is the infallible message of the church! We must never be fooled into believing some non-biblical, watered-down version of who Jesus is! The church must never allow gimmicks, schemes, or political agendas to cause us to deny who Jesus is. I’m all in favor of building bridges between people and groups, but the church of the Lord Jesus Christ must never compromise it’s message and mission if it is to remain true to its calling and commission. The clarion call of the church today is to proclaim with boldness that Jesus is the answer for the world today, above Him there’s no other, Jesus is the way! JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD – this is the infallible message of the church that Jesus built.

But not only do we see the infallibility of the church in this text, but Jesus also teaches us the IDENTITY OF THE CHURCH In this text, for He says again in verse 18: “upon the rock I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH…”

The church has a particular and peculiar identity. It is not meant to be a social club for the intellectually elite; It is not meant to be a haven for the haves to hide from the have-nots. it is not meant to be a showcase for the cynical, the snobbish or the stuck-up. The church is particular and peculiar in that it is not so much an organization as It is an organism. It is not so much a place as it is a people. Church is not something we go to on Sunday morning, its who we are each and everyday. You see, the word “church” in our text comes from the Greek word “EKKLESIA” which literally means “THE CALLED OUT ONES.” To be a part of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is to be called out from the world and given a new identity in Jesus Christ. To be identified as a part of the church of Jesus Christ means that you have been called out of the kingdom of darkness and placed into the kingdom of His marvelous light.

Jesus said “UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH” The church belongs to Jesus. Jesus is the architect, Jesus is the builder, Jesus is the leader, Jesus is the man, Jesus is the CEO, Jesus is the owner and lord of his church. Jesus purchased the church on the cross by shedding his own blood. this is not my church, this is not your church, we are all members of his church and we are to operate in the church the way he wants us to operate. And The good news is, my brothers and my sisters, that when you come to Jesus and become a part of his church, you too can get a new identity. When you come to Jesus and become a part of his church, you become a new creature You move from being a sinner to a saint, from an enemy of God to an ambassador of God, you move from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of his marvelous light, you move from being down and out to up and in. you exchange a one-way ticket to hell for a first-class ticket to heaven. you belong to Him, you are his child, you are his possession, you have been bought with a price! You move from wandering around in the wilderness of sin to basking in the oasis of God’s grace and God’s mercy. The church has a particular and peculiar identity. As a church we are..

-THE BODY OF CHRIST

-THE ANNOINTED OF GOD

-THE ARMY OF GOD

-A CHOSEN GENERATION

-A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

-A HOLY NATION

-A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION

AND ITS TIME FOR US AS THE CHURCH OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TO RISE UP AND WALK IN OUR BIBLICAL AUTHORITY AND IDENTITY. JESUS DIDN’T COME TO TAKE SIDES, JESUS CAME TO TAKE OVER! AND JESUS HAS APPOINTED US TO BE THE HEAD, NOT THE TAIL, AND WHEN WE REALIZE WHO WE ARE IN JESUS CHRIST, WE’LL BE ONE STEP CLOSER TO BEING THE CHURCH THE JESUS BUILT.

But not only does Jesus identify the infallibility and the identity of the church in this text, but he also identifies THE INVINCIBILITY OF THE CHURCH… I know he identifies the invincibility of the Church because in verse 18 the text he says “…THE VERY GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST…’ THE CHURCH. Now in order to understand what Jesus is talking about here, you have to understand the biblical significance of what He refers to as “THE GATES’. You see, during biblical times cities were built with huge walls surrounding them, and the only way to get into the city was through the gates. The gates were usually huge, stone-like structures which consisted of an outer and inner gate. Between the outer and inner gates was a huge courtyard were the businessmen and the officials of the city would meet to plan, discuss, trade and conduct city business. The gates of the city became a metaphor for the economic and political power and strength of the city. If an invading army possessed the gates of the city, they in essence possessed the entire city. And so when Jesus says that the VERY GATES OF HELL WILL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST THE CHURCH, what He’s talking about is the invincibility of the church. What Jesus is saying is that all of the satanic plans and powers of hell will not prevail against the church. What he’s saying is that every plan of the enemy to try to block God’s blessings and anointing on the church are destined to fail.

And since the very birth of the church in the fire of the holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the enemy has tried diligently to destroy the church.

He has tried to disrupt the doctrine of the church with his lies
He has tried to intimidate the church with fear and oppression
He has sent false teachers to corrupt the church and lead the church astray
he has sent backbiters and slanderers to try to disrupt the unity of the church
He has infused worldliness and humanism to try to dilute the message of the church
He has sent wolves in sheep’s clothing to try to destroy the church
BUT DESPITE HIS BEST EFFORTS, SATAN CAN NOT DEFEAT THE CHURCH, BECAUSE THE CHURCH STANDS ON THE INVINCIBLE FOUNDATION OF JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. JESUS SAID THAT THE VERY GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST THE CHURCH
The roman emperor DIOCLETIAN thought that he had defeated the church. He erected a stone monument to commemorate what he thought was the extermination of Christians from the face of the earth. But 2000 years later, Diocletian is dead and his monument has crumbled, BUT THE CHURCH of Jesus Christ STILL MARCHES ON
Another Roman leader made a coffin to symbolize the death of Christianity under his leadership. But when he died, they put him in a coffin, and when Jesus died they found nothing but an empty tomb, BECAUSE THE CHURCH IS INVINCIBLE AND THE CHURCH WILL KEEP ON MARCHING ON.
THE CHURCH CAN NOT BE DESTROYED, ITS TRUTH CAN NOT BE DENIED, ITS POWER CAN NOT BE DEFEATED ITS PRESENCE CAN NOT BE DEMINISHED, AND ITS SAVIOUR CAN NOT BE DISMISSED
THE CHURCH IS INVINCIBLE, THE CHURCH IS UNCONQUERABLE, THE CHURCH IS UNBEATABLE, THE CHURCH IS INDISPUTABLE, THE CHURCH IS INDESTRUCTABLE!
OH YES, Samuel J. Stone was right: “THE CHURCH SHALL NEVER PERISH! HER DEAR Lord to defend, To guide, sustain, and cherish, is with her to the end; Though there be those that hate her, and false sons in her pale, AGAINST THE FOE OR TRAITOR SHE EVER SHALL PREVAIL!”
And I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I’M GLAD I’M ON THE WINNING SIDE!
I’M Glad I’M A PART OF GOD’S FAMILY,
I’M GLAD NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER,
I’M GLAD I’M MORE THAN A CONQUERER THROUGH HIM WHO LOVES ME
I’M GLAD THAT GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD
I’M GLAD THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GOOD OF ME BECAUSE I’M CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…
I’M GLAD HE’S PROMISED TO SUSTAIN ME, TO PROTECT ME, TO WATCH OVER ME, TO DELIVER ME, TO PROVIDE FOR ME, TO ENCOURAGE ME, TO CARRY ME THROUGH ALL THE DIFFICULT STORMS OF LIFE
I’M GLAD I’M A PART OF THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT…HOW ABOUT YOU? ARE YOU GLAD ABOUT?
MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, IF YOU’RE NOT A PART OF THE CHURCH, IF YOU’VE NEVER GIVEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS CHRIST, IF YOU’VE NEVER SOUGHT GOD’S FORGIVENESS FOR YOUR SINS AND MISTAKES, THEN YOU’RE ON THE WRONG SIDE. BUT THE GOOD NEWS TODAY, IS THAT ITS NOT TOO LATE FOR YOU TO GET ON THE WINNING SIDE