Upon This RockMatthew 16:13-20

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Introduction

What comes to mind when you hear the word “church”?

What really matters is the Bible’s definition of “church”!

“ekklesia”: from ek, (out of), and kaleo (to call)(Vine). The church is an “assembly” of people that have assembled as the result of answering a “call” from a “herald.”

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Introduction

Two key elements in ekklesia: Acts 19:28-32

assembly = people (v. 32: “for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together”; i.e., a group of people drawn together as the result of answering a specific…) call = summons (i.e., this group of people assembled in response to a specific call or summons; at Ephesus in Acts 19 they had answered the “confused” summons issued by Demetrius and his cohorts)

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Introduction

The New Testament church:

assembly = people = What people? Col. 1:18-22; Heb. 12:23; Acts 2:41, 47; Eph. 5:23; 1:22-23 call = summons = 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 1:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Jn. 1:3 (fellowship = relationship)

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Discussion

Pivotal passage: Matt. 16:18

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build

My church, and the gates of Hades shall

not prevail against it.”

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Introduction

Jesus’ profound statement tells us five critical facts about the New Testament church:❶ It was built by Jesus, and thus belongs

to Jesus: “I will build My church”

❷ It was built upon a rock: “on this rock I will build My church”

❸ It is singular, Jesus built only one: “My church”

❹ It was not in existence when he lived on earth: “I will build My church”

❺ It cannot fail: “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”

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It was built by Jesus, and thus belongs to Jesus

Matt. 16:18; Heb. 8:2; Acts 20:28; Rom. 16:16

Any church not built by Jesus in the early 1st century AD in Jerusalem, not wearing His name, is not His church!

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Do you want to belong to a church built by someone besides Jesus?! A church

which wears a name other than the one who purchased it with His own blood?

Acts 4:12; Eph. 5:23; Heb. 8:2; Psa. 127:1; Matt. 15:13

Church Time Place Founder Roman Catholic 606 AD Rome Boniface III Episcopal 1520 AD England Henry VIII Presbyterian 1536 AD Switzerland John Calvin Congregational 1550 AD England Robert Browne Baptist 1607 AD Holland John Smythe Methodist 1739 AD England John Wesley Mormon 1830 AD America Joseph Smith Adventist 1830 AD America William Miller Christian Scientist 1866 AD America Mary Baker Eddy Jehovah’s Witness 1872 AD America Charles T. Russell

Wrong founder!

Wrong head!

Wrong time!

Wrong name!

Not purchased by Jesus blood!

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It was built upon a rock

Matt. 16:1816:16; 1 Pet. 2:9; Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23; Heb. 2:14-15

Acts 2:22-24: the specific case of “Jesus of Nazereth”

Acts 2:25-31: the general case of “the Christ”

Acts 2:32-36: the conclusion (Rom. 1:4; Eph. 5:23; Acts 4:11-12; 2:47; 1 Cor. 3:11)

Do you want to be a member of a church built upon any other foundation than Jesus Christ? Psa. 127:1

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It is singular, Jesus built only one church

Matt. 16:18; Jn. 10:16; Eph. 2:11-16; 4:4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:47; Heb. 8:2

How many churches did Jesus build? How many “churches” today? Which church do you want to belong to? Psa. 127:1; Matt. 15:13

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It was not in existence when Jesus lived on earth

Matt. 16:18; Dan. 2:44

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Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Image Daniel 2:36-45

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Iron

Iron/Clay

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”after you [Babylon] shall arise another [kingdom]…then another”, etc. (v. 39)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Image Daniel 2:36-45

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Iron

Iron/Clay

”you are this head of gold” (v. 38)

Babylonian

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”after you [Babylon] shall arise another [kingdom]…then another”, etc. (v. 39)

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Image Daniel 2:36-45

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Iron

Iron/Clay

Babylonian

Roman

”in the days of these kings” (v. 44)

Medo-Persian

Greek

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It was not in existence when Jesus lived on earth

Matt. 16:18; Dan. 2:44How do we know? Isa. 2:2-3; Heb. 1:1-2; Lk. 2:1; 23:1-2; Mk. 9:1 (Col. 1:13); Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4 (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13); Acts 1:8; 2:1-4

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Transitive property of equality

IF a = b

AND b = c

THEN a = c??

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Transitive property of equality

IF a (kingdom) = b (power) Mk. 9:1

AND b (power) = c (Holy Spirit) Acts 1:8

THEN ??

IF a (kingdom) = b (power) Mk. 9:1

AND b (power) = c (Holy Spirit) Acts 1:8

THEN a (kingdom) = c (Holy Spirit) Acts 2:1-4

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It was not in existence when Jesus lived on earth

Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47; Col. 1:13 (Matt. 16:19; Acts 2, Acts 10)

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When and where did the church of which you are a

member come into existence?

Church Time Place Founder

Roman Catholic 606 AD Rome Boniface III Episcopal 1520 AD England Henry VIII Presbyterian 1536 AD Switzerland John Calvin Congregational 1550 AD England Robert Browne Baptist 1607 AD Holland John Smythe Methodist 1739 AD England John Wesley Mormon 1830 AD America Joseph Smith Adventist 1830 AD America William Miller Christian Scientist 1866 AD America Mary Baker Eddy Jehovah’s Witness 1872 AD America Charles T. Russell

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It cannot fail

Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:24; 30-32; Heb. 7:25-28; 6:19; 1 Pet. 1:3-5 (Phil. 4:7)

A “church” not built by Jesus cannot be the ONE and ONLY church He built; therefore it WILL fail! Psa. 127:1; Matt. 15:13

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Conclusion

Do you want to be a member of the church Jesus built?

Hear: Rom. 10:17 Believe: (faith): Jn. 8:24; Heb. 11:6 Repent: Acts 2:38; 17:30 Confess: Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10; Acts

8:36-37 Baptism: Acts 2:37-38; 22:16; 2:41, 47;

1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27 Faithfulness: Col. 1:18-23; 2 Pet. 1:3-

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