Jesus “said to them, "But who do you say that Jesus “said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You

are the Christ, the Son of the living God." are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, Peter, and on this rock I will build My church,

and the gates of Hades shall not prevail and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”against it.”

Matthew 16:15-18

Caesarea Philippi

Peter confessed the deity of Christ – the “Rock”

Christ is building His church based on that fact

First mention of this church – “the church the Body of Christ”

Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said:

"This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."

Genesis 2:18-23

““And the LORD God said, "It is And the LORD God said, "It is not not good that man should be alone; I good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to will make him a helper comparable to him…" And the LORD God caused a him…" And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he

slept; and He took one of his ribs, and slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place…closed up the flesh in its place…

““He put all things in He put all things in subjection under His feet, subjection under His feet,

and gave Him as head over and gave Him as head over all things to the church, all things to the church, which is His body, the which is His body, the

fullness of Him who fills all fullness of Him who fills all in all.”in all.”

Ephesians 1:22,23

This church is intended eventually to be Christ’s “fullness” - to

complement Him, to magnify His glory

This will reach its culmination when all believers are perfectly

united with Him

It will one day be united with Him as His bride

““For by one Spirit we were all For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether Jews or Greeks,

whether slaves or free--and whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink have all been made to drink

into one Spirit.”into one Spirit.”

1 Corinthians 12:13, 18

““God has set the members, each one of them, God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”in the body just as He pleased.”

Each believer is placed in it at their salvation

Their place in it is permanent & can’t be lost

Christ personally cares for this church & preserves it

““For in fact the body is not one For in fact the body is not one member, but many… member, but many…

God has set the members, each one of God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He pleased…them, in the body, just as He pleased…

1 Corinthians 12:14, 18, 24, 25

……God composed the body, having given greater honor to that God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body,

but that the members should have the same care for one but that the members should have the same care for one another.”another.”

It shows the inter-dependence of members to each other &

Christ

Each member is different & needs the others

The Body is seen as perfect “in Christ”

““The church, which is His body, the The church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

THE MEANS:““He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping

of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of

the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christmeasure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”.”

Ephesians 1:22,23; 4:11-13

All living members united under the full the control of Christ as

their Lord…

…in full adherence to His teaching…

…and full acknowledgement of their total relationship with Him 

“…“…not holding fast to the not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by nourished and knit together by

joints and ligaments, grows joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from with the increase that is from

God.”God.”

““speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” things into Him who is the head—Christ”

Colossians 2:19; Ephesians 4:15

 We are to “hold fast” to the head (Christ) by only engaging in things which originate from

Him.

Sharing in things of purely human origin is not fellowship

of the Body.

So there are limits on proper fellowship with other believers.