Christ Is Building His Church

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This is a sermon based on Matthew 16:18 and explores some of the characteristics of the church that Jesus is building.

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

What kind of church is Jesus building?

I.           The Foundation

There has been a lot of debate about what Jesus meant when he said, “Upon this rock I will build my church.” Roman Catholicism has promoted the idea that He was talking about Peter being the first “pope” or ecclesiastical authority. Others have proposed the thought that Jesus meant that Peter’s confession was the rock upon which the church would be built.

One writer (R.C.H. Lenski) says, “Nor does "this rock" signify Peter's confession. The church is not built on the confession her members make, which would change the effect into the cause. By her confession the church shows on what she is built. She rests on the reality which Peter confessed, namely on Jesus, "the Christ, the Son of the living God."

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (KJV) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:20 (NKJV) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,

What these verses teach us is that Jesus Christ is the foundation and the chief cornerstone but the apostles and prophets have laid down the foundation in the sense that they have proclaimed the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. They have proclaimed the reconciliation provided by Jesus. They have proclaimed the authority, the deity, and the saving power of Jesus.

Jesus Christ is building His church and its foundation is Jesus Himself. He is the center focus, He is the support, He is the root source of life, and He is One that guides it and brings it to its full potential.

Wayside Community Church is one small part of the Church of Jesus Christ and we stand solidly and unapologetically on the fact that Jesus Christ is the reason we exist. We stand on the fact of His full divinity, His sinless life, His sacrificial death, His victorious bodily resurrection, and His soon return in power and glory. Hallelujah!

II.     The Structure

When we talk about the structure of the church that Jesus is building, I want to refer back to the passage recorded in Ephesians 2.

Ephesians 2:19-22 (KJV) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹ In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²² In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Paul said to the Ephesians, “The whole building is fitly framed together.”

Another translation reads like this, “In Him the whole structure is joined together.” (NRSV)

The context of this statement indicates that the building or the structure of the church is made up of the saints and fellow citizens in the household of God, or the redeemed.

There are various analogies that are used in the Bible to indicate our status when we are born again and become believers in Jesus. Family of God (sons, children, adopted…); Fellow citizens rather than foreigners; etc.

You and I and everyone who has bowed in humble repentance and confession of sin and asked Christ to come into our lives to transform us by His Spirit are all a part of this “building” we call the church. We are a part of the framework and structure that is carrying out the mission and purposes of Christ in our generation just like millions of others have done in their generations.

III.        The Character

When we speak of the character of the church that Jesus is building, we mean that it is a holy church.

Ephesians 2:19-22 (KJV) Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹ In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²² In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Holiness is the quality of deity. Those who are members of this “building” are growing into a holy sanctuary for the Spirit of God to live in. There doesn’t seem to be nearly as much emphasis on holiness in American churches as there used to be, but that is one of the truly biblical qualities of the church that Jesus is building.

It is a cooperating church. Every member is supplying his/her share of the overall composition. Each one is doing his/her part to effectively accomplish the mission of Christ for the transformation of every purpose into the image of Christ.

Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV) from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

No one is a spectator. No one merely sits on the sidelines and watches. Everyone uses their God-given gifts and abilities to advance the kingdom of God on earth.

It is a developing and growing church. Spiritually and numerically.

The language and grammatical structure indicates that this is not a static structure that never changes, but it is dynamic and is growing and changing as God works with each part of the building. It is growing numerically as the “Lord adds to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47)

It is growing in spiritual maturity as the Holy Spirit leads every member into a deeper relationship with Christ and a deeper understanding of the life of a disciple.

It is a victorious church.

Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.

(A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament.) We have here the figure of two buildings, the Church of Christ on the Rock, [and] the House of Death (Hades). "In the Old Testament the 'gates of Hades' (Sheol) never bears any other meaning … than death," McNeile claims... It is not the picture of Hades attacking Christ's church, but of death's possible victory over the church.

See Acts 2:22-32

The gates of hell (or gates of death) were not able to confine the Son of God and He rose victorious over death and the grave. Neither will the gates of death be able to confine or overcome the church.

The individual members of the church may die of old age, disease, accidents or tragedy, but every one of them will be resurrected just like our Rock and Foundation, Jesus Christ, was raised. Individual members of the church may die and leave this world, but the church will go on living and conquering and fulfilling God’s purpose.

The spirit of death and culture of death may spread and overtake more and more territory, but there will always be a living remnant. The true church will always be alive and thriving even in the midst of death all around it.

(A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament.) The wealth of imagery in Matthew 16:18 makes it difficult to decide each detail, but the main point is clear. The ekklēsia which consists of those confessing Christ as Peter has just done will not cease. The gates of Hades or bars of Sheol will not close down on it. Christ will rise and will keep his church alive.

We sang a chorus in prayer meeting recently that was written by H. Robb French, There’s more with us than be with them, we’re on the winning side.

Conclusion:

By being a part of the church of Jesus Christ, we are a part of the greatest thing in this world.

We’re a part of the biggest thing that will continue to live and flourish all through the unending ages of eternity.

We’re not all of the church, but we’re a part of it and we will enjoy every benefit that Jesus died to provide for His body – the church.