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The Church Christ Built
by Joe R. Price
Matthew16:18, “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.”
Matthew 16:13-20 records Simon Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus was not John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets reincarnated (16:13-16). Jesus blessed Simon for his affirmation. He had correctly understood the Father’s revelation about Jesus (16:17; cf. John 5:36-39). In response, Jesus revealed a tremendous truth about His mission as the Son of God; He would build His church (16:18). As one commentator points out, “The emphasis is not on ‘Thou art Peter’ over against ‘Thou art the Christ,’ but on kago: ‘The Father hath revealed to thee one truth, and I also tell you another” (McNeile, cited by Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, I:131).
When Andrew brought Simon to Jesus, the Lord said he would be called “Cephas” (John 1:41-42). The Greek equivalent is “Peter” (Petros) and means “a stone,” “a rock” (Thayer, 506). Now, Jesus makes a play on Peter’s name to reveal the great truth: “On this rock I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). Jesus did not say He would build His church on Peter (a single rock), but on the bedrock truth (petra, a massive ledge or outcropping of rock) just confessed by Peter, namely, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. The church is not built on any man, but on Jesus Christ. “For other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 3:11).
“Church” is a collective noun that means “an assembly” (literally, “called out ones”). Jesus built an assembly of people that belongs to Him (“my church”). The church is important because it was built by and belongs to the Son of God. New Testament passages teach the composition of the church of Christ: “The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47). The church of Christ is composed of sinners who are saved by the Son of God. Peter (a stone) would later write, “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (I Peter 2:4-5). Peter and all other Christians are “living stones” in the spiritual house (temple) of God, the church of Christ. It is essential to be a member of this saved assembly, the church that belongs to Christ. Otherwise, one remains lost in sin, away from the Savior (Ephesians 1:13).
The church of Christ was purchased (redeemed) by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28; I Peter 1:18-19). In death, Jesus “gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25). The strength of death (“the gates of Hades”) did not prevail against the church (Matthew 16:18). His resurrection showed Jesus to be the Son of God (as Peter had confessed, Romans 1:4). Jesus, the Son of God, gives victory over sin and death to sinners who believe He is the Son of God, confess faith in Him (like Peter did), repent of their sins, and are baptized in His name (Romans 10:9-10; Acts 2:36-41; Mark 16:15-16; I Peter 3:21). Jesus adds every saved person to His church (Acts 2:47). The church of Christ is vital. He died for it, built it, and saves it (Ephesians 5:23). The church is the body and fullness of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23).
(From The Spirit’s Sword, 2/6/2022)
“That We May Also Be Like All The Other Nations”
by Chris Simmons
The title of this article reflects the reason given by “the people,” that is, the Israelites, for insisting that they have a king to rule over them, even after Samuel warned them of the consequences of such a request (I Samuel 8:20). The primary reason for their request was simply to imitate, and be like, the nations around them. God warned the Israelites before they entered the promised land not to “learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations” (Deuteronomy 18:9). In Deuteronomy 12:29-30 we read where they were instructed, “When the LORD your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them and dwell in their land, beware that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How do these nations serve their gods, that I also may do likewise?’” They were not to pattern themselves after those whom they dispossessed, and they were not to be curious as to their ungodly ways. Yet, we find them asking Samuel for a king, rejecting God and the pattern that God had set forth, in order that they might be like their peers. Later, we read Jeremiah warning them, “do not learn the way of the nations” (Jeremiah 10:2).
We must realize that the dangers God warned the Israelites of, also apply to us today. The Lord’s church continually faces the lethal dangers of desiring to imitate and copy the denominations around us. Are we asking similar questions that God warned against such as, “how do these denominations attract so many people to their congregations, that we also may do likewise?” Are we beginning to model our efforts to attract people to our assemblies or gospel meetings according to the denominations of our society through the enticement of recreational activities and food? Have we started altering biblical terms for things to incorporate the terminology and ways of the world by calling “fellowship” something other than jointly participating in the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:5)? Do we follow the example of human-led churches and alter the biblically defined organization of the church and have men exercise oversight over members that are not “among them” (I Peter 5:2)? Do we appreciate the fact that God’s word has given a pattern for the work, worship, and organization of the church and hold fast to it (cf. Hebrews 8:5)?
On an individual level, our personal lives are to follow a biblical pattern as well. Paul stated in Philippians 3:17, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” Are we more concerned with how the society around us is dressing, talking, and behaving “that we also may do likewise”? Rather than imitating the example of those of the world around us, Peter wrote, “like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior” (I Peter 1:15).
Both the church and each one of us individually must continually be aware of the danger of drifting (Hebrews 2:1) after the example of the “other nations.”
(From I PRESS, 7/6/2003)