Greek god Pan

Caesarea Philippi

Caesarea Philippi The Gate of Hades

Caesarea Philippi The Shrine of Pan

Mathew 16:13-18 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Verse 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

Verse 15 “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?”

Verse 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Verse 17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven.

Verse 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.”

What is the “church”?

What is the “church”? The church is a body of baptized believers, bound together to do the work and will of God in the world.

Ekklesia

Ekklesia = “the called out ones”

The Called Out Ones

The Called The Lord does the calling.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 As you know, like a father with his own children, we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to live worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

The Called The Lord does the calling. He calls us individually.

The Called He calls us to be part of His family. The Lord does the calling. He calls us individually. He calls us to be part of His family.

The Called Out

John 10:2–4 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

John 10:3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 10:4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice.

The Called Out He calls us out of darkness into light.

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.”

Colossians 1:12-14 Being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully

Colossians 1:13 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

Colossians 1:14 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred unto the kingdom of the Son He loves.

The Called Out He calls us out of slavery to sin – to being set free in Christ.

Romans 6:20–23 For when you were slaves to sin, you were free with regard to righteousness.

Romans 6:21 So what fruit was produced from the things you are now ashamed of? The outcome of those things is death.

Romans 6:22 But now, since you have been set free from sin and have become enslaved to God,

Romans 6:22-b you have your fruit, which results in sanctification—and the outcome is eternal life!

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Called Out He calls us from death unto life.

John 5:24 Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

The Called Out Ones

John 1:10–13 He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, and yet the world did not recognize Him.

John 1:11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.

John 1:12 But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be the children of God, to those who believe in His name,

John 1:13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.