2. Upon This Rock Matthew 16:13-20

3. Introduction What comes to mind when you hear the word “church”?
What really matters is the Bible’s definition of “church”!
“ekklesia”: from ek, (out of), and kaleo (to call)(Vine). The church is an “assembly” of people that have assembled as the result of answering a “call” from a “herald.”

4. Introduction Two key elements in ekklesia: Acts 19:28-32
assembly = people (v. 32: “for the assembly was confused, and most of them did not know why they had come together”; i.e., a group of people drawn together as the result of answering a specific…)
call = summons (i.e., this group of people assembled in response to a specific call or summons; at Ephesus in Acts 19 they had answered the “confused” summons issued by Demetrius and his cohorts)

5. Introduction
The New Testament church:
assembly = people = What people? Col. 1:18-22; Heb. 12:23; Acts 2:41, 47; Eph. 5:23; 1:22-23
call = summons = 2 Thess. 2:13-14; Mk. 16:15-16; Rom. 1:16-17; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Jn. 1:3 (fellowship = relationship)

6. Discussion
Pivotal passage: Matt. 16:18
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

7. Introduction
Jesus’ profound statement tells us five critical facts about the New Testament church:
It was built by Jesus, and thus belongs to Jesus: “I will build My church”
It was built upon a rock: “on this rock I will build My church”
It is singular, Jesus built only one: “My church”
It was not in existence when he lived on earth: “I will build My church”
It cannot fail: “the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”

8. It was built by Jesus, and thus belongs to Jesus
Matt. 16:18; Heb. 8:2; Acts 20:28; Rom. 16:16
Any church not built by Jesus in the early 1st century AD in Jerusalem, not wearing His name, is not His church!

9. Not purchased by Jesus blood!
Wrong founder!
Wrong head!
Wrong time!
Wrong name!
Not purchased by Jesus blood!
Do you want to belong to a church built by someone besides Jesus?! A church which wears a name other than the one who purchased it with His own blood? Acts 4:12; Eph. 5:23; Heb. 8:2; Psa. 127:1; Matt. 15:13

10. It was built upon a rock
Matt. 16:1816:16; 1 Pet. 2:9; Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23; Heb. 2:14-15
Acts 2:22-24: the specific case of “Jesus of Nazereth”
Acts 2:25-31: the general case of “the Christ”
Acts 2:32-36: the conclusion (Rom. 1:4; Eph. 5:23; Acts 4:11-12; 2:47; 1 Cor. 3:11)
Do you want to be a member of a church built upon any other foundation than Jesus Christ? Psa. 127:1

11. It is singular, Jesus built only one church
Matt. 16:18; Jn. 10:16; Eph. 2:11-16; 4:4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:47; Heb. 8:2
How many churches did Jesus build? How many “churches” today? Which church do you want to belong to? Psa. 127:1; Matt. 15:13

12. It was not in existence when Jesus lived on earth
Matt. 16:18; Dan. 2:44

13. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Image
Daniel 2:36-45
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Iron
Iron/Clay

14. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Image
Daniel 2:36-45
”you are this head of gold” (v. 38)
Babylonian
Gold
Silver
”after you [Babylon] shall arise another [kingdom]…then another”, etc. (v. 39)
Bronze
Iron
Iron/Clay

15. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Image
Daniel 2:36-45
Gold
Babylonian
Silver
Medo-Persian
”after you [Babylon] shall arise another [kingdom]…then another”, etc. (v. 39)
Bronze
Greek
Iron
Iron/Clay
Roman
”in the days of these kings” (v. 44)

16. It was not in existence when Jesus lived on earth
Matt. 16:18; Dan. 2:44
How do we know? Isa. 2:2-3; Heb. 1:1-2; Lk. 2:1; 23:1-2; Mk. 9:1 (Col. 1:13); Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:4 (Jn. 14:26; 15:26; 16:13); Acts 1:8; 2:1-4

17. Transitive property of equality??

18. Transitive property of equality

19. It was not in existence when Jesus lived on earth
Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47; Col. 1:13 (Matt. 16:19; Acts 2, Acts 10)

20. When and where did the church of which you are a member come into existence?

21. It cannot fail
Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:24; 30-32; Heb. 7:25-28; 6:19; 1 Pet. 1:3-5 (Phil. 4:7)
A “church” not built by Jesus cannot be the ONE and ONLY church He built; therefore it WILL fail! Psa. 127:1; Matt. 15:13

22. Conclusion Do you want to be a member of the church Jesus built?
Hear: Rom. 10:17
Believe: (faith): Jn. 8:24; Heb. 11:6
Repent: Acts 2:38; 17:30
Confess: Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10; Acts 8:36-37
Baptism: Acts 2:37-38; 22:16; 2:41, 47; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27
Faithfulness: Col. 1:18-23; 2 Pet. 1:3-11