INTRODUCTION
Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t need the church! All I need is Jesus!” Well, that person is right and wrong at the same time! It’s true that Jesus is all we need, but those who love Jesus and have accepted Him as their personal Savior and Lord will not disregard what Jesus taught about His church! The first recorded teaching by Jesus regarding His church is found in Matthew 16. (Read Matt 16:13–18.) In this brief conversation with Peter and the other disciples, Jesus shared four important truths about His church.
I. JESUS HAS A CHURCH THAT HE CALLS “MY CHURCH”
(Read Matt 16:18 again.) The word church in the Greek language is ekklesia. It means “called out.” Those who are gathered together in the church that Jesus calls “My church” are the called-out ones. What are we called out from? The apostle Peter gives us this inspired testimony. (Read 1 Pet 2:9.) Aren’t you thankful today that Jesus has called you out of darkness and into His wonderful light?
Do you know why Jesus identifies His church as “My church”? Because others would come and try to set up their own church—and call people out to themselves. (Read Matt 7:15.) What would these prophets, these ferocious wolves, seek to do? The apostle Paul gives us the answer to that question. (Read Acts 20:29–30.) These savage wolves will seek to draw disciples after them. They will try to call people out to themselves, to establish their own church. They teach as doctrines the commandments of men (Mark 7:7). Jesus would not identify every church as “My church,” but it is clear from our study that Jesus has a church that He calls “My church.”
II. JESUS BUILDS HIS CHURCH
Let’s read again the words of Jesus about His church. (Read Matt 16:18.) A second important truth about the church that Jesus taught is this: Jesus builds His church.
Some people think that it’s their job to build the church. They are mistaken. We are called to join Jesus in what He is doing. We are called to go into all the world and preach the good news about Jesus, baptizing people in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that Jesus taught (Matt 28:19–20), but we do not build His church. Jesus builds His church! Notice the testimony of Dr. Luke about the growth of the early Christian church. (Read Acts 2:47.) Who added to their number those who were being saved? The Lord. Jesus builds His church.
How does Jesus build His church? He uses people. He empowers His followers through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to join Him in building His church. Listen to what happened on the Day of Pentecost, just a few weeks after the death and resurrection of Jesus. (Read Acts 2:36–41.) That same miracle is being repeated around the world right now. Jesus is building His church, and He gives us the privilege of joining Him in His work. (Read Acts 1:8.)
III. JESUS IS THE ROCK ON WHOM HIS CHURCH IS BUILT
There is a third truth that Jesus teaches about His church. (Read Matt 16:18 again.) The phrase “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church”1 has been interpreted in a variety of ways. Some claim that Jesus is saying to Peter, “I’m going to build my church upon you! You, Peter, are the rock upon which I’m going to build my church.” That interpretation emerged in the fifth century AD, proposed by a bishop in Rome who claimed that Peter was the first bishop of Rome and authority was passed down from bishop to bishop by a process known as apostolic succession. It ought to concern you that this interpretation was embraced by a bishop in Rome in the fifth century AD who was trying to consolidate his power and authority.
But let’s look carefully at the words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 16:18. “You are Peter [petros], and on this rock [petra] I will build My church.” If Jesus intended to build His church on Peter, He would have said, “You are Peter and on you I will build my church.” But Jesus uses two different words here: “You are Petros, Peter, and on this petra, this rock, I will build my church.” So, what is this rock, this petra, on which Jesus will build His church, if it’s not Peter? Let me suggest two options. This petra, this rock, upon which Jesus builds His church could be the confession of Peter recorded just a few verses earlier. (Read Matt 16:16.) Jesus could be saying, “I’ll build my church on your solid confession that I am the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”
But there is a second option. When Jesus says, “Upon this rock, this petra, I will build My church,” Jesus could also have been referring to Himself. He uses this same word, petra, in His Sermon on the Mount. (Read Matt 7:24.)
Who is that rock? It’s not Peter. It’s Jesus. Peter himself clearly identified Jesus as the Rock, the petra, on whom His church is built. (Read 1 Pet 2:4–8.) Friends, Jesus is the Rock on whom His church is built.
IV. JESUS PROMISES THAT HIS CHURCH WILL BE VICTORIOUS
There is a fourth important truth about the church that Jesus taught. (Read Matt 16:18 again.) Jesus promises that His church will be victorious.
When Jesus tells us that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church, what does that imply? The gates of hell will try to prevail. The gates of hell will try to destroy the church that Jesus calls “My church.” Satan tried to destroy Jesus shortly after His birth. He failed. Satan tried to deceive and bully Jesus in the wilderness. Satan failed there too. Satan tried to crush Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. He failed. Satan tried to overwhelm Jesus on the cross. He failed. Satan tried to keep Jesus in the tomb. He failed there too. And so I believe the words of Jesus when He says, “The gates of hell will not prevail My church.” His church will be victorious.
But there is a conflict, a great controversy. That great controversy began in heaven. (Read Rev 12:7–10, 12.) Satan and the kingdom of darkness are seeking to destroy the church that Jesus is building. They are seeking to destroy those who keep the commandments of God and are faithful to Jesus. But please don’t miss Revelation 12:11. What does the apostle John tell us, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God? (Read Rev 12:11.)
The gates of hell will not prevail against the church that Jesus is building. Jesus promises that His church will be victorious.
CONCLUSION
Jesus is building His church even today and Jesus invites you to be part of His church. I want to be a part of the church that Jesus is building. Don’t you? There is someone listening to this message today, and the Holy Spirit is impressing you that you need to make a decision to be part of the church that Jesus is building. Jesus wants you to be part of His church. Jesus invites you to be part of His church. If you sense God calling you to be a part of the church that Jesus is building, I invite you to stand right now and publicly confess the commitment of your heart.
Praise God. Many people are standing, responding to the invitation of Jesus to be part of His church. And if you are thankful that you have already made that decision, I invite you also to stand with us as we pray. Let us pray.
1 All Scripture references are from the NKJV.
Derek J. Morris, DMin, is the former president of Hope Channel International, Inc., Silver Spring, MD, USA.
