105-05 The Confession that Builds the Church (What's Great About the Church)
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Matthew 16:13-20
Matthew 16:13-20
It has been said that faith, like other strong convictions, has a desire to be publicly proclaimed. That’s perfectly reasonable.
“You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
“The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.
He was speaking with the Pharisees who accused Jesus of being demon-possessed, explaining his authority over the demons.
But it is also true if the heart is filled with faith, public confession of the LJC will be the result. In fact, Rom 10:9 indicates the necessity of verbal confession of the Lordship of Christ as a necessary companion of authentic salvation.
Confessions of faith have been common down thru the ages. Historical confessions include such well known creeds as:
Not a word of God to men but a summary of the Gospel:
Apostles’ Creed (ca A.D. 341)
Nicene Creed (A.D. 381)
Chalcedon Creed (A.D. 451)
Athanasian Creed (5-6th century)
Westminster Confession (A.D. 1646)
All the creedal sayings of early church fathers
These confessions and creeds came after the completion of the NT. But there are several confessions we read in the NT:
Nathaniel (Bartholomew) said in John 1:49 “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.”
Thomas in John 20:28 “My Lord and My God”
Ethiopian eunuch Acts 8:37 “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Perhaps the greatest confession in Scripture coming from the lips of a human is Peter’s in Mt 16
Mt 16:13-20
This confession is preceded by the question that trumps all other questions in life. It is the question that determines your eternal destiny—“who do you [all] say that I am?”
Jesus is addressing this question to all the disciples—indicated by the plural you—“you all”
Simon Peter is the spokesman for the 12 when he answer with this confession—“you are the Christ…”
Historical setting
Jesus is now in Galilee, He left Judea b/c the Jews there were seeking to kill Him (Jn 7:1). He travels up to Galilee and begins an extensive ministry in the Gentile regions.
He had been teaching the large crowds that were following Him how He was the true bread come down out of heaven.
John 6:35 (NASB95) In the synagogue in Capernaum
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
6:41; 44; 48-58
For John: to eat and drink the body and blood of the Lord were figures of speech and exactly the same as believing in Him and receiving eternal life.
Personal faith/belief in LJC is essential to having eternal life, Jesus also taught that no one comes to place that belief in Jesus unless the Father first draws that person.
The Bible clearly teaches God’s sovereignty in electing/choosing those who receive salvation, but the Bible also clearly teaches that every human is responsible to believe and that those who refuse the offer of salvation are held accountable for their rejection. I’ve mentioned that tension before—God chooses, man is responsible for belief.
Jesus’ followers said—Jn 6:60-65
Vs 66—Jesus turns to the 12 and asks vs 67.
Peter responds in vs 68-70
A couple of months before Peter made that monumental confession of the trueness of the LJC—He affirms that eternal life was found in Jesus alone.
People like to have confidence in themselves—but the Lord strikes a blow against man’s self-sufficiency and pride when He says salvation begins with God’s choice not man’s. Heb 12:1 “author and perfecter of faith.” So often our pride gets in the way to keep us from seeing the glory of Christ/God in salvation.
This all began to incite intense hatred for the Lord. Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee and Mt 16 indicates He is coming into the region of Caesarea Philippi. The town was about 25 mi NE of Sea of Galilee. No accident that Jesus (here—head of Jordan, base of Mt Hermon) elicited from His disciples this confession of faith upon which the church would be built.
C.P. had several names by which it was known—today no longer inhabited. In OT city called P(B)anias (in honor of the god Pan who was said to have been born in a nearby cave). In NT a temple erected to Caesar—by Herod the Great--emperor worship was common in that time.
Philip, only good son of Herod the Great was made tetrarch over the district—he changed the name to Caesarea and added Philippi after own name to distinguish it from the other Caesarea. Josephus mentions that Philip ruled with moderation, tranquility and was well liked by his subjects. It was a region of toleration and peace.
This was the northern most point of Jesus ministry farthest from Jerusalem and a city that was mostly non-Jewish. Jesus came here in part to retreat from the multitudes but also to reveal the universal aspect of the church which includes Gentiles.
Jesus asked them—vs 13
Jesus was not asking b/c He didn’t know but to test the disciples to see what they believed about Jesus. He wanted them to understand what the popular perceptions were concerning “the Son of Man.”
This was Jesus’ favorite self-designation. It emphasized His humanness over against His deity & Messianic office. Jesus was careful not to call Himself the “Christ”—Messiah b/c of the growing misconceptions among the Jews who wanted to make Jesus king and political leader who would deliver Israel from the oppressive rule of Rome.
Perceptions differed among the people (no common agreement). But they held him in high esteem—(John the Baptist, Elijah—considered to be supreme most prophet of Israel—Jews who anticipated day of the Lord recognized Mal 4:5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.”
Others said Jeremiah—highly esteemed prophet.
They supposed that Jesus was resurrected from the dead since all these prophets were dead. There is clearly a supernatural reality to Jesus that the people could not explain. But all the perceptions were false. He was not what the people expected of a king, political deliverer—lowly esteem not coming in pomp and circumstance.
Jesus addresses the 12 “who do you say that I am”
Such an important question for the disciples. It was a test to see what they believed about the true character/nature of the one they had spent these previous years with.
The Jews in Jerusalem either wanted to kill Him b/c they thought He was making Himself equal with God, or they wanted to make Him their king in misguided zeal.
Peter (speaks for the 12) affirms 2 truths concerning the Lord:
1) Affirmation of Jesus’ Role
Jews had been taught that the Christ—Gk equivalent of Heb Messiah—was a reigning, conquering deliverer. He would establish a forever kingdom and save God’s people from their enemies. The more time the disciples spent with the Lord they saw His divine power and nature and authority and were convinced of His purpose.
In their minds—it was beyond question that this person was the king of Israel—the deliverer. Little did they know His purpose was not a physical kingdom at this coming but a deliverance far greater than political—spiritual. The spiritual kingdom and establishment of the church thru His death.
The disciples were men of strong faith at times. But the Lord also reminded them of their weakness often (little faith). The majority of Jews could not give such a bold confession—they probably would not have 2 years before this when they began to walk with Jesus. But here—there was no longer doubt—it was a confession of faith that was bold.
2) Affirmation of Jesus’ Nature
Secondly—Peter affirms Jesus’ nature—Son of the Living God. This was nothing less than an admission the Jesus was fully divine—equal with God. They understood His humanness but thru performing miracles, forgiving sin, countless healings, and displays of power and authority, they also knew His divine nature.
Because of the misconceptions this brought—Jesus still warned His disciples not to tell anyone He was the Christ—His time was not yet—this would only incite an uprising which was not part of the divine plan. The church was going to be a spiritual reality not an earthly kingdom.
In Peter’s confession—speaking for the 12, despite the defection that happened earlier, they knew and understood that Jesus was the Christ, that He was divine—though they didn’t fully understand the spiritual aspect of the kingdom immediately.
As a result—Peter is blessed by the Lord b/c of God’s revelation to him—Mt 16:17
This confession was monumental, pivotal, epoch for the disciples. It marks the end of the public ministry of the Lord. After this (in 6 days), the Lord takes the inner circle of disciples—Peter, James and John where He disclosed His glory to them in the Transfiguration.
This confession prompts Jesus to make the first direct revelation concerning the church, its foundation, perpetuity, and authority.
To Peter, Jesus says—vs 18
There is a major theological controversy over what Jesus is saying. There are some who believe Peter is being elevated to a high position. The disciples, including Peter did not understand this to be the teaching of the Lord. In fact, they would later argue over who would be the greatest in the kingdom. The text gives us the answer if we are careful to observe.
The foundation of the Church
You are Peter—Gk petros is a small detachment from a ledge or massive cliff. That word is petra which the Lord uses next—upon this ledge—massive rock formation—“I will build my church” (Peter is small piece of that larger cliff).
Again, he was not speaking about Peter directly or primarily but on the confession of faith that Peter makes. It wasn’t an elevation of Peter but an acknowledgement how massive the confession was.
Peter expressed the belief of the 12 and by extension all those who have similar confession of faith in the 2nd person of Trinity signifies the foundation upon which the church is built.
The foundation is not Peter, not the disciples primarily but the confession that all true believers make in acknowledgment of the true revelation of JC, given by God thru the apostles.
Ephesians 2:20 (NASB95)
[church] having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
Truth is foundation of the church—so confession of the truth revealed by God becomes solid, massive stone church is built on.
The Perpetuity of the Church
“I will build...” This ensures that the church will always continue. It will not come to an end b/c it consists of everyone who gives similar confession of Jesus.
Now remember, the truth about Christ is not revealed by flesh and blood. That is the work of God thru His Spirit which continues today. It also reveals the very power of the Gospel which the apostle preached nearly 2000 yrs ago, is still powerful and efficacious to bring sinners to a saving knowledge of Jesus.
“The Gate of Hades” Jesus is not talking about the power of Satan. For the Jew, Hades was simply the place of the dead, the unseen world. The equivalent in Heb is sheol which spoke of the place of the departed—both Abraham’s bosom and Gehenna (Hell).
Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.
Christ died, though not abandoned to it, he was in hades.
Hades is here, not a force attacking the church, but the Lord’s promise is that not even death can bring an end to the church’s advancement b/c of the power of the Gospel.
The church is alive, is growing, increasing b/c of those who confess Jesus as the Christ, Son of the living God.
The Authority of the Church
The keys are given—speaks of authority. One who has keys has the authority. To bind and loose was language of the Rabbis which meant to forbid and to permit.
This was not a matter of personal preference what we could forbid or permit but our only authority as the gathered church is to permit what God permits and forbid what God forbids. That’s where the authority ends. That authority must be in accordance with the teaching of Christ.
What God forbids—the church can say with authority—repent God forbids it, or to those who hate God, rejects LJC “you are condemned to hell unless you repent…b/c that’s what God says.
We can also say with authority to those who have repented form sin, confessed the LJC “your sins are forgiven…b/c that’s what God says.
Matt 18:18
Stemming from that monumental confession Peter makes about the nature of the LJC (based on the revelation of God the Father b/c the Father has willed to make that truth known to mankind) Jesus says with boldness “I will build my church…”
Who do you say that I am?—that question bears eternal consequence for every human who must answer what they believe about the LJC. Is He a great teacher, moral man, good example—or is He the promised Messiah, the God who came to deliver sinners from their sin and from judgment and bring them into His everlasting kingdom?
One thing that makes the church great is that every time a person makes this confession, the Lord is adding to her number giving evidence of Christ’s promise to build His church.
Timothy Dwight (g-son of Jonathan Edwards)
1 I love your church, O Lord!
Her saints before you stand,
dear as the apple of your eye
and graven on your hand.
2 Beyond my highest joy
I prize her heavenly ways,
her sweet communion, solemn vows,
her hymns of love and praise.
For her my tears shall fall,
For her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be given
Till toils and cares shall end.
3 I love your church, O God,
the people you have called,
the church our blest Redeemer saved
with his own precious blood.