Bible Studies
The Church of Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:13-19)
Series: Additional StudiesIntroduction:
1. There is much confusion in the religious world about the church.a. Some see the church as an organizational entity (or institution) that people get into in order to be saved. Robert Turner spoke of a “little red wagon” concept. He said that some see the church as a little red wagon that they jump in and ride to heaven.
b. Some with this view see this organization as divided into various denominations all (with exceptions) headed to the same place. Ex. Protestant denominations.
c. Still others see their particular institution as the only one headed for heaven. Ex. Roman Catholicism. Some in so-called Churches of Christ think this way.
2. The Scripture testifies that religious confusion has been a problem from time immemorial.a. Assumptions are made and concepts develop in our minds that cause confusion.
b. As humans we tend to not be satisfied with the limited revelation that we have. We begin to speculate amongst ourselves and differing opinions are offered. We press our thinking on others and they press their thinking on us. Divisions often result from highly charged emotional exchanges where one clings to their thinking while castigating the thinking of
3. It is possible that we make the issue about us and our position to the neglect of what the Scripture actually says. We can do this not only about the church, but a thousand other issues as well. Take a sampling of any religious organization across the board and you will see the same things. Ex. Muslim. 4. It is not easy for us to just be satisfied with what Scripture says. Each offers his/her judgment about what it means and we confuse our personal faith (subjective) with the faith (objective). 5. In this study we run the risk of doing the same things again. But I ask you to consider what Matt. 16:13-19 has to say about the church. I hope we can lay aside our biases as much as that is possible and really hear what is said.Discussion:
I. The church has its origin in the revelation of God (Matt. 16:17).A. I know that what is being addressed here is that God revealed to Peter that Jesus was God’s own son.
B. But that is related logically to the origin of the church.
1. God
2. Jesus Christ His Son
3. The church
C. The church therefore traces its origin to the revelation of God.
1. God reveals only what He chooses to reveal and He is silent about those things He chooses not to reveal.
2. We must content ourselves to be subject to what He has revealed, neither demanding more or less from others.
II. The church is founded upon who Jesus is (Matt. 16:18).A. The world was (and is) confused about who Jesus is.
1. Some thought he was John the Baptist.
2. Others thought he was Elijah.
3. Still others thought he was Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.
B. Jesus asked Peter, “But who do you say that I am.”
1. Jesus called on Peter to express his personal judgment.
2. Each of us is called on to make a personal judgment.
3. We can rehearse what people say. We can debate what people say, presenting pros and cons in evaluation of their opinions. But the question is personal. “What do you believe?” You can’t answer for me and I can’t answer for you.
C. Peter is acknowledging that Jesus is not just a good man. He is not just a prophet. He is the Son of God. That makes Him equal with God (Jn. 5:18).
D. That means He has the authority of God (Jn. 5:19ff).
1. To give life.
2. Deserves the same honor as the Father.
3. Has the power of judgment.
4. His word and belief in Him results in eternal life.
5. His voice calls to either a resurrection of life or a resurrection of judgment.
E. “Christ Jesus Himself is the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:20-22).
III. The church is composed of individuals who acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God (Matt. 16:18).A. The church is not an institution, but “confessors.” It is people.
1. The Greek word translated “church” is a collective noun. It is sometimes translated assembly or congregation. It merely references a group of people.
2. Similar nouns are: flock, herd, group, troupe, covey, etc. None of these nouns refer to an institution or organizational entity.
3. The church is that group of people that confess Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.
B. It is not association with an institution that constitutes the church, but confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
1. Confession of Jesus Christ is not merely acknowledging the truth of who He is.
2. It involves actual submission to Him as God in our lives.
3. This is made more explicit in Rom. 10:5-11, esp. v. 9, where it refers to confessing Jesus as Lord.
4. Again 1 Tim. 6:13-16 makes this clear (cf. Jn. 18:33-37) as it focuses on Him as King with absolute dominion.
C. We may have problems determining in our own minds who we believe is a genuine confessor.
1. The Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim. 2:19) even though we may be uncertain.
2. In matters of fellowship--we may have fellowship with some who are not in fellowship with Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 5:11-13). We may not have fellowship with some who are in fellowship with Christ (3 Jn. 9-10).
3. This judgment must be made on the basis of an evaluation of each individual’s confession or submission to the Lord. Wholesale evaluation of whole groups of people often reflects an institutional perspective. Institutions do not confess Christ, individuals do. And even here our judgments are flawed. Nevertheless, practically we must still make such judgments. With the exception of blatant wickedness, my conclusion is that I can have fellowship with most anyone who does not attempt to force me to violate my conscience. We can believe different things on a variety of topics, but let us be respectful to not attempt to force each other to violate our conscience (Rom. 14-15). Note especially 14:1-4.
4. Our relationship to our Master is individual in its nature (Rom. 14:10-12).
IV. The church is the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:19).A. Sometimes we think of the kingdom of heaven as the final destiny of those who belong to the Lord.
B. In this context however it refers to the church, those confessors of Jesus as the Son of God.
C. The image of a kingdom harks back to the promise made to King David that God would seat one of his descendants on his throne.
1. This is the interpretation made by Peter in Acts 2:30-36.
2. Remember that it is Peter who made the confession in Matt. 16.
3. In Acts 2 he is preaching that Jesus is both Lord and Christ, seated by God on the throne of David, God having validated Him by raising Him from the dead (cf. Rom. 1:1-4).
D. It is these same confessors that have the final destiny of heaven. They are the saved. They have heard, believed, repented, and been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.
E. They are a motley crew (1 Cor. 6:9-11) and often are in need of instruction and rebuke. Sometimes they view each other with contempt. Sometimes they judge each other. They have bad attitudes. They do not always do what they should. They struggle in various ways. But they have the same Lord, the same Shepherd. They are in the same flock and there is no other. It is only by their submission to their common Lord that they are able to survive one another. Wolves and lambs, leopards and goats, calves and lions--together, in the same kingdom (Isa. 11:1ff). There is peace, secured by the blood of the Shepherd, but it is often an uneasy peace. Paul said, “I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:1-3).
Conclusion:
1. The church has its origin in the revelation of God. 2. The church is founded upon who Jesus is. 3. It is composed of the people who acknowledge Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God. 4. It is the kingdom of heaven.
