Reawakening to the Church of Christ Matthew 16:13-19
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Introduction -
In his book “Born Again”, Charles W. Colson the man known as Nixon’s “Hatchet Man” during the Watergate investigation said:
Biblically the church is an organism not an organization—a movement, not a monument. It is not a part of the community; it is a whole new community. It is not an orderly gathering; it is a new order with new values, often in sharp conflict with the values of the surrounding society. Charles W. Colson
We must remember the rightful owner of the Church
We must remember the rightful purpose of the Church
We must remember the Church is a part of Earth as it is in Heaven
Read - Matthew 16:13-19
Now when Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he began asking his disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said, Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!”
And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it!
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven.”
Remember the Rightful Owner
Remember the Rightful Owner
It is vital to understand correctly the rock on which the Church was built. If we put the Church solely on the back of Peter, we've misunderstood the rightful foundation.
There is a difference between “petros” and “petra.” Simon was called “petros” by Jesus. In verse 18, Jesus uses both words: Peter (petros) and rock (petra). Matthew 16:18
And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it!
“Petros” means stony, rocky, loose stones - Jesus called Peter this.
“Petra” means bedrock, foundation
Matthew 16:16 (LEB)
And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!”
Christ is the Stumbling Stone: 1 Peter 2:7-8
Therefore the honor is for you who believe, but for those who refuse to believe, “The stone that the builders rejected, this one has become the cornerstone,”
and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,” who stumble because they disobey the word to which also they were consigned.
Remember the Rightful Purpose
Remember the Rightful Purpose
His Church Reflects the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth
1. The purpose of the Church is to distribute Kingdom values in current culture.
Grace instead of cancel culture Ephesians 2:8–9 (LEB)
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.
b. Value to all people instead of racism and sexism Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
c. Salvation to all who believe instead of religious exclusivity Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
2. The purpose of the Church is to reflect Kingdom values in the culture, not take on the role of earthly government
a. Jesus reflects Himself through the Church, not through politics Colossians 1:26-28
the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but has now been revealed to his saints,
to whom God wanted to make known what is the glorious wealth of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,
whom we proclaim, by admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom, in order that we may present every person mature in Christ,
b. Jesus uses the Church to counter the culture
Remember it’s on Earth as it is in Heaven
Remember it’s on Earth as it is in Heaven
The Church brings eternal values to humanity presently.
Use the keys of the Kingdom! Hell will not prevail Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will be released in heaven.”
Binding and releasing is a delegated authority from Christ.
Bind the evil one Matthew 12:29
Or how can someone enter into the house of a strong man and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? And then he can thoroughly plunder his house.
b. Hell’s powers will never defeat the true Church of Christ. Christ has already defeated sin and death. How many of us truly believe this?
Release the captives Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
c. God will do things collectively through His Church that He will not do through individuals. The only one that wants us to believe we are better alone is the enemy. Ecclesiastes 4:12
Although an assailant may overpower one person, two may withstand him. A threefold cord is not easily broken!
2. The Church must live in the tension between heaven and earth - reflecting Christ, loving others, and making disciples. Mark 12:30–31 (LEB)
And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul and from your whole mind and from your whole strength.’
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Conclusion
To reawaken to the Church of Christ we must remember whose we are. We must remember that we are in Christ. We must remember our purpose is to show Christ to this hurting world without becoming worldly. We must live in this world but are not of it so we must live in this tension between the two. We are a heavenly embassy here on earth created, built and sustained by Christ. We are the blessed and holy church