"I Will Build My Church" - Matthew 16:18

The title of this week's article contains the words of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 16:18. The verse, in its entirety, reads: "And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." This is the first time that the word "church" appears in our English translations. There are a number of things to note in these words which, if carefully observed and faithfully applied by all professing to be of the Christian faith, would have an immediate and dramatic impact on the spiritual landscape of our country. Taking the verse, with all of its constituent parts, we can break it down into at least four significant phrases, with each phrase setting forth an important truth relative to the church that Jesus promised to build.

"I" - Jesus is the builder. Jesus knew what it meant to build things, for His earthly step-father was a carpenter. I have no doubt that Joseph taught Jesus the fundamentals of carpentry. We have no record of Jesus having ever built a physical house, a piece of furniture, or a structure of any kind. Had He done so, men might have turned any structure He made into some kind of shrine. That is not to say that Jesus never built anything prior to the establishment of His church. Consider the words of John: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made" (John 1:1-3). The Hebrews writer tells us that Jesus upholds "all things by the word of his power" (Heb. 1:3). I sometimes muse regarding the beauty and quality of work our Lord has demonstrated in the making of the universe. No doubt He was a master builder, the beauty and design of the work of His hands manifesting His wisdom and power. So, when Jesus said He would build His church, I can be confident that every facet of that divine institution is of the highest quality, meeting the spiritual needs of those who make up His body. Since Jesus is the builder of His church, then any religious group that was not built by Jesus Christ cannot be the church of my Lord. That may sound simplistic to those who are members of the one body, but to a world caught up in denominational mentality, it is a truth that is not only strange to their hearing, but confusing to their minds.

"Will Build" - The entire work, from laying the foundation on the solid 'rock,' to the completion of the superstructure, was yet in the future at the time Jesus spoke these words. There is an element of predictive prophecy contained in the words of Jesus. We have the benefit of almost 2,000 years of history by which we can measure the sheer magnitude of the promise of Jesus. This kingdom, as prophesied by Daniel, has truly broken in pieces and consumed the kingdoms of the world (Dan. 2:44). Who, living at the time Jesus made this promise, would have ever imagined that the gospel would, within the lifetime of those apostles, be "preached in all creation under heaven" (Col. 1:23)? Consider this quote from Harry Rimmer, in his book, The Evidences for Immortality:

"In the day when Christ died, Rome was utterly pagan. From one end of her empire to the other, from center to circumference, idolatry and paganism reigned supreme. The single exception was the monotheism of Judea. It is, therefore, a startling discovery to find that fifty years after Jesus died on the gallows of Rome there was a church reared to His memory and for His worship in every principle city of the Roman Empire! Two hundred and fifty years after Christ died for the sins of man, half the Roman Empire had accepted the gospel of redemption through His shed blood."

At the time Jesus spoke those words contained in Matthew 16:18, there was nothing, from a human point of view, that would even suggest that the kingdom Jesus would establish would bring Rome to its knees. When the Lord made that promise near Caesarea Philippi, many of His would-be followers had already turned away. The inner circle of disciples, those who would be appointed as apostles, had doubts and questions, not to mention that one of them would soon betray the Lord. He had no army, no funds, no political power, and a diminishing following. Yet still Jesus promised, "I will build my church."

"My" - This two letter pronoun is packed with significance. Not only is Jesus the builder of the church; He also possesses the church. It is His by right of origination to the same extent that an earthly business is owned by its builder. That two letter pronoun, "my," implies preeminence, as pronounced by the apostle Paul: "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" (Col. 1:18). Let men learn the meaning of that one word, "preeminence," and then let them apply it in all aspects of Christian living, and forever gone would be the multitude of denominational terms and titles so revered by men. How anyone, in his right mind, with any degree of reason or common sense, can read that two letter pronoun, and then conclude that it makes no difference what church one belongs to, remains a mystery to me. The signs that appear on the edifices erected to one's personal preferences in religion are as multitudinous as the buildings themselves. Yet the simple designations penned by the Holy Spirit always pay tribute to the One Who built and purchased the church with His blood (Acts 20:28). I cannot think of a term more concise, more compact, while at the same time showing respect and honor to Jesus Christ, than the inspired words used by Paul: "The churches of Christ salute you" (Rom. 16:16).

"Church" - The word church means "the called out." When Jesus said He would build His church, He was not talking about a physical structure. He was going to build a "spiritual house," consisting of "living stones," to be a "holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 2:5). This He has accomplished in a most remarkable fashion. It is important to notice that the word "church" is singular. Jesus said He would build His church; not churches. Why is this so difficult for men to grasp? Paul tells us, "There is one body, and one spirit, even as also ye were called in one hope of your calling" (Eph. 4:4). Earlier Paul had identified that body as the church: "And he put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23). There is one body, and the body is the church! That there is, therefore, only one church, is as clear as night follows day. Yet men still deny it.

The verse does not end with the five words or phrases we have examined. Our Lord added these encouraging words: "And the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." I have no doubt that McGarvey was correct when he made the following comment on these words:

"Hades is contemplated as a walled city waging war against the Church. Its gates are made the symbols of its power, because the military forces of an ancient city always issued forth from its gates, and the gates may be considered as sending them out. All the powers by which hades, the place of disembodied spirits, assails the Church, are included in the figure, the powers of demons, of Satan, and of death. The text is a pledge that the Church would never be tempted into total apostasy, nor be depopulated by the death of all its members (McGarvey, Fourfold Gospel)."

Next time you read those familiar words in Matthew 16:18, take a moment to pause and consider the words; all the words, and each of the words. And then pause and give thanks to our Father in heaven for His divine wisdom in seeing to it that the church became, and remains a reality even to this day.
~~~~~

Tom Wacaster

Why pray to God?

Why I Pray

I pray because I believe God listens. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14).

I pray because God has told me that He cares and is able to help. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7; see also Luke 12:6-7; Heb. 4:16).

I pray because I lack wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him as of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

I pray because my Savior said I ought to pray. “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).

I pray because I’m thankful for all the good things God has given. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6; see also Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:16-18).

I pray because I need pardon. “My little children, these things I write to you, that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1; see also Acts 8:22; Ps. 51:1-9).

I pray because I adore and love my Father. “In this manner, therefore, pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name’” (Matt. 6:9).

I pray because I’ve read so many accounts of people who prayed to God with great results. “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit” (James 5:17-18). “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).

I pray because of Paul’s exhortation. “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1-3).

I pray because I believe God has the ability to grant even more than I’m able to think and ask. “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 3:14-21).

- by Warren Berkley

According to your faith, so be it unto you

    Turning to Romans 14:10 we hear Paul as he tells us that we all shall one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give account of ourselves to God. Turning to Acts 17:31 we are told by Paul that a day has been appointed in which the world will be judged.  Listen as John tells us that the day will come when the dead, small and great will stand before God and be judged by the things written in the books that will be opened (Rev. 20:12). The writer of Hebrews sums all this up when he tells us that it is appointed to man once to die and then the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The only uncertainty concerning our death centers around when it will happen, not if it will happen. Truly, there is a great day coming and in that day we will stand face to face with our Lord. What an awesome day that will be.

          Face to face, what will it be?  When the brittle thread of life is broken and this old physical body lies in the silent city of the dead, there will be no coming back to take care of things forgotten or neglected; no coming back to speak words of love and encouragement to friends or loved ones; no coming back to seek forgiveness and pardon; no coming back to make preparation to die. Insofar as death is concerned, all that is to be done must be done before we take that last feeble step. If we have tied our lives to a strong, abiding faith in God, if our faith is one that can truly say, ‘I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12); if our faith is one that can shout to all the world, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Phil. 1:21); if our faith is one that allows us with conviction to proclaim, ‘All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28), then life will truly be worth living under any and all circumstances because one day the greatest victory imaginable will be ours (1 Cor. 15:57).

          For all who are willing to cast aside personal prejudices and pride (Proverbs 16:18), willing to forsake traditions and commandments of men (Matthew 15:9) and obey God in all things (Acts 5:29), there will be a reward that is beyond words of human description (1 Cor. 2:9, Rev. 21:1-4). If we follow God’s plan and tie our purpose to his purpose, then the thought of death and judgment will not be a fearful thought.

          Suppose for a moment that when you stand face to face with the Lord, He should say to you as He once said to two blind men, “According to your faith, so be it unto you” (Matt. 9:28-29). If you were to take that last feeble step at this moment, based on your faith in him, where would you spend your eternity?

Charles Hicks

I want to be on God's road going his way

We have been traveling across this great nation of ours for 8 days now. We are not making a mad dash across the county this time as we have always done before. Just a few more days and we will be to our goal, home with our family.

Yesterday was an especially long day of driving and driving an almost 40 foot long motor home and towing a car behind it, making it closer to 60 foot takes lots of concentration. Yesterday we drove through several areas of "road construction" (very narrow lanes to negotiate) and I was very tired. 

We were in Missouri (stretching our driving day to try and stay ahead of some storm fronts) and had planned on stopping at a RV park at a particular exit, but when we got there the RV park was not, apparently it had closed. I kept driving for another 30 miles or so down the highway and I was getting tired. We finally spotted a small RV park off the side of the road, made a quick exit and stopped.

Once we got set up and settled the stress of the day started to set in and I was really tired. We made a couple of calls to family and we were asked the inevitable question, "Where are you guys?" My reply was, "I don’t know and don't really care, I'm just glad to be off of the road for the night". I still don't know because I haven't cared enough to check it out. I do know we are somewhere East of Springfield, MO, but that's it. I'll get out the road maps and check it out later this morning to find out more accurately because I do have a destination in mind, a goal of where to be tomorrow night. I want to be on the right highway going in the right direction.

Of course as I thought about my response, I thought about how this is like the response of so many people regarding their relationship to God. Someone might ask, "Are you a Christian?" or "Are you right with God?" to which the response often is, "I hope so," or "I think so". So basically like me they are saying, "I don't really know and I don't care enough to check it out and see where I am".  

God has given us a "road map for life," His book, the bible. You may not know where you are in your relationship to Him and may not really care, but I can guarantee that someday you will care. Jesus had these words to share on the subject in Matthew 7:13-14.  "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it." (NLT)

I don't know about you, but I check the road map for life often daily. Why, because I want to be on God's road going his way. How about you?