THE VOW OF CHRIST THE BUILDER

TEXT:	 Matthew 16:13-19
Introduction:
	A. The Church is one of the most important Bible subjects.
		1. Was not an after thought like some think. Christ could not establish His
		    kingdom, so He made the Church as a temporary measure.
		2. Vital part of the panoramic, eon-spanning scheme of redemption.
		3. It is the Kingdom to rule all kingdoms; Nebuchadnezzar’s statute of
		    various substances struck by a stone that became a mountain that filled
 		    the earth.
		4. Eph. 5 tells us that it is where salvation can be found and maintained.
		5. It is Christ’s soul saving institution on earth; when we work for the
		    Church, we work directly for Christ.
		6. It remains the most expensive organization in history, purchased with
		    the most priceless substance in the universe... the blood of Deity.
	B. Jesus Christ promised to build it; ironically, He promised to build it in the same
 	     chapter in which He discusses His own death.
		1. There is much to be learned about the Church from the vow of Christ
		    the builder in Matt. 16.

I. “UPON THIS ROCK...”
	A. Matt. 16:13-16 - The great confession by a little man.
		1. The confession is the context, the topic, the theme, the object of
		    discussion, the whole point of Christ’s discourse.
		2. Anything other than the confession makes this text illogical,
		    ungrammatical, deconstructive, unimportant, and disharmonious with
		    the rest of the Bible.
	B. Matt. 16:17 + “Thou art Peter.”
		1. This great confession could not come from a little man without Divine
		    intervention.
		2. “Thou art Peter.” emphasizes this point; keeps Peter’s perspective;
		    OUR perspective.
		3. Gal. 2:9 - Peter was a pillar in the Church, not the foundation.
		4. 1Cor. 3:10-11 - Christ is foundation upon which the Church is built.

II. “I WILL BUILD...”
	A. Ps. 127:1 - “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”
		1. The Church could not have been built by any man.
		2. Matt. 16:28 - He promised to do it in the lifetime of His apostles. 
		3. See it happen - Matt. 16:19; Luke 24:49; Acts 2:1-4, 36-41, 47.
		4. ANY church started after that is NOT the Lord’s Church.
	B. Thousands of churches exist because men are dissatisfied with God’s Builder
	     and blueprints.
		1. THE Church was built by Christ; all others are Satan’s imitations.

III. “MY CHURCH...”
	A. The Church belongs to Christ.
		1. Acts 20:28 - He holds the deed.
		2. Rom. 16:16 - It wears His name: Christ, God the Son.
		3. It is not the Christian’s church, John the Baptist’s church, Martin
		    Luther’s church, et cetera. - Matt. 15:13
		4. Other churches wear the names of their founders and doctrines.
		5. Poor counterfeits for the only true Church.
	B. Jesus said: “My Church”; singular.
		1. Prophets spoke of one church, not many.
		2. Isa. 2:2-3; Dan. 2:44.
		3. The New Testament witnesses that there is only one, not many.
		4. Eph. 4:4, 1:22-23; Col. 1:18.
		5. Salvation is only found in His Church, not others.
		6. Eph. 5:23, 27.

IV. “THE GATES OF HADES SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT.”
	A. Ecc. 9:10 - death ends man’s work on earth.
		1. But Christ was not merely a man - Heb. 1:8; Col. 2:9.
		2. The grave would not prevent Him from completing His work.
		3. Acts 2:31 - Hades lost; Christ came back to finish.
		4. 1Cor. 15:19-20, 27

V. “I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.”
	A. A key affords entrance for the holder; the lack of a key prevents entrance to
	     those without. 
		1. Peter and the other apostles passed the keys on to the whole world,
		    beginning at Pentecost in Jerusalem.
	B. All of the keys must be used to enter the kingdom.
		1. Faith is essential - Heb. 11:6; Rom. 10:17; John 8:24.
		2. Repentance must be complete - Acts 17:30; Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38.
		3.  Faith without confession saves no one - Rom. 10:9-10; Matt. 10:32-33.
		4. Baptism - Acts 2:38, 47; Gal. 3:26-27; Mark 16:16.

VI. “WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT BIND... LOOSE...”
	A. Peter revealed God’s law as he was directed by the Holy Spirit.
		1. John 14:26, l6:7, 13; 2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Peter 1:2-4
		2. We do not deal with man’s law and doctrines, but God’s.
	B. We must continue in God’s law in order to remain saved.
		1. 2John 9-11

Conclusion:  1Cor. 15:1-4
    	A. Christ promised to build His Church.
		1. He fulfilled His promise to the uttermost.
	B. You cannot afford to be outside of the body of Christ.