The article of August 30th was a lesson from Matthew 16 concerning the founding of Christ’s Church. Jesus started the conversation with his disciples by asking a couple of simple questions: first, in verse 13 “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” They give their answer and then, the second question he makes personal in verse 15, “But whom say ye that I am?” Now, the answer that Simon Peter gives to this question in verse 16 is the central truth of the subject today: “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
In verse 17 Jesus commends Peter “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.” This truth that Simon Peter just proclaimed did not come from man, but was revealed by God; “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The only way that Peter could know who Jesus was, was by the revelation of God: 1 John 4;2, 3 “Hereby know we the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. 3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is the spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” Also, we find in John 6:65, proofs that Peter’s statement came from God; “And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”
Peter has proclaimed a truth that could have only come from God and Jesus commends him for it, puts his stamp of approval on it, and then adds something in verse 18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus said, you are Peter, just a small pebble in the plan of God, but upon the statement you made is the foundation of the Church. By the way, this the first time the Church has been mentioned in the Bible. The Church was founded upon Christ, The Son of the living God, according to this passage and also 1 Corinthians 3:11 “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” If the Church had been founded upon Peter, it would have failed long ago, because he was a fallible man, and prone to failure. He even denied the Lord three times just prior to the crucifixion. But Jesus said the Church he was founding would stand against all the onslaughts of hell and still come out victorious. Christ’s Church will prevail against all opposition. It is worth supporting and attending its meetings. Ephesians 5:25 says that “Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it.”
Hebrews 10:25 minces no words when it exhorts everyone “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another: and so much the more as ye see the day approaching.”
I am exhorting you to assemble with your Church the next time it meets.