The Church Belongs To Christ

Temple Baptist Church - 4-22-2018

Matthew 16:13-23

Introduction: 

A.  What is the Local Church? 

1.  The local church is the body of Christ corporately gathered.  It is a called-out assembly of saints.  It is neither a building nor is it a denomination.  I am a Baptist without apology, but I am a Biblicists first! 

2.  The Bible is the final authority for faith and practice.  There are many so-called Baptist churches that have radically changed and should remove the name Baptist from their names.  I am an independent Baptist as the Bible teaches. 

B.  The local church is to be autonomous (independent and self governing) in nature and indigenous (home grown) in nature.  Not only self-governed but also self-sufficient.

C.  The Local Church building is one that is consecrated to the worship of God.  It is where God’s people assemble, united under one form of ecclesiastical government, in one creed.  It is God’s instrument on Earth that carries out the work of the Great Commission.

D.  The Local Church needs to be respected.  There are those who say that the local church is just a building made of earthly materials, but we need to be often reminded that it is the House of the Lord and should be respected it as such.  When I go to your homes, I respect them because it is your home!  When I come to Temple Baptist Church, I respect it and obey the rules of the Bible because it is God’s House.

E.  The meaning of “church” in our text is the Body of Christ, also called the Family of God and the Bride of Christ.  The foundation of Christ’s church is the statement “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

F.  We build the local church, but salvation is the work of God and He builds His Church.  With this thought in mind, let us look at the Church that Christ owns.

1. The Church is built upon Christ. “Upon this rock”

a.  Jesus Christ is the Rock upon which the Church Stands. 

Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  (We are but pebbles, but Christ is The Petros, the mighty Rock!)

Acts 4:10-12  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel,that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  (11)  This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  (12)  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

b.  Jesus Christ is the Foundation of the Church.  The Church is built upon Christ: the Deity, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  The Gospel of Christ! 

1 Corinthians 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

c.  Jesus Christ is the Chief Corner Stone of the Church.  He bears the weight of the Church. 

1 Peter 2:6-8  Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.  Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,  And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 

2. The Church is built by Christ.  "I will build" It is Christ who saves us.

a.  It is Christ Jesus who works in the hearts of men. 

Ephesians 2:8-10  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

b.  It is Christ Jesus who saves sinners. 

1 Corinthians 3:5-9  Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 

c.  It is Christ Jesus who adds to the Church. 

Acts 2:6-7  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. 

Psalms 127:1  Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

  3. The Church belongs to Christ.  "I will build my church"

a.  Christ Jesus is the Head of the Church. 

Ephesians 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 

b.  Christ Jesus is the Saviour of the Church.

Ephesians 5:23  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 

c.  Christ Jesus is the Sustainer of the Church.

Colossians 1:17-18  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Consist: to abide, to continue, to hold up.)

4.  The Church is loved by Christ.  “my church”

a.  Christ Jesus’ union with the Church.

Ephesians 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

b.  Christ Jesus’ sacrifice for the Church.

1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

c.  Christ Jesus’ love for the Church.

Revelation 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 

John 15:12-13  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  (13)  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

5.  The Church is protected by Christ.  "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it"

a.  Christ Jesus will present to Himself a glorious Church.

Ephesians 5:25-27  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

b.  Christ Jesus protects the purity of the Church and will present us faultless.

Jude 24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 

6.  The Church is the used by Christ.  "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..."

a.  Christ Jesus has empowered the Church.

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

b.  Christ Jesus has commissioned the Church.

Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.