Matthew 16:18……Ready

Matthew 16:18……Ready

16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I  (Not Peter, not Pastors, not Members, not Elders, not Denominations, but Christ Himself-(New) will build my church (The root meaning is not a building, but people.-(Eph. 2:19-22) In ancient Greece, an Ecclesia was a meeting of citizens in making legislative decisions on behalf of the state. It’s not the church spiritual or the church universal, but the church individual.-(New) and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. (Out of the two possible interpretations given for gates; defending or attacking, Most support the former, due to the fact that no one has ever seen a any “gate” anywhere chase somebody down.-(New) (For Additional Expository Notes See Book)

Extended Sermons 

“Teaches how confessing Jesus as Lord & God is to be the core foundation and doctrine of the church” →  Church’s can do wonderful things. We can house the homeless, feed the hungry, help the unemployed get jobs, which are all good. But the number one job of the church is to lead others into a Saving relationship with Christ Jesus. Some churches have drifted from core Christian beliefs about Jesus, by downplaying His divinity or focusing more on His humanity and social message. The church and its practices had become more important than believing in Jesus. There is still pressure today to simply cling to practices and not promote the importance of Jesus being the bedrock of faith that brings Salvation. A.W. Tozer: In his final warning to the church, Tozer stated that Christ is now little more than a beloved symbol, and in the week-by-week services of the church and the day-by-day conduct of her members, not Christ, who makes the decisions. Church’s will liberalize Jesus’ teachings. To avoid the hard necessity of either obeying or rejecting the plain instructions of our Lord in the New Testament. They take refuge in a liberal interpretation of them. Or they regulate Christ as a kind of spiritual psychiatrist with remarkable powers to straighten people out. He is able to deliver them from their guilt complexes and to help them to avoid serious psychic traumas by making a smooth and easy adjustment to society. Some churches have all together denied the deity of Jesus, the virgin birth, the Trinity, and the personhood of the Holy Spirit. None of this should come as a surprise. From the very beginning the early church fathers faced  the same type of false beliefs about Jesus, just as we see today. Eventually leading them to hold a council called the “Nicene Creed” in 325 A.D. to address heresies within the church. The beigest and most well-know heresy came from an individual name Arius. A Libyan Christiaan priest who questioned the deity of Christ. Who taught that Jesus Christ was not coeternal with God the Father, but rather a created being, a doctrine known as Arianism. Eventually the council of Nicene hammered out a statement of faith that clarified the nature of Jesus and the Trinity that read; “We believe in one God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds. God of God, light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made being of one substance with the Father by whom all things were made who for us men and for our Salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate He suffered and was buried and on the third day He rose according to the scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father and He shall come again in glory to judge both the quick and the dead whose Kingdom shall have no end.” This defining term and doctrine about the deity of Christ and the Trinity is critical for the church. It’s a core tenet of Christian faith, which underpins Salvation, worship, and the church’s identity. The most important reason that Jesus must be God is that, if He is not God, His death would not have been sufficient to pay the penalty for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). A created being, which Jesus would be if He were not God, could not pay the infinite penalty required for sin against an infinite God. That Jesus’s death on the cross atoned for the sins of humanity, and this act of sacrifice is only meaningful if Jesus is God, capable of offering a sufficient and eternal redemption. When we sin the only one who can forgive is God Himself.-(Mark 2:7) To suggest your sin is forgiven is simply foolishness unless God has authorized it.  You cannot ask for the forgiveness of sin unless you ask the One who has the power to do it, namely Christ Jesus. Not only that but Jesus Himself acknowledge He was God when He said “If you have seen me you have seen the Father. For me and the Father are one”.-(John 14:8-9) What does a church look like if Jesus is not actually regarded as God? Sadly, not a lot would change in many churches. The power of the Holy Spirit would be absent, for one thing. New believers would not be encouraged and helped to grow in understanding of what they are in God’s sight. The faith that once was vibrant would falter. People would be taught to follow our example and teaching and to not worry. The Bible would not make much sense to those who chose to read it. Preaching about salvation would lack power. Sinners might even feel right at home sitting under a gospel message. Healing of the sick and deliverance would not happen. The entire Christian religion would be undone. The Old Testament law would still be in effect. Priests would still have to offer sin sacrifices, first for themselves, then for others.

“Teaches how no weapon, threat, or opposition will prevail against the church or the work of Christ in this world.” ⇒You can kill off the members, and the Lord will keep building His church. You can change the laws of the government, but Jesus will keep building His church. You can change the cultural values, but Jesus keeps building His church. No political party can overcome the work of Christ. No economic problem can overcome the church. No pandemic can overcome the church. (This does not mean that the church cannot be weakened by division or when truth is compromised. But we are promised that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the church of Christ.)

“Even today, don’t get discourage when people fall away from Church. Don’t to get discouraged when Church’s shutdown and close, Don’t get discouraged when Church scandals breakout. Don’t get discouraged when you read of Christians being persecuted and beheaded. Because Jesus is still building His Church and it will be victorious and never fail.” ⇒ Don’t get discourage when a church leader retires. Don’t get fretful when a favorite Preacher dies. Or when or favorite minster transfers to another church. Know that the Lord is raising up the next generation of pastors and ministers. In recent times Church attendance as been low and dwindling slowly over the years. In fact when the Covid virus hit in 2020 it almost wiped it out church attendance. Many people didn’t think the church would survive. Recent research had found that around half U.S. Adults who had attended church before COVID-19 are unlikely to return even if public health officials deem it safe. Even the Catholic church experienced a decline in attendance after the clergy sex abuse scandals hit in the 80’s. In some areas, weekly church attendance dropped to 17% of Catholics, down from an estimated 34%. A study found that the sexual abuse scandal had a statistically significant effect on church exit’s among Catholics. Other factors that may have contributed to the decline in Catholic Church attendance include the decline in the number of priests, which has been ongoing since 1970. Charitable giving also declined, especially donations to Catholic charities. Among those who left Catholicism for an evangelical church, 78% said “their spiritual needs” were “not being met.” Many people grew disenchanted with the Catholic Church because of the clergy sex abuse crisis. Church attendance over all has been declining for a variety of reasons, including. A growing movement towards secularism has led people to opt out of traditional religious practice. The rise of social media and digital communication has led people to go online for church. Why dress up and get the kids ready when I can just sit on the couch with my popcorn and watch church.  High-profile scandals and the politicization of religious institutions have driven people away from church. It’s all about money and getting rich. People are busier and have less time to attend church.  Don’t give up on the church or let the failure of the Church get you down. Know it is still part of the body of Christ, no matter how bad your experiences are.

“This does not mean the church is going to be perfect. There’s going to be disagreements and divisions. But nothing will ever prevail over the Church or destroy it.” → Many people’s commitment to the church is sustained as long as they can maintain some false notion of the perfect church. Once they discover something that fails to live up to expectations, they change churches, devalue the church, or abandon the church. There are no perfect churches. The church is under construction. Yet, despite its flaws, faults, and failures, the church is the hope of the world.

More Notes & Applications 

Teaches how nothing will stop the righteous work and cause of Christ, not even Hell itself, so keep going.

Teaches no matter how hard Satan tries, nothing will be able to shake our faith or prevent us in becoming who God has called us to be.

Comforts in knowing the Lord is going to do His work and it isn’t up to us, we just need to get into a place where He can do it where we are.

Teaches no matter how much our faith is tested and tried, it will always stand.

Teaches where we meet and gather as a church is not as important as why we meet. It’s who we’re serving and worshipping that is.

Teaches where worship and submission to Jesus is present, creates a power of God that can’t be shaken or defeated.

Displays how Jesus is not a passive observant, but a participate in building the Church and edifying our faith.

Displays the power of Christ Jesus in taking someone as weak, impulsive, and doubting as Peter. And a meek and mild band of followers who were cowering in a upper room,-(John 20:19) to going out and changing the world.

Assures the continuation of our faith and the church. No matter how bleak things look or how dark it becomes, God’s program is moving ahead. No matter how it appears on the surface or what looks as being broken, beaten, and defeated is not the reality at all. Jesus will always have the last word, not our situation or circumstances.

The Catholic Church uses this verse in support of the Papal Supremacy over the Church. Even giving legend to Peter standing at the “Pearly Gates” as to who can enter and who cannot. If Peter is to the “Rock” and supreme leader of the church. The one who has ultimate authority to make all decisions for the Church, who speaks infallibly, and who has all things put in his hands. You would think for God to put supreme authority in the hands of a fallible man. To us it doesn’t seem very wise. Even Peter himself would later disown Jesus three times.-(Matt. 26:69-75)  Not only that, but Paul had rebuked Peter at one point, because he was being hypocritical towards the truth of the Gospel.-(Gal. 2:11-14)

Notice how Jesus didn’t say “You will build my Church”. As if we could accomplish such a feat by our own talent, our own abilities, our own cleverness. Nor did Jesus say “I will build your Church.” As if everything revolves around our own desires and preferences. No, Jesus said “I will build My Church.” That is a Church purchased by His blood. That operates under His authority. That advances by His power. And that ultimately exists for His Glory. The Church is not built on crowd pleasing and easy believism. The Church is not built on how much money is being donated or how nice the facilities are. The Church is not built on gimmicks. The Church is not built on popular trends. The Church is not build on entertainment. The Church is not consumer oriented. But rather the Church is built and oriented around the Glories of Christ, Gospel truths, human sinfulness, God’s judgment, and the need for repentance. The Church doesn’t belong to a denomination, pastor, board of directors, or a group of elders, but to Jesus Christ. The church is Jesus’. The church is not the Catholic Church. It’s not the Protestant Church. It’s not the Southern Baptist’s Church. It’s not the United Methodist Church. It’s not the Lutheran Church. It’s not the Reformed Church. It’s not the Jehovah’s Witnesses Church. It’s not the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It’s not any of the 45,000 denomination worldwide. The Church is Jesus’ idea and Jesus’ creation. The church is Jesus’ very own, it belongs to Him. The Church was purchased by Jesus’ own blood. Therefore it must be His prize possessions, He bought it with His own life!

This is the first documented time that Jesus uses church in His public ministry. The term Jesus uses for Peter as the “rock I will build my church”. Has caused much controversy and division among Protestants and Catholics, even among believers of the same denominations, who belong to the same church. The Roman Catholic church believes it is Peter himself based on the Greek masculine form of “Petros” meaning “Small stone”. But most other denominations believe it is Christ Himself based on the Greek feminine form of “Petra” meaning bedrock. Think about it, what makes more sense? That Jesus is founding His Church on Peter, and entrusting it’s existent to a person with human failures and shortcomings. Or is Jesus building His Church on Himself and all He has done? On His death and His resurrection. Therefore the most likely interpretation and explanation is that Jesus is referring only to Peter’s confession, which better sense.  When there’s debate over how to understand a verse of scriptures, it’s helpful look at other verses where the same word is used in the bible as well as context. Now there is good evidence throughout the bible where Christ is seen as the Rock. As an example Ephesians 2:20 “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.”  Or 1-Corinthians 10:3-4 “ They all ate the same spiritual food  and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” But when using the interpretation principal of Context, there’s even better evidence in the preceding Verses 16 that the rock on which Jesus will built is Peter’s faith confession; “You are the Christ, Son of the living God.”-(17:16)  

The term “Church” comes from the Greek word “Ekklesia” which has multiple meanings, including a political assembly. In ancient Greece, the Ekklesia was a gathering of citizens to conduct public business and consider matters proposed by the council. The word comes from the prefix ek or ex, which means “out of” or “from”, and the root word kaleo means “to call”. In the New Testament, ekklesia is the term for the Christian church. The word is often understood to refer to a group of people called by God, and is intended to seek the common good so that people may be Saved through Jesus Christ.

The term “The gates of Hades shall not overpower it”. Again, there is dispute over what these gates are. I believe that the most simple and straightforward explanation is that the gates of Hades refer to death and dying. In the New Testament, Hades most often refers to the grave. The gates of Hades are what leads to the grave, which is death and dying. In the Old Testament, “the gates of Hades” is often used to refer to death (Job 17:16; 38:17; Ps. 9:13; 107:18, Isa. 38:10). In Revelation 1:18 this is clearly seen when Jesus said, “I have the keys of death and Hades.” I believe that Jesus is simply saying that the church will never die. It will continue on. It will always be there. Why? Because Jesus is building the church. This speaks to the power of the church. It will be triumphant.

Jesus’ statement on this “rock I will build my church” has been variously interpreted as:

• Peter: Some interpret this as Jesus building the church on Peter himself, suggesting a leadership role for Peter. (Not supported by most) 

• Peter’s confession: Others interpret it as the church being built on Peter’s confession of faith, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Widely Supported by most)

A CHURCH’S DOCTRINAL STATEMENT OF FAITH

• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, and His sinless life.

• We believe is Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice upon the cross for sin, and His bodily resurrection.

• We believe in the Trinity and Personhood of the Holy Spirit.

• We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life, and by whom the Church, the Body of Christ, is gifted and equipped to serve and glorify God.

• We believe in the bodily resurrection of those who have trusted in Christ.

• We believe that it is by grace through faith, not by works that a person is Saved.

• We believe that Christ has commanded His Church to preach the gospel to all people, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, And Holy Spirit.

(Note: These are the essential doctrines and core foundation for any Church. And that is the person and work of Jesus Christ. A church can differ on things like, how the end times play out. The timing of Christ’s return. The tribulation period. The specific form of church government. The interpretation of prophecies. Church observance; baptism, communion, speaking in tongues.  Style of worship, music, instruments, contemporary, etc.  It’s important to remember that while these differences exist, they should not be a source of division or animosity among Christians. The core Christian message of Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ remains a unifying principle.)

WHAT THE CHURCH IS NOT:

• The Church is not a building. (Going to church does not make you a Christian.)

• The Church is not a business. (Christ didn’t die on the cross so He could redeem employees for Himself. Or generate profits for shareholders.)

• The church is not a political platform. (The church’s job is to share the Gospel, not to change the government.)

• The church is not a organization. (The Lord isn’t looking for a CEO to run His business, but to shepherd His flock.)

• The Church is not a self-help program. (It’s about God. Not self-help, but God-help.)

• The Church is not a source of entertainment.

• The church is not a social club.