Built to Last

Introduction

➟ ➟ ➟ August: Focus has been on the theme of building.

Such a monumental month in the history of this local church.

It is appropriate for us to mark this moment.

Not because of some accomplishment we have made.

Not because we have arrived and can now coast as a church.

It is appropriate for us to mark the moment...

For the glory of God

To praise Him for the work He is doing

To make the commitment to further embrace that work by aligning ourselves with His Word and His plans.

So we have focused on:

➟ ➟ ➟ The need to work together in unity - despite our differences in preference.

➟ ➟ ➟ Romans 15.5-7

➟ ➟ ➟ The need to praise God for His mighty blessings.

➟ ➟ ➟ Psalm 145.3-5

We praise Him for assembling the group of people gathered here today who have seized the moment and by faith have gone on record demonstrating their trust in God’s faithfulness.

We believe, as Mordecai told Esther, that we have come to see that God has brought us all together right now for such a time as this.

➟ ➟ ➟ The need to execute the mission.

We have no mission but Christ and the proclamation of the gospel.

We exist to know God and to make Him known.

What we have dedicated here is so that all the people of Dayton and the surrounding community know that the hand of the Lord is strong and that we fear the Lord.

➟ ➟ ➟ All of this, as we said last week, is our acknowledgment that what we have here presently at Cornerstone is ‘not by strength or by might, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord.” See Zechariah 4.6.

➟ ➟ ➟ Today, we continue with the building theme.

We’ll focus on Matthew 16.13-20 as we talk about being built to last.

What do you think of when you refer to this text?

Perhaps it is Peter’s confession in v. 16: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Or maybe, it’s v. 18 where Jesus definitively says, “…on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hades will not overpower it.”

Or, it could be the authority statement in v. 19 where Jesus tells the apostles that “whatever they bind on earth will have been bound in heaven and whatever they loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”

Whatever you think of first, just know this, this is a very powerful passage and sheds light on one of the most important moments in Jesus’ ministry.

Today, we’ll:

examine the background

examine the text itself

discover three points of application

Understanding the Background

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.13 - Jesus and the disciples have come into Caesarea Philippi, about 25 NE of the Sea of Galilee.

➟ ➟ ➟ It’s a predominately Gentile area, right at the northeastern edge of the land of Israel.

It’s a place largely free of Jewish opposition.

Time is of the essence because the cross is beginning to loom. That event is now just months away.

And, everyone is tired. There has been wholesale rejection of Jesus by Israel at large. The religious establishment back in Jerusalem is plotting Jesus’ destruction and death. Herod, views Jesus as an existential threat.

So they head into this area for some downtime and some personal instruction from Jesus.

In his writing, Barclay talks about the significance of the area they had traveled to:

➟ ➟ ➟ For centuries this part of Israel had been the seat of Syrian Baal worship. Ruins of at least 14 temples have been found and would have dotted the landscape.

➟ ➟ ➟ Caesarea Philippi had a deep cavern located under a tall hill which was said to be the birthplace of Pan, the Greek god of nature.

In fact, during the 1 & 2 century BC the area had become known as Paneas.

So it was believed that all the Greek gods looked down upon this place and protected it.

➟ ➟ ➟ The water that flows out of this cavern is said to be the source of the Jordan river … which was deeply intertwined into the religious and secular life of the land of Israel.

Could it be that as they traveled north that on their minds was the great history and heritage of the land of Israel … which was so deeply held by Jews?

➟ ➟ ➟ And finally, in the century before, Herod the Great built a huge temple of white marble at Caesarea Philippi and dedicated it to the godhead of Caesar.

Herod’s son, Philip improved the temple and changed the name of the area from Paneas to Caesarea, or Caesar’s town. To differentiate it from other places, he added his name onto it.

This temple could be seen for miles around as its presence loudly declared the might and power of Rome.

➟ ➟ ➟ It is in this backdrop that the homeless and poor carpenter’s son from Galilee brings 12 weary disciples to regroup and rest.

The disciples, who left everything behind to follow Jesus, had to be fighting doubt.

Their entire viewpoint of who the Messiah was was being challenged. In fact, their entire ministry was beginning to look like a total failure.

It is in this place,

In the midst of all the temples to Syrian gods....

where the greek gods are said to have looked down

where the history of ancient Israel was all around

and where the power of Rome and the worship of Caesar dominated the scene … that Jesus asks the disciples who they believed Him to be.

Mark 8.27 says that these events happened out on the outskirts of the city …

Luke 9.18 says it happened after Jesus has spent time alone in prayer.

And it is here where he expects them to answer with an affirmation that He is the Son of God.

It’s almost as if He deliberately chose this place, against the background of the world’s religions, with all their history and splendor, and demands to be compared to them.

He knows the realization of His own divinity would shine out everything else.

This is the backdrop of this text.

Understanding Matthew 16.13-20

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.13b-15 - Jesus’ question

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.13b - who do people say that the Son of Man is? This is an exercise to get them to think carefully.

After 2+ years and after hearing his teaching & witnessing all the miracles, what was their final verdict about the Son of Man?

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.14 - they answer:

➟ ➟ ➟ “some say John the Baptist.”

“others Elijah” and “still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

This was the highest compliment as these prophets were among the most revered in Judaism.

It’s all complimentative when you think about it. The people were thinking of:

the character of John the Baptist and applying that to Jesus.

they assigned to him the fire and intensity of Elijah.

they ascribed to him the lament and grief of Jeremiah.

But yet, in all three identities - most people didn’t see Jesus as the Messiah .. but simply another forerunner to the Messiah.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.15 - So Jesus repeats the question … and this time makes it personal: “who do you say that I am?”

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.16 - Peter’s confession

➟ ➟ ➟ Peter, speaking for the 12 says, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

16.16a - Peter confesses Jesus as the long awaited deliverer of Israel.

The King, prophet, and Savior.

There is no hesitation here.

No question in their mind that He was the One who would fulfill their hopes and be the source of their salvation.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.16b - Peter also confesses that Jesus is the Son of the living God.

He affirms Jesus as the true and real God. The Creator.

Jesus is so much more than a Greek deity, Syrian god, or so-called human deity like Caesar.

He was the Son of the living God.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.17 - Jesus’ answer

Jesus blesses Peter.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.17a - first Jesus emphasizes Peter’s humanness in order to make a contrast with… flesh and blood.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.17b - the source. Peter did not discover this information on his own … it was revealed by God the Father in heaven. How did that revelation take place?

By Jesus’ own claims about Himself.

John 6.51 - I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever.

John 10.9 - I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.

John 14.6 - I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father but through me.

By the untold number of miracles Jesus worked. Jesus turned water to wine. He healed diseases. He calmed storms. He raised the dead.

These things, all from God, testified beyond the shadow of a doubt as to who Jesus was.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.18-20 Jesus’ church

➟ ➟ ➟ note v. 16a again. Peter had just said, “you are the Messiah.”

➟ ➟ ➟ Now, v. 18 - Jesus in the same fashion says, “you are Peter.” And then He says....

“on this rock…I will build my church.”

On what rock?

➟ ➟ ➟ The rock or mountaintop of truth that “Jesus is the Messiah … the Son of the Living God.”

Who was going to proclaim that truth initially? The 12 men in front of Him … the uniquely appointed, endowed, and inspired teachers of the gospel.

in Ephesians 2.20 Paul reveals that the foundation of the church is the revelation of God given through the apostles, with Jesus himself being the cornerstone.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.19 - we are citizens of the kingdom and members of God’s household.

➟ ➟ ➟ 2.20 - what are our spiritual lives built upon? The foundational truth that Peter confessed. “Jesus Christ is the Messiah … the Son of the Living God.”

Every Christian in this room has confessed that truth and that is the foundational element of our spiritual life.

This is the foundation that ties us all together …to Christ … and to one another.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.18b - Note the certainty of Jesus’ statement. ...

It is on this mountaintop of truth that Jesus will build His church.

The marvelous confession that He is the Son of God and the our Savior from sin.

The acknowledgment of Jesus being the way, the truth, and the life and that no one comes to the Father but by Him, John 14.6.

It is here where the word “church” is first used in the NT. .... and Jesus’ statement here is not so much concerned with the time the church is going to be established … the disciples would have no concept about what would happen on Pentecost yet ...but moreso with the certainty that nothing can stop it from happening.

No matter what happens - not even His death - God will build his church. God will have “his called out ones.” God will have “his people.”

HIs point is that the disciples, driven to the point of fear, doubt, and questioning, belong to a cause that absolutely cannot fail.

And by the way, so do you. You are part of something that cannot fail … something that not even death can derail.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.18c - “and the gates of hades will not overpower it.”

Often we’ve read this from the perspective that Satan and his evil forces attacking the church of Jesus Christ will have no success.

Let’s challenge that perspective.

“gates” are not instruments of warfare. Gates don’t conquer anything.

But gates do protect people behind them from being conquered … or like in a prison, gates keep people from escaping.

Hades (sheol) here is not eternal hell, but the realm of the dead.

And so Jesus is saying that death has no power to hold God’s redeemed people captive.

It’s gates are not strong enough to overpower Jesus or His church.

Jesus is headed for the cross where He will conquer sin and death on behalf of the church.

It was Peter in Acts 2.24 who in just a few short months will testify on Pentecost: “God raised him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by death.”

It will be Paul, who in Romans 8.2 declares, “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free form the law of sin and death.”

➟ ➟ ➟ It will be the Hebrew writer who, in Hebrews 2.14-15 says, “Now since the children have flesh and blood in common, Jesus also shared in these, so that through his death he might destroy the one holding the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death.”

Again I want you to remember the historical background of this moment. Tired, weary, disciples who are fighting doubt and discouragement. For Jesus, it is the ultimate teaching moment … and it is also the ultimate pick-me-up moment … and just the kind of encouragement they needed.

You’re not going to fail.

What you’re doing is worth it.

You may have left everything behind … but it’s all going to work out.

And it’s all so important, in light of what he is about to tell them about his impending death in verse 21.

Even when all the power and might of the Roman government comes crashing down upon Jesus … and the ugliness of cross presents itself … and death comes ....

Nothing is going to stop God’s mission of building his church. Nothing. No demon or hell’s angel. Not Satan. Not even death itself.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.19 - Apostolic authority - Here he tells them about the mission they will have and the authority they will possess … which will ultimately come to all believers.

Those in God’s group or God’s ekklesia, will be given the authority, by speaking from the Word of God, to declare what is divinely forbidden or permitted on earth.

The apostles … and us, but speaking their words out of this divinely revealed book, have the ability to speak authoritatively,… recognizing and proclaiming what God has already determined to be right or wrong, forgiven or unforgiven.

When we speak as the oracles of God, we can be certain that our words correspond with what has been determined in heaven.

What About us?

➟ ➟ ➟ We need to get on board with what God is building.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.18b - again … focus on the certainty: I will build my church.

This is an unchanging, unwavering, absolute promise, backed by the power of the Father. He promises with absolute authority, “I will build my church.”

Not my school. Not my college. Not my clinic. I will build my church. God is in the soul-saving business.

And that’s the business we’re in here at Cornerstone.

Don’t misunderstand … I’m not against schools .... or helping the needy … which are both good … and fulfill important roles, but I’m primarily about bringing souls to Jesus Christ.

When we’ve gone to Colombia … we’ve taken tens of thousands in donations to help purchase food / medicine / supplies / health care visits / you name it.

But that’s not why we go. We go to share the news that Jesus is the Messiah and that no one comes to the Father but by him.

And as we think locally … it’s the same thing.

Last week we talked about soul-winning in our mission statement.

That is the purpose for everything we do. Let’s not forget that.

So as we, over the coming months, as we discuss and roll out how to effectively do that in Dayton, we need to remember the mission.

There may be some new approaches. We will encourage you to do it in a happy way that garners excitement.

But the mission remains the same. We all about soul-winning because we’re on board with God … who is building His church.

➟ ➟ ➟ We need to get in the place where God is building.

➟ ➟ ➟ Again 16.18b … focus on the certainty … I will build my church. He’s going to do it and if we’re going to be a part of it we have to

make the congregational commitment to walk in the Spirit by individually walking worthily of the calling to which we’ve been called.

We have to obey the word of God by following Biblical expectations on how to live, think, speak, and act.

We have to actually share the gospel with others by speaking to them … urging them to give consideration to their desperate need for God.

Listen … we talked last week about all the room we have now and the challenge to fill it up.

We’re not going to fill it up … God is going to fill it up .... as we move ourselves closer to Him through our own personal transformation.

We are not going to be all about gimmicks or using manmade ideas to build this church on our own.

The US is filled with megachurches that have shuttered their doors and sold their buildings because the fads they embraced wore off.

There’s an example less than a mile from here where this has happened.

That is not who we want to be. The answer is not in programs. The answer is not guilting people into evangelism.

The answer is our commitment to being God’s people, who live by God’s way, projecting Jesus, who will draw all men unto Himself.

As we move our life in this direction - as we get ourselves in the place where God is building - walking in the parameters set by God - we, this church, will become a channel through which Jesus builds his church.

If we set aside those parameters, then that channel will be blocked.

And God will move and use a different channel to accomplish His mission of soul-winning.

It’s not about us. It will never be about us. We haven’t arrived. It will always be about God and His work and His efforts to redeem souls. Believe me … there is great work ahead … work like we’ve never seen. Work … that God will equip us for.

➟ ➟ ➟ We need to embrace Jesus’ promise.

➟ ➟ ➟ 16.18c - the gates of hades will not overpower it.

Nothing is going to stop God’s mission of building his church. Nothing. No demon or hell’s angel. Not Satan. Not even death itself.

You know we’ve taken on quite an obligation here … like nothing we’ve ever done before.

It’s enough to set you back in your chair if you slow down enough to think about it.

We now have a mortgage… we’re supporting two preachers locally … we’re supporting 9 men & their families in Colombia and all the things that come with that.

We’re equipping Bible classes locally. We’re expanding our reach with the gospel locally … which takes financial resources.

We’re meeting local benevolent needs with needy saints...

And we’ve got increased overhead expenses that come with maintaining this facility.

Some of us may be asking, “can we do it?”

And the answer is undoubtedly “yes!” By the power of God … your continued generosity … and our congregational commitment to do what the Bible says and let Jesus build this church His way.

If we are truly trying to be a channel of blessing … then the resources will come. The time will come. The sacrifice will come. The effort will come. The growth will come. Further expansions will come.

➟ ➟ ➟ Ephesians 3.20 - Things we can’t even imagine will come … because God is so good, so amazing, and so generous and so loving … that He will far beyond all that we can think or imagine.

And it will remain long after we’re gone .... because it’s not about us. It’s about God and His work of soul-winning.

➟ ➟ ➟ Ephesians 3.21 - to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Conclusion

May we see that we are part of something that is being built to last. Nothing will stop God from doing His work … and nothing … not even death itself … will stop it. Jesus says, “I will build my church.”

➟ ➟ ➟ And what is being built is so beautiful - Hebrews 12.22-24a talks about where all this leads: I want you to just imagine that festive gathering … and being a part of that assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven … to the spirits of righteous people made perfect.

➟ ➟ ➟ What is being built will never be shaken - Hebrews 12.28-29

I don’t know about you, but I want to be a part of that!

And if you’re not part of that … then you can be before you walk out the door today?

Dear friend … Jesus is the Messiah and He is the Son of the Living God.

Do you believe that?

Will you confess that?

Will you turn away from the way you’ve been living?

Will you die with Christ today in the waters of baptism and arise as a new creation embracing the newfound hope you have of being a part of God’s group .. God’s people … with him forever and ever and ever?

➟ ➟ ➟ Can we help you today? All things are ready.