1. Upon This Rock
Matthew 16:18

2. Background Jesus asked a key question (v. 13)
Jesus distinguished between the answers (vv )
Jesus made an important declaration of the New Testament Church (v. 18)

3. “Upon This Rock” The Foundation
Was Peter the “rock,” the foundation of the church? The Catholic Church says, “Yes”
“Peter” means “rock” (Gr. petros, masculine, a pebble; a detached stone; boulder; piece of rock)
Jesus used a different word (Gr. petra, feminine, a rock ledge or cliff; see Mt. 7:24)

4. “Upon This Rock” The Foundation
Peter’s revelation, “Thou are the Christ…” is the “rock,” the foundation (note v. 20; Rom. 9:33; 1 Pet. 2:8)
Note the words: “My Father … And I”
Churches of men are build upon a man’s confession, the church of Christ is built upon a Divine revelation

5. “Upon This Rock” The Foundation
Jesus, not Peter, is the foundation of the church…
Affirmed by Paul (1 Cor. 3:11; Eph. 2:20)
Affirmed by Peter (1 Pet. 2:6-8)

6. “I Will Build” The Architect
Jesus is the builder (Zech. 6:12-13; Acts 15:16); not designed by men, but by Jesus Christ
The blueprint is the NT (2 Tim. 1:13)
Only the Lord’s house will stand (Psa. 127:1)

7. “I Will Build” The Architect Note the words “I will…”
The Lord’s church was not present at this time, but would be in the future (Acts 2:47)

8. “My Church” The Building
The “church” is not a physical building, but a called out assembly of people (Gr. ekklesia; 1 Cor. 3:9; Eph. 2:21)
A separated people (2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1)

9. “My Church” The Owner, the Name, the Number
Note the words: “My church…”
Christians, the church, belong to Jesus Christ (Ac. 20:28; Eph. 1:14; 5:25-27; 1 Pet. 1:18- 19; 2:9)
Local churches belong to Christ, thus “Churches of Christ” (Rom. 16:16); they glorify his name (1 Pet. 4:16)

10. “My Church” The Owner, the Name, the Number
Note the words: “My church…”
Jesus built one “church” not many “churches” (1 Cor. 12:13ff; Eph. 1:22-23; 4:4)

11. “The Gates of Hades” The Strength, the Duration
The descent of Jesus into Hades (Hell, KJV) would not keep Jesus from building his church (Acts 2:22-36; v. 24; v. 31; Rev. 1:13ff)
Jesus’ church / kingdom will last forever (Dan. 2:44; Heb. 12:28)

12. “The Keys of the Kingdom”
The Authority
A key is an instrument of authority (Lk. 11:52; Rev. 1:18; 3:7; Isa. 22:22)
The inspired words of all the Apostles, not just Peter, is the binding and loosing authority in the church (note Mt. 18:18)

13. “The Keys of the Kingdom”
The Authority
The authority of the Apostles was already given to them from heaven (note the future perfect indicative, “shall have already been bound,” “shall have already been loosed”)
The Apostles’ words were Jesus’ words (Jn. 16:13-15; 1 Cor. 2:13; Gal. 1:11-12)

14. The Church of Christ
Will you gladly receive the word of God and be added to the Lord’s church (Acts 2:41,47)?
Or, will you be joined to a man-made church that will be rooted up (Mt. 15:13)?