Text:
Matthew 16:18:
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Theme:
What is the Church?
Introduction:
- The text comes from the Gospel of Matthew.
- The Gospel according to St. Matthew, is the first book of the New Testament and of the Gospels of Jesus, the Christ, and the 40th book of the Holy Bible as a whole.
- Matthew, the disciple of Christ, wrote in more detail of the life of Christ and His ministry than any other Gospel writer even though the book was written over 5-10 years later than the rest of the Gospels.
- At this point in the 16th chapter, Jesus is teaching His disciples:
- Asking the disciples as to who do the people and then the disciples themselves say that He is
- Peter boldly responded “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- Jesus replies to Peter’s bold statement with a remarkable prophecy in verse 18:
- “That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
- After reading Jesus’ assertion, the question arises — What is the Church?
Body:
- The Old Testament “Church”
- The Old Testament “church” is a promise of the “church” to come
- Genesis 49:10, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
- Under the LAW a God’s Chosen People
- The Law of Moses is “the whole body of Mosaic legislation” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
- Composed of what was on the tablets given to Moses by God as well as the explication of biblical understanding that ensued for generations thereafter.
- 1 Kings 2:3, “And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:”
- The structure of the Old Testament “church” (i.e. Temple worship)
- Nehemiah 10:28-29, “And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;”
- List of the people and roles in the Old Testament church à similar to our contemporary church
- The rest of the people è Congregation
- The priests è Ministers
- The Levites è Pastor
- The porters è Ushers
- The singers è Choir
- The Nethinims, people appointed to serve the Levites è “appointed ones”, appointed to perform specific tasks to assist the pastor
- Ezra 8:20, “Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.”
- All they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God è All God’s Sanctified Believers
- List of the people and roles in the Old Testament church à similar to our contemporary church
- Nehemiah 10:28-29, “And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;”
- The Law of Moses is “the whole body of Mosaic legislation” (Easton’s Bible Dictionary)
- The Old Testament “church” is a promise of the “church” to come
- The New Testament Church
- The Old Testament “church” was fulfilled by the advent of the New Testament Church
- Matthew 5:18, “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
- Hebrews 10:9, “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”
- The church began on the famed Day of Pentecost
- Acts 2:47, “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
- New Testament church is under the dispensation of GRACE
- Jesus did not come to replace or get rid of the law, but instead to fulfill it with His GRACE
- Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
- Ephesians 3:2, “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:”
- Jesus did not come to replace or get rid of the law, but instead to fulfill it with His GRACE
- The New Testament word for “church” is ekklesia, which means “the called out ones.”
- This term refers to the gathering and not the individuals.
- If the people are not together, the term is not used.
- Matthew 18:19-20, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
- Acts 2:44, “And all that believed were together, and had all things common;”
- The foundation is laid in Zion
- Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
- Jesus is the cornerstone…the Head of the Church
- Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
- Two Biblical offices recognized:
- Philippians 1:1, “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”
- Bishop
- Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.”
- 1 Timothy 3:2, “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;”
- Deacon
- Acts 6:3, “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
- 1 Timothy 3:8-12, “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.”
- Five ministries acknowledged to be given by the Holy Spirit:
- Ephesians 4:11, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”
- These “ministries” are GIFTS from God to be used by God for the effectual promulgation and manifestation of God’s power and will for mankind.
- These are ministries/gifts…NOT offices of the church. The offices denote LEADERSHIP of a flock.
- How do you become a member of the Church?
- By Promise, Prophecy, Preparation and Fact
- These are translated to be:
- By Faith, Repentance, Confession, and Baptism
- These are translated to be:
- By Promise, Prophecy, Preparation and Fact
- Members are known as:
- Saints à Romans 1:7, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Children of God à Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
- Heirs of God à Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
- Brethren à Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
- Sons of God à 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
- Disciples à Isaiah 8:16, “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.”
- Christians à Acts 11:26, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”
- This term refers to the gathering and not the individuals.
- The Old Testament “church” was fulfilled by the advent of the New Testament Church
The church is a broad concept biblically that breaches many different concepts.
Other terms also help us to realize an understanding of the concept of church:
- Assembly of the saints.(Ps 89:7)
- Assembly of the upright.(Ps 111:1)
- Body of Christ.(Eph 1:22-23)
- Branch of God’s planting.(Isa 60:21)
- Bride of Christ.(Re 21:9)
- Church of God.(Ac 20:28)
- Church of the Living God.(1Ti 3:15)
- Church of the first-born.(Heb 12:23)
- City of the Living God.(Heb 12:22)
- Congregation of saints.(Ps 149:1)
- Congregation of the Lord’s poor.(Ps 74:19)
- Dove.(Song 2:14; 5:2)
- Family in heaven and earth.(Eph 3:15)
- Flock of God.(Eze 34:15; 1Pe 5:2)
- Fold of Christ.(Joh 10:16)
- General assembly of the first-born.(Heb 12:23)
- Golden candlestick.(Re 1:20)
- God’s building.(1Co 3:9)
- God’s husbandry.(1Co 3:9)
- God’s heritage.(Joe 3:2; 1Pe 5:3)
- Habitation of God.(Eph 2:22)
- Heavenly of Jerusalem.(Ga 4:26; Heb 12:22)
- Holy city.(Re 21:2)
- Holy mountain.(Zec 8:3)
- Holy hill.(Ps 15:1)
- House of God.(1Ti 3:15; Heb 10:21)
- House of the God of Jacob.(Isa 2:3)
- House of Christ.(Heb 3:6)
- Household of God.(Eph 2:19)
- Inheritance.(Ps 28:9; Isa 19:25)
- Israel of God.(Ga 6:16)
- King’s daughter.(Ps 45:13)
- Lamb’s wife.(Re 19:7; 21:9)
- Lot of God’s inheritance.(De 32:9)
- Mount Zion.(Ps 2:6; Heb 12:22)
- Mountain of the Lord’s house.(Isa 2:2)
- New Jerusalem.(Re 21:2)
- Pillar and ground of the truth.(1Ti 3:15)
- Sanctuary of God.(Ps 114:2)
- Spiritual house.(1Pe 2:5)
- Spouse of Christ.(Song 4:12; 5:1)
- Sought out, a city not forsaken.(Isa 62:12)
- Temple of God.(1Co 3:16-17)
- Temple of the Living God.(2Co 6:16)
- Vineyard.(Jer 12:10; Mt 21:41)
Conclusion:
- When you give the preacher your hand and give God your heart, what are you joining?
- Refuge
- Psalms 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
- Support system
- James 5:8, “Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
- Eternal source of Power and Strength
- Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
- WE ARE JOINING GOD!!!
- John 17:21, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
- WHAT is the Church is defined in WHERE is the Church!
- We are the church!!!
- 1 Corinthians 3:17, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”
- It’s NOT a building, a person, a dollar bill, a picture, a social group, a denomination, or a choir!!!
- We are the CHURCH!!!
- We are the church!!!
- Refuge
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