Temple Baptist Church - 11-8-2026
Matthew 16:13-23
Introduction:
A. Exactly what is the Church? There is much confusion and contention concerning what the Church is or the Church is not. God is certainly not the Author of confusion, and the Word of God is clear concerning the Church and its meaning. The word Church in the New Testament has a dual meaning with the context differentiating between the two.
B. The Greek word ekklesia means a called-out assembly or congregation. It can be applied to both the local church, a called-out assembly to worship, and also to the body of Christ, a soon to be called out body, that will be eternally assembled with Christ.
1. The “Body of Christ,” which is made up of every born-again believer in this dispensation. The “Body of Christ” is not the local church! The collective body of Christians, or of those who profess to believe in Christ make up the Body of Christ. I do not use the terminology Universal Church but rather the Body of Christ as it is so called in Scripture.
a) All believers are baptized into one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-13 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. (13) For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
b) The church is His body. Ephesians 1:22-23 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
c) There is one body. Ephesians 4:4-5 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
d) Christ is the head of the body, the church. Colossians 1:16-18 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: (17) And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. (18) 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.
2. I believe in the Local Church. The Local Church belongs to God. It is God’s House. It is God’s Property. It is made up of God’s People! Its main purpose is to Worship God and teach God’s Word. IT IS ALL ABOUT GOD!
a) What the Local Church Is - Church - means an assembly of called out ones: a certain place set apart and consecrated to the worship of God which we also refer to as the House of the Lord.
b) To call out or call together denotes an assembly or collection: the local church corporate. A particular number of christens, united under one form of ecclesiastical government, in one creed, and using the same ritual and ceremonies.
c) Every saved believer is to faithfully attend Every meeting of the local church. I understand work related or sickness related absence but do not understand willful neglect. Hebrews 10:21-25 And having an high priest over the house of God; (22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (23) Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) (24) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
d) The Local Church is not Christendom. Christendom is more properly identified as the Harlot of Revelation chapter. By Christendom, I am speaking of the whole of religious organizations who identify with Christ but hold to non-biblical doctrines and practices. This group includes Protestant, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Charismatic, along with every “ism and schism” and cult that names the name of Christ.
e) The Church is not a denomination. I am a Baptist without apology! 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. 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 and Bible based (Biblicists).
C. This morning, I want to look at the statements made in our text concerning the Church, The Body of Christ. The Church is not man-made but is a divinely given Organism made up of all believers in this dispensation. Many independent Baptist reject its existence proclaiming that all mentions of church refer to the local church. I beg to differ!
1. Christ is the Foundation of The Church. “Upon this rock” Christ is both the Foundation and Chief Cornerstone of the Church. A Rock that cannot be moved nor removed: solid and secure.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:19-22 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
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. Christ is the Builder of The Church. "I will build". It Is Christ who saves ss. It is Christ who keeps us! It is Christ who sanctifies us! It is Christ who protects us! It is Christ who sustains us! It is Christ who supplies us! It is Christ!
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.
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.
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. Christ is the Owner of The Church. "I will build my church" Neither the Body of Christ nor the local church belongs to man.
Mark 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
Ephesians 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
Ephesians 4:14-16 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
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.
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.
4. Christ loves The Church. “my church” Christ died for the Church!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
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:
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,
(5) Christ protects The Church. "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" When the Lord comes for His Church, not one single child of God will be missing. When the roll is called up yonder, we will all be there who have committed their soul to Christ for save keeping.
2 Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
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.
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) Christ uses The Church. "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven..."
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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.
Conclusion: One day just like today and could be the day, Christ will call out His Church and take us Home and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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