When people hear the word Church there mind immediately goes to a place, a structure a building or small community of people. Rarely is the true meaning of Church applied to us, by us, who believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:13-20
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
First thing we must understand; Jesus was not calling Peter the rock which He would build His Church. No, what He was referring to is the revelation the Father and the confession of Peter would be the foundation of the New Covenant, God would make with His people to be their salvation, their redeemer – their rock.
Ps. 18:2-3
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Ps. 18:31-32
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
Ps. 18:46
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
Ps. 28:1
To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock
Ps. 31:2-3
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress
to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and
guide me.
Ps. 62:2
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Ps. 62:6
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
This reminds me of one of the first church songs I heard after I got saved. “Blessed it be the Rock of my salvation, for He is worthy to be praised.”
The spiritual revelation given to Peter from God the Father that, “Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,”. is the Rock, the revelation of who Jesus is, and it was upon this truth, the foundation of the New church age doctrine would be founded. The acceptance of this truth is the Rock of man’s salvation. This revealed truth is what Jesus would build His Church.
Church is the word ?????s?a ekklesia; a calling out, i.e., to a gathering, especially a religious congregation, an assembly of called out ones. The word "church" literally means "those called out". When referring to the revelation given to Peter, Jesus said upon this confession he would build His Church ?????s?a ekklesia. Jesus, being Hebrew knew that the gathering, assembly, coming together for the expressed purpose for religious ceremonies and worship to God was “synagogue” Heb. ?????? mô‘ê?/ Gk. s??a???? synagoge. All twelve of His disciples were Hebrew and they only knew of coming together to worship God as synagogue. This was cultural, ancestral to them. They were taught and told as Jewish nationals that the synagogue was the coming together to honor the God of their fathers, “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. Still today they still observe going to synagogue to honor the God of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, Jesus spoke to them of a New way true believers would divinely worship – Church ?????s?a ekklesia - A calling out, an assembly of called out ones to salvation –
John 4:19-24:
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” - Church!
Matt. 18:19
“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” - Church!
Wherever and whenever two or more Christians meet in the name of Jesus Christ, with the expressed purpose of worship, we should consider Him as present in the midst of us. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there is evidently an intended meeting place – Church!
In no way am I saying that are we excused from coming together at a place of worship because He tells us, “forsake not the assembly of saints.” However, we have to understand the true meaning of Church. The Church is us, not tessellated pavement (meaning: to form of small squares or blocks, as floors or pavements); we can worship God without it. Christ does not want or need tessellated pavement for Church worship. He wants and needs us. When we come together about our souls' affairs; our present peace, and our everlasting salvation, these are the matters which connects us as a Church. All the other things are temporary and trivial in the sight of God.
So, whenever we are gathered together, two or more, we are to expect the presence of Jesus – Church! The true meaning of Church is a particular society of believers worshiping in one place, be it a building, a home, at the park, on the internet. It’s a society of believers coming together for the express purpose of worshiping our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God the Father and Holy Spirit.
Rom. 16:3-5:
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.
1Cor. 16:19:
The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
Col. 4:15-16
Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
(Note: The Epistle of Colossians was read in their house – Also, the church of Laodiceans as referenced in the book of Revelations is one of the seven Churches – Rev. 1:11, 3:14)
Philemon 1:1-3
Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Christian Church is a spiritual family in living in of the City (Zion), a place without walls, a spiritual community throughout the world, connected through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
1Pet. 2:8-10:
Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for. But you are a chosen people, royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Heb. 12:22-29
But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
We are the Church; the Church is Us! Amen!
