Matthew 16:13-20 Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

The foundation of the church is the doctrinal declaration that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The foundation of the church is a person - Jesus Christ. And to be part of that church is essential that we believe the truth about Jesus. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the fulfillment of the OT prophecies. He is the Son of the living God. He is God in the flesh. He was born of a virgin. He is sinless in nature.

The church is the “called out ones,” the blessed ones who understand and embrace this truth. That’s the foundational rock of the church. The church is people empowered to profess and proclaim that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus has committed to build his church upon this truth and upon his person. It is Christ who builds and not us. We are instruments in his hands to perform his task and accomplish his purposes.

and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The gates of a city were the means to keep it safe against attacks. It is especially interesting that the picture painted here is that of the church prevailing against the darkness, against death, against sin, against bondage, against evil. How do we know the church is the church? When it prevails against evil.

The truth that I want to emphasize here is the fact that the Church is the agent of the kingdom of God. It is the one who has been appointed to advance the kingdom upon the earth. He promises to give the keys of the kingdom so they can accomplish the task for which they were called.

What are these keys of the kingdom? A key is a symbol of authority. Authority is to have permission and power to do something. The best picture to have is that of a steward who has been given the keys of his master’s property. A key grants the steward permission to the property as well as the power (ability) to enter the property. In the case of the kingdom of God, the keys represent at least two different things:

1. Doctrine - the truth of the Gospel - Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God
2. Discipline - curbing sin in the church by keeping our brethren accountable

Kingdom Key#1 - Doctrine (Mat.16)

It is essential that each and every believer understands the truth of the Gospel - that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It is imperative that we are able to articulate that truth, engage people in conversation with it, and defend it when necessary. The world in which we live has become so relativistic that there is no place for absolute truth. Yet the Gospel is absolute. Christ claims exclusivity in salvation. The Bible is authoritative for faith and life. If we can’t articulate the truth, we are incapable of opening doors for ourselves to grow and incapable of opening doors for others to escape bondage and sin to become part of God’s kingdom.

The real power of the church is in its legislative authority that Christ has given it. Over every conflict upon this earth, the church has the power and the responsibility to rule to help bring people into conformance to God’s Word under the rule of God’s kingdom.

Kingdom Key#2 - Discipline (Mat.18)

The advancement of God’s kingdom depends on our willingness to use the authority God has given us to keep each other accountable. Church discipline is not a matter of judging anyone to a final condemnation. Church discipline is a judgment unto restoration in the kingdom. Only God can exercise final judgment upon any given person. Our reluctance to get involved in the sin of others is pathetic and renders the church ineffective in the world. We need to get involved!

The proper application of discipline is as follows:

1. call the brother alone
2. call the brother with witnesses
3. call the brother before the church (church leaders)

Why don’t we have the courage to call out our brother by ourselves first? Why do we hesitate to follow up with witnesses when we see no change? Why do we hesitate to bring the issue before the authorities when all the above has been done? Our way is to avoid the person, talk about him behind his back, and hold unforgiveness for as long as possible that develops into resentment and bitterness.

Notice that the keys are meant to bring harmony between the heavens and the earth. Sin came into the world and established a rift, a wall, a separation between God and humanity. When we use the keys we work towards the establishment of the original harmony God intended between the heavens and the earth. That’s why we pray your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 16:13-20 Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

Jesus asked his disciples: "Who do people say I am?" The disciples had all the answers of the day: "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." If I asked this question today, I think the answers would be: "Some say he was a good man, others say a great healer, and yet others a charismatic leader." In the past as in the present, people use the known to classify the unknown. Unfortunately, the people and categories offered are not sufficient to identify Jesus.

Jesus asks again: "But who do you say I am?" What "other people" think is not of much importance. What matters is what I think about Jesus. What others think does not define my relationship with God, but what I think does. Peter's answer to the question is right on: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." The answer was accurate, bold, and critical. I have no part in the kingdom of God unless I believe Jesus to be the Christ, the promised Messiah who comes to save. I have no rights in the kingdom of God unless I believe Jesus is deity, God in the flesh!

The answer was not mustered by human cleverness, but by the power of God.  Sometimes I get annoyed with people who "don't get it." If truth be told, there is nothing to get and everything to receive. The revelation of who Jesus really is comes from heaven and not from man. I forget that it is God who takes off my blinders and allows me to see the truth. Flesh and blood can only present the truth, but cannot make a heart believe. Only God has that power!

Jesus' establishment of the church follows Peter's confession. The church is not established upon Peter (Peter's name is translated little rock and is masculine; the rock Christ refers to is a big rock and is feminine), but upon the truth that Peter spoke about Jesus which is to say Jesus himself. Jesus is the Rock, the Cornerstone, upon which the church is built. And he offers a promise: "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." This phrase does not place the Church on the defensive, but quite the contrary. The Church is on the offensive against Hell and Hell will lose! I must shake off my fears, stop being on the defensive, and move on the offensive.

What is the offensive strategy of the Church against Hell? The binding and loosing of souls. Peter's confession entitled him to have authority (the keys) to bind and loose people and all who believe what Peter believed have the same authority. The authority is not to command the heavens at my whim, but to receive orders from heaven to work on earth (the binding and loosing is accomplished in the heavens first). The binding and loosing on earth takes place through my witness to people. Those who receive the Gospel are loosed to freedom. Those who reject the Gospel remain in bondage. I must be in tune with what God wants to do so I can be an instrument in his hands.

Father, thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who is the Rock of my salvation and the Cornerstone of the Church. Help me exercise the authority you have given me to bind and loose souls. May I be on the offensive for your kingdom every day.