The Church Series: Truth, Judgment and Eternity Text: Matthew 16:18

The Church I’m ministering this sermon on “The Church” for the benefit of those of us who are new to the faith, so as to understand why Jesus built the Church. I will be looking at what the Church is and what it isn’t and hopefully make clear to all of us why God instituted the Church. To begin with, we need to understand that Christianity is a Community based faith, it is not a solo faith. Also if we are not growing in the faith we are wilting. The Church exists to unite believers and encourage them to continue in the faith.

The Rock Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros—a stone (pebble), such as a small rock found along a pathway], and on this rock [Greek, petra—a huge rock, a mass of connected rock] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].” (AMP) In saying this to Peter, Jesus declared Peter (Petros) one of the stones which Jesus would use as foundation stones in His Church. But upon “Petra” Rock, which relates to Jesus Himself or could even relate to all the Disciples as a whole (or both) Jesus would build His Church.

What is the Church? WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST. Ephesians 1:22-23 “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills everything in every way.” WE ARE LIVING STONES 1Peter 2:5 “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

The Reason for the Church Ephesians 3:10-11 “His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Churches role is to make known the manifold wisdom of God: Manifold means “having many different forms or elements.” When the many and varied elements of the Word of God is preached, it has a powerful effect on the Heavenly realm.

Jesus is Glorified in the Church Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” When we gather together as believers and worship and pray to God through Christ, He is glorified. Notice Paul said “to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations”, we are the future generations Paul was describing here.

Jesus is the Head Ephesians 5:23 “Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Saviour.” If you truly submit to the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord of your life, then you connect with the Church of Christ, because He is the Head of the Church. Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

They Gathered Together Acts 14:27 “On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” They gathered together they did not go to a church. The Church is a gathering of believers, it is not a building we go to. The gathering is always a setting for fellowship, worship, prayer, sharing and the Word of God being ministered.

Build Up the Church 1Corinthians 14:12 “Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.” If we consider ourselves spiritual and desire spiritual gifts, we receive them for the building up of one another. 1Corinthians 14:26 “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” Everything which we bring when we meet as the Church of Jesus Christ should be for the strengthening of the Church.

Our Concern Should Be For the Church 2Corinthians 11:28 “Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” Paul was known as the greatest apostle, he had been imprisoned, stoned, whipped and beaten and was always being hunted by someone, he was constantly endangered and went without food, water and sleep, he suffered much for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, yet his main concern in life was the Church.

Christ Died for the Church Ephesians 5:25 “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” We must ask ourselves: “If Jesus loved the Church so much that Scripture tells us that He died for her salvation, then how important is the Church?” My attitude is that if Jesus died for the Church, then I am gonna live for what Jesus died for. Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (the church).” (NAS)

Christ Died for the Church Ephesians 5:25-27 “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Jesus has provided everything we need to get through this life (the Church) and enter into eternal life with Him in Heaven. Hebrews 10:25 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” We are encouraged to meet together so that we continue in the faith and all the more as we see His imminent return.

For the Sake of His Body Our attitude for the Church should be like Paul’s: Colossians 1:24-29 “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fulness — the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

The Church in Eternity Those who are in the Church (The Body of Christ) have their names written in Heaven: Hebrews 12:22-25 “But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.”