Introductory Considerations
1. "I really do not need the church. I grew up in a church and I was not too impressed. Saw these people come each week dressed in their Sunday best, not only their best clothes but in their best behaviour. They sounded so sincere but if I saw them during the week, they were ot dressed the same. Not only had they changed their clothes, but also their piety and their behaviour. Tat which I saw on Sunday had been put in the closet with their suits and dresses. I don’t need those hypocrites to be a Christian. The worst of it is that they think they can tell me what I should believe and how I should act. Who do they think they are? My faith is a personal thing - its between me and Jesus. The church only gets in the way. And so I believe, but you’ll never see me in a church again."
2. These are words I have heard from those who profess to be Christians but are not part of the organized church. These are words that many in our society say today.
3. Sometimes it seems that there are more "believers" outside the church than inside it. Those who would rather take Bible with them on a walk to a quiet place on Sunday morning than to come into a place like this.
4. These feelings are not just out there, they also are creeping into the church itself. We may still gather to worship, but we come with certain conditions. "I’ll take or leave what I want I want in regards to what is taught." Amazing how diverse we are - even in this room - as to what we believe. "Don’t tell me what to do or how to live. I’ll judge that for myself. God can speak to me directly"
5. This is why young people today - easy to reject teachings of the church.
Teaching
1. Today we begin a couple of messages on the statement of the Apostles Creed which says "I believe in Holy Catholic church".
2. We say the words but to large extent we do not really believe or understand the role of the church and its place in our lives and our place within it.
3. As we look at passage we might even think that Jesus agrees with some of the critical comments about the church we hear.
4. Jesus is alone with His disciples in the region of Caesarea Philippi. He asks His disciples "Who do people say that I am?" Jesus knows the answer but what He is doing is teaching them an important lesson.
5. They replied that people called him John the Baptist, Elijah or Jeremiah or a prophet. In other words that though Jesus came from God but they really did not know Him.
6. Jesus then lets the disciples know what is really important and this is what is important for us as well. He asks them and He asks each of us "But what about you? Who do you say I am?"
7. In other words faith and salvation is a personal and individual matter. It does not matter what others believe about Jesus or even what is taught in the church that will ultimately give you salvation.
8. Some say I would join a church if I knew I would be part of the true church. Some denominations even claim that they alone are the true church.
a. The question as to whether or not you are part of the true church is not answered by where you go to church or what your church teaches but by how you answer the question, "Who do you say Jesus is?"
9. Peter answered "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. You are the Christ, the anointed one, the Messiah. You are the prophet, priest and king. You are Lord and Saviour. You are the Son of the living God, you are God Himself.
10. If we answer like Peter, we also hear Jesus say to us (Mat 16:17). In other words, you are saved through your faith. But even that faith is not your own doing but God’s, He has revealed this to you and He has changed your heart.
11. If we stop here we might well say that we do not need the church. In a sense it makes me grateful that today people do realize they are not saved by the church but through their own faith and trust in God.
12. But as Jesus goes on He explains that this truth goes hand in hand with the truth of the that we also need to be part of a church. Both are essential .
13. In verse 18 Jesus turns to the matter of the church. This verse is one of the verses that has been debated much and for a long time. This verse in Greek begin with a pronoun "you" and "you" is also included in the verb (2nd person). Jesus is speaking here to Peter and He is emphasizing that fact. "You are Peter (petros) and on this rock (petra) I will build my church."
14. In saying this Jesus talks about how the church will be built.
a. Some used this passage to stress that church is built on Peter and that he is the first pope of the church, thereby used to stress authority of pope and the church.
b. Others say that by "this rock" Jesus is referring to Peter’s confession - that the church is built upon confession that Jesus is Lord.
c. While there is truth to this statement, that is not what Jesus is saying. Jesus is saying "You are Peter, that is, Rock, and upon this rock, that is, on you, Peter, I will build my church"
i. On Peter, not on him in his natural nature but as a man through whom God’s grace would work, as a first among equals. For the authority given to him in vs. 19 is authority that is given to the 12 and also to the leaders of the local church. (Eph 2:19-20)
15. What Jesus is really saying here is that Peter primarily , and also the apostles, are the instrument that Jesus used to build His church.
16. Christ is the cornerstone, the true foundation upon which the foundation of Peter is built.
17. Peter’s role important - preach Pentecost - 3,000 join and then 2,000, played leading role, esp. before Paul came into scene. In every listing of disciples, Peter’s name occurs first.
18. Why do I mention all this about this matter? It shows the importance of leadership in the church to be used by Christ and it shows that the leadership is to be by those alone who share Peter’s confession.
19. Jesus says "I will build my church". "I am the builder and the owner of the church. This is not my church, your church or our church."
a. We may do what we try to build the church and at times it may seem that we might even try to destroy it, but the church’s future growth or lack of growth depends on Christ.
b. We are simply blessed, as Peter was, to be used by Christ as His tools for the work of the church.
20. This verse is the first place in he Bible were the word church is use. It is in this word that we discover what the church is.
a. English word originates from German kirche which has its root in Greek word KURIAKE, which means "belonging to the Lord".
b. Greek for church is ecclesia - to called out from.
c. We are a people who belong to Christ who have been gather together from out of the world. (1Cor 1:2)
21. Paul says we are sanctified. Apostles’ Creed says we are a holy church.
a. Would you say that our church is a holy church. We might say no, not if you really knew us. Well, we are holy.
b. Not mean that church is perfect, but it means first we are set apart, for to be sanctified means we are set apart. Not mean separated from world but that we are different, called from it so we can bring our difference back into it.
c. That is why it is important to worship - remember who we are, get away from world and then go back in.
22. Also means that we are holy because thru blood of Christ we are seen as holy. (Eph 5:7-25)
a. Thru His work in us to take away blemishes.
23. The church is the body of Christ as we read in Ephesians. We are the physical presence of Christ. Through us He us spiritually present in this world.
a. Through Holy Spirit He dwells in every believer. Only those who are believers are part of true church. You can be member of local church but not be a member of church of Jesus Christ.
24. To see church we must not look only to within these walls but beyond, to the church universal - from all peoples. Not only reformed, baptist, etc. Canadian, Dutch, but all who call upon name of Lord.
a. Also, together as body not a group each doing their own thing but a body woven together by God.
25. Together we have a task to do. Talked much about this in past, but just again I remind you of importance of making Christ known. (Eph 3:10-11) . We are called to be a prism, showing forth the different elements and colours of God glorious light.
26. This is how we have role in nurturing individual faith. We do need church. We receive message thru church, we grow in knowledge and pass it on. Thru all this Christ builds His church.
