The Church that Christ Built Matthew 16:13-19 You are PeterYou are Peter –Peter = Petros Greek – “detached stone” a boulder (Vines Expository of New.

The Church The Church that Christ that Christ

BuiltBuilt

Matthew 16:13-19Matthew 16:13-19

• You are PeterYou are Peter– Peter = Peter = PetrosPetros

• Greek – “detached stone” a boulder Greek – “detached stone” a boulder (Vines Expository of New Testament Words)(Vines Expository of New Testament Words)

• Upon this RockUpon this Rock– Rock = Rock = PetraPetra

• Greek – “Mass of Rock” Singular sure foundation Greek – “Mass of Rock” Singular sure foundation (Vines Expository of New Testament Words)(Vines Expository of New Testament Words)

– ((1 Cor 3:111 Cor 3:11) “For other foundation can no man ) “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Gates of HadesGates of Hades

• Hell = Hades – realm of the unseenHell = Hades – realm of the unseen• Rock will prevail over HadesRock will prevail over Hades

– Speaking of ChristSpeaking of Christ– ((Acts 2:27Acts 2:27) “Because thou wilt not ) “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in leave my soul in

hadeshades, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see , neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”corruption.”

– ((Acts 2:31-32Acts 2:31-32) “He seeing this before spake of the ) “He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in soul was not left in hadeshades, neither his flesh did see corruption. This , neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”witnesses.”

The promise of the ChurchThe promise of the Church

• Christ said, “I will build my church.”Christ said, “I will build my church.”– Christ’s purpose was to build a churchChrist’s purpose was to build a church

• ((Eph 3:10-11Eph 3:10-11) “To the intent that now unto the ) “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might principalities and powers in heavenly places might be be known by the churchknown by the church the the manifold wisdom manifold wisdom of Godof God, According to the , According to the eternal purposeeternal purpose which which he he purposed in Christ Jesuspurposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” our Lord:”

• Was not an after thoughtWas not an after thought

– Built his ChurchBuilt his Church• Not churches of menNot churches of men

Definition of ChurchDefinition of Church

• Ekklesia (Ekklesia (EkklesiaEkklesia) – a calling out) – a calling out– More meaning than a mere assemblyMore meaning than a mere assembly

• Assembly is not a good translation of Assembly is not a good translation of ekklesia.ekklesia.• This calling out has a greater importance than an This calling out has a greater importance than an

assemblyassembly• Used in reference to the State officialsUsed in reference to the State officials• Used in reference to a “gathering” in honor of a Used in reference to a “gathering” in honor of a

god.god.

– Perfect rendering of Perfect rendering of ekklesia ekklesia is the English is the English word “Church”.word “Church”.

Definition of ChurchDefinition of Church

• Not speaking of the BuildingNot speaking of the Building

• Speaking of the peopleSpeaking of the people– Two applications when speaking of ChristiansTwo applications when speaking of Christians

• The Universal ChurchThe Universal Church– ““I will build my Church” (I will build my Church” (Matt 16:18Matt 16:18))– ““the churches of Christ salute you.” (the churches of Christ salute you.” (Rom 16:16Rom 16:16))

• The Local congregationThe Local congregation– ((Acts 20:28Acts 20:28) “…to feed the church of God, which he hath ) “…to feed the church of God, which he hath

purchased with his own blood.”purchased with his own blood.”– ((1 Cor 1:21 Cor 1:2) “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth.”) “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth.”

Importance of the ChurchImportance of the Church

• ((Eph 3:11Eph 3:11) “According to the ) “According to the eternal purposeeternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:”which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:”– Church was in the mind of God from eternityChurch was in the mind of God from eternity

• ((Acts 20:28Acts 20:28) “…to feed the church of God, which ) “…to feed the church of God, which he hath he hath purchasedpurchased with his own with his own bloodblood.”.”– A thing is worth the amount that you pay for it.A thing is worth the amount that you pay for it.– Church was paid for by the Blood of the Son of GodChurch was paid for by the Blood of the Son of God

• HISHIS Church is Important Church is Important

How do we know which is his How do we know which is his Church?Church?

• By it’s CharacteristicsBy it’s Characteristics– OriginationOrigination– OrganizationOrganization– DoctrineDoctrine– WorshipWorship– NameName– CreedCreed

OriginationOrigination

• SeedSeed– Word of GodWord of God– Plant seed anywhere and it will produce after Plant seed anywhere and it will produce after

its kindits kind

• The Church is in the Seed that it ProducesThe Church is in the Seed that it Produces

OrganizationOrganization

• CongregationCongregation– Not a denominationNot a denomination

• Denomination – Division Denomination – Division • Division condemned by Paul (Division condemned by Paul (1 Cor 1:10-131 Cor 1:10-13))

– Simplicity of its organizationSimplicity of its organization• Elders – OverseeElders – Oversee• Deacons – assist in the workDeacons – assist in the work• Members – assemble together to work out their salvationMembers – assemble together to work out their salvation• Preachers – proclaim the gospelPreachers – proclaim the gospel

• Christ is the one and only headChrist is the one and only head– ((Eph 5:23Eph 5:23) “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as ) “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as

Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.”body.”

– No conventions, presidents, dioceses, Popes, regions, earthly No conventions, presidents, dioceses, Popes, regions, earthly headquartersheadquarters

DoctrineDoctrine

• Gospel of Christ– Same principle apply now as it did then.– (Mark 16:15-16)

• Gospel – good news– Death, burial, and resurrection of Christ– We can have our sins forgiven– Repent and be Baptized!!! (Acts 2:38)

WorshipWorship

• PatternPattern– ((1 Cor 11:21 Cor 11:2) “…keep the ordinances as I ) “…keep the ordinances as I

delivered them unto you”delivered them unto you”– ((1 Tim 3:14-151 Tim 3:14-15) “These things write I unto ) “These things write I unto

thee… …that thou mayest know how thou thee… …that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”pillar and ground of the truth.”• Oughtest – Greek Oughtest – Greek dei dei = “Necessary as in binding”= “Necessary as in binding”

– Can be Can be NONO additions additions

When is a thing an AdditionWhen is a thing an Addition

One may say, “Show me the scripture for One may say, “Show me the scripture for songbooks, seats, or lights in the meetinghouse, songbooks, seats, or lights in the meetinghouse,

and I will show you one for organs in the and I will show you one for organs in the church.”church.”

• SeatsSeats– ((James 2:3James 2:3) “…sit thou here”) “…sit thou here”

• LightsLights– ((Acts 20:8Acts 20:8) “And there were many lights in the upper ) “And there were many lights in the upper

chamber, where they were gathered together.”chamber, where they were gathered together.”

When is a thing an AdditionWhen is a thing an Addition

• Lord’s SupperLord’s Supper– Elements specifiedElements specified

• BreadBread• Fruit of the vineFruit of the vine

– Plates not addition to the Lord’s supperPlates not addition to the Lord’s supper– Adding ElementsAdding Elements

• SauceSauce• CheeseCheese• Pepperoni Pepperoni

When is a thing an AdditionWhen is a thing an Addition

• SongbooksSongbooks– Does not introduce an additional element of Does not introduce an additional element of

musicmusic– Using the songbook – perform only the act of Using the songbook – perform only the act of

singingsinging

• Instrumental music Instrumental music – Another element of musicAnother element of music

Name or TerminologyName or Terminology

• ChristianChristian– ((Acts 11:26Acts 11:26) “The disciples were called ) “The disciples were called

Christians first in Antioch.”Christians first in Antioch.”– Only name we can use with unity!Only name we can use with unity!

• Human NamesHuman Names– Cause DivisionsCause Divisions

CreedCreed

• BibleBible– ((1 Peter 4:111 Peter 4:11) “If any man speak, let him ) “If any man speak, let him

speak as the oracles of God.”speak as the oracles of God.”– Human Creed is a formulated interpretation of Human Creed is a formulated interpretation of

what the Bible says.what the Bible says.– The Bible is what it The Bible is what it DOESDOES say. say.

• Human Creeds create DenominationsHuman Creeds create Denominations

• Divine Creed creates the ChurchDivine Creed creates the Church

How do we know which is his How do we know which is his Church?Church?

• By it’s CharacteristicsBy it’s Characteristics– OriginationOrigination

• SeedSeed– OrganizationOrganization

• CongregationalCongregational– DoctrineDoctrine

• Gospel of ChristGospel of Christ– WorshipWorship

• PatternPattern– NameName

• ChristianChristian– CreedCreed

• BibleBible

The The True True

ChurchChurch

Only One way to Become a Only One way to Become a Member of that ChurchMember of that Church

• Birthday of the Church – PentecostBirthday of the Church – Pentecost((Acts 2:36-47Acts 2:36-47) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath ) “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were they heard this, they were prickedpricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we dowhat shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, ? Then Peter said unto them, RepentRepent, and be , and be baptizedbaptized every one of you every one of you in the name of Jesus Christin the name of Jesus Christ FORFOR the the remission of sinsremission of sins, and ye shall receive the , and ye shall receive the giftgift of the of the Holy GhostHoly Ghost. For the promise . For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save Save yourselvesyourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly receivedgladly received his word his word were were baptizedbaptized: and the : and the same daysame day there were there were addedadded unto them about three thousand unto them about three thousand souls. And they souls. And they continued stedfastlycontinued stedfastly in the in the apostles' doctrineapostles' doctrine and fellowship, and and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believedbelieved were together, were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord ADDED to the church daily such as should be SAVEDLord ADDED to the church daily such as should be SAVED.”.”