Sermon Central
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Am I Really In Church? Series
Contributed by Bruce Hadley on Aug 16, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: When people hear the word Church there mind immediately goes to a place, a structure a building or small community of people. Rarely is the true meaning of Church applied to us, by us, who believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
When people hear the word Church there mind immediately goes to a place, a structure a building or small community of people. Rarely is the true meaning of Church applied to us, by us, who believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
First thing we must understand; Jesus was not calling Peter the rock which He would build His Church. No, what He was referring to is the revelation the Father and the confession of Peter would be the foundation of the New Covenant, God would make with His people to be their salvation, their redeemer – their rock.
Ps. 18:2-3
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Ps. 18:31-32
For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.
Ps. 18:46
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!
Ps. 28:1
To you, Lord, I call; you are my Rock
Ps. 31:2-3
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress
to save me. Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and
guide me.
Ps. 62:2
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Ps. 62:6
Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
This reminds me of one of the first church songs I heard after I got saved. “Blessed it be the Rock of my salvation, for He is worthy to be praised.”
The spiritual revelation given to Peter from God the Father that, “Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,”. is the Rock, the revelation of who Jesus is, and it was upon this truth, the foundation of the New church age doctrine would be founded. The acceptance of this truth is the Rock of man’s salvation. This revealed truth is what Jesus would build His Church.
Church is the word ?????s?a ekklesia; a calling out, i.e., to a gathering, especially a religious congregation, an assembly of called out ones. The word "church" literally means "those called out". When referring to the revelation given to Peter, Jesus said upon this confession he would build His Church ?????s?a ekklesia. Jesus, being Hebrew knew that the gathering, assembly, coming together for the expressed purpose for religious ceremonies and worship to God was “synagogue” Heb. ?????? mô‘ê?/ Gk. s??a???? synagoge. All twelve of His disciples were Hebrew and they only knew of coming together to worship God as synagogue. This was cultural, ancestral to them. They were taught and told as Jewish nationals that the synagogue was the coming together to honor the God of their fathers, “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”. Still today they still observe going to synagogue to honor the God of their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, Jesus spoke to them of a New way true believers would divinely worship – Church ?????s?a ekklesia - A calling out, an assembly of called out ones to salvation –
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” - Church!
