The The Incomparable ChurchIncomparable Church

Views of the Views of the ChurchChurch

✓Founded upon a man; looking to a man for guidance

✓An intentionally divided body allowing for differences in teaching and action

✓A temporary measure while waiting for the Kingdom

"18I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of

heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in

heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in

heaven."Matthew 16:18–19 (NASB95)

A Divine A Divine InstitutionInstitution

✓Jesus affirms that He is the founder and builder of the Church Matt 16:18

A Divine A Divine InstitutionInstitution

"16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living

God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father

who is in heaven.”Matthew 16:16–17 (NASB95)

Jesus sets a contrast between

the mortal and the Divine

Jesus sets a contrast between

the mortal and the Divine

A Divine A Divine InstitutionInstitution

A Divine A Divine InstitutionInstitution

✓Jesus affirms that He is the founder and builder of the Church Matt 16:18

✓Sixty-eight of the 85 (4 of 5) ancient quotations from he Church fathers that are known to comment on this passage deny that Peter was the “rock” (Chumbley, p.299 and Salmon p.335)

A Divine A Divine InstitutionInstitution“That is, On this faith and

confession I will build my Church. Herein shewing that

many should believe what Peter had confessed, and

raising his understanding, and making him His shepherd.”

Chrysostom

A Divine A Divine InstitutionInstitution“…I know that since that I have often explained these

words of the Lord, Thou art Peter, and on this rock will I build my Church, as meaning upon Him whom Peter had confessed in the words, Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God; and so that Peter, taking

his name from this rock, would represent the Church, which is built upon this rock. For it is not said to him, Thou art the rock, but, Thou art Peter. (1

Cor. 10:4.) But the rock was Christ, whom because Simon thus confessed, as the whole

Church confesses Him, he was named Peter. Let the reader choose whether of these two opinions

seems to him the more probable.”Chrysostom

A Divine A Divine InstitutionInstitution

✓Jesus affirms that He is the founder and builder of the Church Matt 16:18

✓Sixty-eight of the 85 (4 of 5) ancient quotations from he Church fathers that are known to comment on this passage deny that Peter was the “rock” (Chumbley, p.299 and Salmon p.335)

✓Peter did not think the church was built on him

Under the Authority Under the Authority of Christof Christ

✓All authority has been given Him by the one source

✓The Church is His to command by right of purchase

✓Christ has not delegated away His authority

Under the Authority Under the Authority of Christof Christ“19 I will give you the keys of the

kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and

unlawful) on earth [a]must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever

you loose (declare lawful) on earth [b]must be what is already loosed in

heaven.” ( Matt 16:19 Williams Bible)

UndenominationalUndenominational

✓Jesus did not speak of “churches”

"19 For their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they themselves

also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask on behalf of

these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their

word"

John 17:19–20 (NASB95)

UndenominationalUndenominational

United as one body

UndenominationalUndenominational

"17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 20 “I do not ask on

behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through

their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

John 17:17–21 (NASB95)

United as one body

Believing a Single Truth

"17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 20 “I do not ask on

behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through

their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

John 17:17–21 (NASB95)

UndenominationalUndenominational

United as one body

Believing a Single Truth

Unity compared to the Godhead

"17 Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. 20 “I do not ask on

behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through

their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.”

John 17:17–21 (NASB95)

UndenominationalUndenominational

United as one body

Believing a Single Truth

Unity compared to the Godhead

Unity that destroys religious Division

UndenominationalUndenominational

✓Jesus did not speak of “churches”

✓Creeds, confessions, and councils divide what should be united

Fulfills OT Kingdom Fulfills OT Kingdom ProphecyProphecy

✓Keys to the “kingdom” given to Peter

✓Keys symbolize authority and stewardship

✓In Acts 2, Peter preaches of the kingdom those who believed were added to the Church!