1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:01,760 Well, if you have a copy of God's 2 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:04,000 word, let me invite you to join me 3 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:05,779 in Matthew chapter 4 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:06,660 16. 5 00:00:07,519 --> 00:00:09,599 This evening, we'll be taking just a a 6 00:00:09,599 --> 00:00:12,259 brief time to look at Matthew 16 7 00:00:12,844 --> 00:00:13,344 verses 8 00:00:13,804 --> 00:00:14,304 13 9 00:00:14,764 --> 00:00:15,584 through 18. 10 00:00:16,045 --> 00:00:19,164 And I've selected this passage tonight because it 11 00:00:19,164 --> 00:00:20,704 gives me the distinct privilege 12 00:00:21,244 --> 00:00:22,785 of sharing with you 13 00:00:23,164 --> 00:00:24,064 the secret 14 00:00:24,364 --> 00:00:26,064 to building the church. 15 00:00:26,820 --> 00:00:28,660 We might even say that we have here 16 00:00:28,660 --> 00:00:30,519 in this passage the secret 17 00:00:31,059 --> 00:00:32,280 to church planting. 18 00:00:32,820 --> 00:00:34,739 Now before I continue any further, I have 19 00:00:34,739 --> 00:00:36,659 to confess you confess to you that this 20 00:00:36,659 --> 00:00:38,280 is actually an open secret. 21 00:00:38,659 --> 00:00:40,520 Right? Here it is in the scriptures. 22 00:00:41,354 --> 00:00:44,075 Exactly Jesus' plan and his promise to his 23 00:00:44,075 --> 00:00:46,795 people for how the church is to be 24 00:00:46,795 --> 00:00:48,875 built. And so it's a privilege for us 25 00:00:48,875 --> 00:00:49,375 tonight 26 00:00:49,835 --> 00:00:50,975 as we celebrate, 27 00:00:51,594 --> 00:00:54,094 the new call to ministry for Juan Carlos, 28 00:00:54,350 --> 00:00:56,590 as we celebrate this new church that is 29 00:00:56,590 --> 00:00:59,010 being built and established here in The Woodlands, 30 00:00:59,229 --> 00:01:01,549 to remember the promise that Christ has made 31 00:01:01,549 --> 00:01:02,369 to his people 32 00:01:02,750 --> 00:01:05,230 concerning the building of the church. With that 33 00:01:05,230 --> 00:01:07,094 said, let me read this passage for us 34 00:01:07,334 --> 00:01:09,275 this evening, Matthew chapter 16 35 00:01:09,655 --> 00:01:11,655 verses 13 through 18. If you're able, would 36 00:01:11,655 --> 00:01:14,454 you please stand for the reading of God's 37 00:01:14,454 --> 00:01:17,114 word? Matthew 16. I'll begin in verse 13. 38 00:01:17,334 --> 00:01:19,275 This is God's holy, authoritative, 39 00:01:19,655 --> 00:01:20,155 sufficient, 40 00:01:20,950 --> 00:01:23,689 inspired inerrant and infallible words. 41 00:01:24,469 --> 00:01:27,130 Matthew 16 verse 13. Now when Jesus 42 00:01:28,069 --> 00:01:28,569 came 43 00:01:29,510 --> 00:01:32,230 into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked 44 00:01:32,230 --> 00:01:33,049 his disciples, 45 00:01:33,430 --> 00:01:35,109 who do people say that the Son of 46 00:01:35,109 --> 00:01:36,875 Man is? And they 47 00:01:37,255 --> 00:01:39,435 said, some say John the Baptist. 48 00:01:39,814 --> 00:01:43,015 Others say Elijah. And others, Jeremiah or one 49 00:01:43,015 --> 00:01:43,834 of the prophets. 50 00:01:44,534 --> 00:01:46,775 He said to them, but who do you 51 00:01:46,775 --> 00:01:48,075 say that I am? 52 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:50,140 Simon Peter replied, 53 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:51,180 you 54 00:01:51,959 --> 00:01:53,020 are the Christ, 55 00:01:53,879 --> 00:01:55,739 the son of the living God. 56 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:59,560 Jesus answered him, blessed are you, Simon Bar 57 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,359 jona, for flesh and blood has not revealed 58 00:02:02,359 --> 00:02:04,575 this to you, but my father who is 59 00:02:04,575 --> 00:02:07,055 in heaven. And I tell you, you are 60 00:02:07,055 --> 00:02:07,555 Peter, 61 00:02:07,935 --> 00:02:11,294 and on this rock I will build my 62 00:02:11,294 --> 00:02:11,794 church. 63 00:02:13,215 --> 00:02:15,935 The gates of hell shall not prevail against 64 00:02:15,935 --> 00:02:18,159 it. This is the word of the Lord. 65 00:02:18,620 --> 00:02:20,700 Thanks be to God. And it's absolutely true 66 00:02:20,700 --> 00:02:22,300 given to us in love for our good. 67 00:02:22,300 --> 00:02:23,200 You can be seated. 68 00:02:23,980 --> 00:02:26,219 Well, this evening as we walk through this 69 00:02:26,219 --> 00:02:28,620 passage, we're gonna consider it under 3 headings. 70 00:02:28,620 --> 00:02:30,400 We'll see, first, the question. 71 00:02:31,614 --> 00:02:33,074 2nd, the confession. 72 00:02:34,014 --> 00:02:35,715 And 3rd, the promise. 73 00:02:36,094 --> 00:02:37,794 So the question, the confession, 74 00:02:38,495 --> 00:02:41,215 and the promise. Well, let's begin by looking 75 00:02:41,215 --> 00:02:43,794 at this question. Actually, there's 2 questions here 76 00:02:43,854 --> 00:02:44,995 that the Lord Jesus 77 00:02:45,599 --> 00:02:47,599 has for his disciples, but he begins with 78 00:02:47,599 --> 00:02:49,599 this question in in verse 13. Look there 79 00:02:49,599 --> 00:02:51,759 again at verse 13. We read that Jesus 80 00:02:51,759 --> 00:02:54,180 came in the district of Caesarea Philippi. 81 00:02:54,879 --> 00:02:56,719 That is that so often when Jesus was 82 00:02:56,719 --> 00:02:59,139 in the region of Galilee, he was constantly 83 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,715 swamped by the crowds that needed to be 84 00:03:01,715 --> 00:03:03,094 near him, that wanted, 85 00:03:03,474 --> 00:03:05,555 to be with him. And so he takes 86 00:03:05,555 --> 00:03:07,814 this opportunity as he withdraws 87 00:03:08,114 --> 00:03:10,594 out of the region of his normal home 88 00:03:10,594 --> 00:03:11,655 base for ministry 89 00:03:12,114 --> 00:03:14,034 to Caesarea Philippi for a bit of a 90 00:03:14,034 --> 00:03:14,534 retreat, 91 00:03:15,170 --> 00:03:17,969 even to take a minute to consider and 92 00:03:17,969 --> 00:03:19,510 reflect with his disciples. 93 00:03:20,129 --> 00:03:22,310 And as they're doing that, he has this 94 00:03:22,530 --> 00:03:23,030 question 95 00:03:23,330 --> 00:03:24,069 for them. 96 00:03:24,450 --> 00:03:26,689 Of course, even before we read this question 97 00:03:26,689 --> 00:03:28,129 for a second time, we need to be 98 00:03:28,129 --> 00:03:29,909 reminded that Jesus is 99 00:03:30,254 --> 00:03:31,155 asking this question 100 00:03:32,175 --> 00:03:33,555 not for his own benefit, 101 00:03:34,254 --> 00:03:35,794 not to pique his own curiosity. 102 00:03:36,574 --> 00:03:38,735 He's not asking a question that he doesn't 103 00:03:38,735 --> 00:03:40,754 know the answer to, but rather Jesus 104 00:03:41,134 --> 00:03:42,995 is asking this question 105 00:03:43,500 --> 00:03:45,439 for the benefit of his disciples, 106 00:03:46,219 --> 00:03:47,599 to give them an opportunity 107 00:03:48,060 --> 00:03:50,639 to reflect on what they believe, 108 00:03:51,099 --> 00:03:53,580 who they believe the Lord Jesus to be. 109 00:03:53,580 --> 00:03:54,479 And so Jesus 110 00:03:55,180 --> 00:03:55,574 asks 111 00:03:56,134 --> 00:03:57,914 one of the most important questions 112 00:03:58,455 --> 00:04:01,034 that a person can possibly ask. 113 00:04:01,574 --> 00:04:03,735 The Lord Jesus in verse 13 refers to 114 00:04:03,735 --> 00:04:05,435 himself as the Son of Man 115 00:04:05,894 --> 00:04:08,235 and he asks, who do people 116 00:04:08,534 --> 00:04:09,034 say 117 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,379 that the son of man is? 118 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:13,780 Essentially, Jesus is asking, 119 00:04:14,159 --> 00:04:15,060 who do people 120 00:04:15,439 --> 00:04:17,040 say that I am? Again, it's one of 121 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,779 the most important questions that we can ask. 122 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,000 It's a question that every one of us 123 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,615 gathered here tonight needs to have a solid, 124 00:04:26,314 --> 00:04:26,814 convicted, 125 00:04:27,995 --> 00:04:28,495 accurate, 126 00:04:29,274 --> 00:04:29,774 biblical 127 00:04:30,235 --> 00:04:31,134 answer for. 128 00:04:31,675 --> 00:04:32,574 Who is 129 00:04:33,035 --> 00:04:34,574 the Lord Jesus Christ? 130 00:04:35,995 --> 00:04:37,774 But in this first instance, Jesus 131 00:04:38,339 --> 00:04:39,879 wants to ask the disciples 132 00:04:40,980 --> 00:04:43,560 what the common opinion of him is. 133 00:04:43,939 --> 00:04:44,920 Who do the people 134 00:04:45,459 --> 00:04:47,060 say that the son of man is? It's 135 00:04:47,060 --> 00:04:48,839 a disarming way 136 00:04:49,220 --> 00:04:50,360 to ask a question 137 00:04:50,714 --> 00:04:52,415 to a person, to give them an opportunity, 138 00:04:52,634 --> 00:04:54,475 right or wrong, to answer the question. And 139 00:04:54,475 --> 00:04:56,334 so Jesus asked them, who do the people 140 00:04:56,475 --> 00:04:57,754 say that I am? He wants to know 141 00:04:57,754 --> 00:04:59,854 the common opinion of the people. 142 00:05:00,154 --> 00:05:02,074 So look at verse 14. How do the 143 00:05:02,074 --> 00:05:03,214 disciples answer? 144 00:05:03,899 --> 00:05:05,439 Verse 14. And they said, 145 00:05:06,300 --> 00:05:08,160 some say John the Baptist. 146 00:05:09,019 --> 00:05:11,839 Others say Elijah. And others, Jeremiah 147 00:05:12,220 --> 00:05:12,720 or 148 00:05:13,259 --> 00:05:14,319 one of the prophets. 149 00:05:15,339 --> 00:05:17,100 Now the first thing that we notice about 150 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:19,875 the disciples' answer is that, in general, these 151 00:05:19,875 --> 00:05:20,615 are positive 152 00:05:20,995 --> 00:05:21,495 descriptions. 153 00:05:22,115 --> 00:05:24,134 But, in general, this is a a positive 154 00:05:24,275 --> 00:05:25,415 answer that would have 155 00:05:26,435 --> 00:05:29,415 really been a compliment to any mere man. 156 00:05:29,795 --> 00:05:32,514 In fact, it's quite interesting the disciples answer 157 00:05:32,514 --> 00:05:35,370 with more or less only positive answers, 158 00:05:36,069 --> 00:05:38,410 because we notice that the disciples have omitted 159 00:05:38,470 --> 00:05:40,810 an entire category of opinion. 160 00:05:41,669 --> 00:05:43,610 Right? Up at this point in the gospel 161 00:05:43,669 --> 00:05:45,990 accounts, we know that there are many opponents 162 00:05:45,990 --> 00:05:48,154 of the Lord Jesus, but not everyone 163 00:05:48,534 --> 00:05:51,034 thinks so positively and so well 164 00:05:51,414 --> 00:05:52,235 of Christ. 165 00:05:52,854 --> 00:05:54,454 We know that there are those who said 166 00:05:54,454 --> 00:05:57,095 that Jesus was out of his mind, even 167 00:05:57,095 --> 00:05:58,394 those in his own family. 168 00:05:58,854 --> 00:06:00,615 We know that there were those that said 169 00:06:00,615 --> 00:06:01,403 that Jesus was leading the people astray, and 170 00:06:01,403 --> 00:06:01,495 that he threatened even to destroy the nation 171 00:06:01,495 --> 00:06:02,074 of Israel. 172 00:06:02,759 --> 00:06:05,000 Astray and that he threatened even to destroy 173 00:06:05,000 --> 00:06:06,060 the nation of Israel. 174 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:08,839 There were those even who went so far 175 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:09,740 to call Jesus 176 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:11,420 a blasphemer 177 00:06:12,199 --> 00:06:13,100 against God. 178 00:06:13,639 --> 00:06:14,460 But the disciples 179 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,020 don't mention those views. 180 00:06:17,954 --> 00:06:20,355 Nonetheless, we're reminded that they existed, and, of 181 00:06:20,355 --> 00:06:20,855 course, 182 00:06:22,035 --> 00:06:24,454 in our culture today in the 21st century, 183 00:06:24,514 --> 00:06:26,134 those views still exist. 184 00:06:27,074 --> 00:06:30,194 Probably, in general, most people have something positive 185 00:06:30,194 --> 00:06:31,654 to say about the Lord Jesus, 186 00:06:32,230 --> 00:06:32,810 but, increasingly, 187 00:06:33,110 --> 00:06:36,470 there are those who readily identify themselves as 188 00:06:36,470 --> 00:06:37,529 opponents of Christ 189 00:06:37,830 --> 00:06:39,529 with hostility towards Christ, 190 00:06:39,830 --> 00:06:42,250 who hate Christ and hate his church. 191 00:06:42,790 --> 00:06:44,310 There were those that existed in the 1st 192 00:06:44,310 --> 00:06:46,250 century. There are those that exist today. 193 00:06:47,104 --> 00:06:48,165 But but in total, 194 00:06:48,865 --> 00:06:50,644 the common opinion of Christ, 195 00:06:51,104 --> 00:06:52,564 at least in the 1st century, 196 00:06:53,104 --> 00:06:54,404 was more positive. 197 00:06:54,944 --> 00:06:57,365 They say that many people think that Jesus 198 00:06:57,425 --> 00:06:58,725 is on par with 199 00:06:59,199 --> 00:07:00,960 perhaps one of the great prophets of the 200 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,060 Old Testament. Maybe he was a reincarnation 201 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:04,980 of John the Baptist. 202 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:07,220 Maybe he was Jeremiah. 203 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:10,639 Maybe even he was of the greatest of 204 00:07:10,639 --> 00:07:12,100 the Old Testament prophets, 205 00:07:13,004 --> 00:07:14,225 Elijah himself. 206 00:07:15,964 --> 00:07:18,044 This is no doubt the common opinion of 207 00:07:18,044 --> 00:07:19,884 the people of the Lord Jesus in the 208 00:07:19,884 --> 00:07:20,625 1st century. 209 00:07:21,485 --> 00:07:22,785 And what we have here 210 00:07:23,564 --> 00:07:25,104 is the common error 211 00:07:25,769 --> 00:07:26,990 that men and women 212 00:07:27,449 --> 00:07:28,829 and boys and girls 213 00:07:29,689 --> 00:07:31,149 all throughout the ages 214 00:07:31,689 --> 00:07:34,589 have been all too willing to commit themselves 215 00:07:34,810 --> 00:07:35,310 to. 216 00:07:36,009 --> 00:07:36,910 That error 217 00:07:37,824 --> 00:07:41,185 that perhaps Jesus was only a good moral 218 00:07:41,185 --> 00:07:41,685 teacher 219 00:07:42,545 --> 00:07:44,645 or maybe even if we dare, a religious 220 00:07:45,345 --> 00:07:45,845 prophet 221 00:07:46,545 --> 00:07:47,605 of some kind. 222 00:07:48,384 --> 00:07:49,985 Now was the common opinion in the 1st 223 00:07:49,985 --> 00:07:52,699 century? It continues to be an opinion of 224 00:07:52,699 --> 00:07:54,240 the Lord Jesus today, 225 00:07:55,019 --> 00:07:56,319 but it is an error. 226 00:07:56,939 --> 00:07:57,600 And, nonetheless, 227 00:07:58,220 --> 00:08:00,160 people think that they do well 228 00:08:00,699 --> 00:08:02,399 to think so well 229 00:08:02,860 --> 00:08:03,600 of Jesus. 230 00:08:04,524 --> 00:08:06,704 People tend to put themselves in a category 231 00:08:06,764 --> 00:08:08,144 of a friend of Jesus, 232 00:08:08,685 --> 00:08:11,724 friendly towards him, if they're willing to commit 233 00:08:11,724 --> 00:08:14,125 themselves to such high praise. Maybe a great 234 00:08:14,125 --> 00:08:16,764 moral teacher, maybe a virtuous person, maybe even 235 00:08:16,764 --> 00:08:17,904 a religious prophet 236 00:08:18,365 --> 00:08:19,345 of some kind. 237 00:08:20,129 --> 00:08:21,030 But we notice 238 00:08:21,970 --> 00:08:24,050 that Jesus does not think that people do 239 00:08:24,050 --> 00:08:26,689 well to think of him merely as a 240 00:08:26,689 --> 00:08:27,189 prophet 241 00:08:27,650 --> 00:08:28,710 or a good teacher. 242 00:08:29,250 --> 00:08:31,030 Notice how Jesus responds 243 00:08:31,490 --> 00:08:33,009 to the opinion of the people. Look at 244 00:08:33,009 --> 00:08:33,910 verse 15. 245 00:08:35,024 --> 00:08:36,485 Jesus has a second question. 246 00:08:37,904 --> 00:08:39,664 He said to the disciples he said to 247 00:08:39,664 --> 00:08:40,164 them, 248 00:08:41,105 --> 00:08:42,084 but who do 249 00:08:43,264 --> 00:08:44,644 you say that I am? 250 00:08:45,584 --> 00:08:46,964 Notice that as Jesus 251 00:08:47,399 --> 00:08:49,319 responds to the common opinion of the people, 252 00:08:49,319 --> 00:08:51,100 Jesus does not praise the answer. 253 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:53,819 He doesn't even say, well, people mostly 254 00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:54,620 understand 255 00:08:55,399 --> 00:08:56,299 who I am. 256 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:00,379 No. Jesus dismisses the opinions 257 00:09:00,839 --> 00:09:02,299 of the crowds altogether 258 00:09:03,365 --> 00:09:05,225 by asking another question. 259 00:09:06,325 --> 00:09:08,964 And even though these answers of the common 260 00:09:08,964 --> 00:09:12,164 opinion of the people are mostly positive on 261 00:09:12,164 --> 00:09:14,725 the whole, they're certainly more positive than the 262 00:09:14,725 --> 00:09:16,264 answers that Jesus's enemies 263 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:18,779 would have given. They are no more correct. 264 00:09:19,799 --> 00:09:20,860 They are wrong. 265 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:24,200 Jesus is not any of the things that 266 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:26,139 the people thought that he was. 267 00:09:26,919 --> 00:09:28,460 And so he wants to know 268 00:09:28,840 --> 00:09:29,820 from his disciples, 269 00:09:30,759 --> 00:09:31,899 what do you believe? 270 00:09:33,115 --> 00:09:34,174 What do you say? 271 00:09:35,195 --> 00:09:36,174 Who am I? 272 00:09:36,794 --> 00:09:39,695 We're reminded this evening that it's not enough 273 00:09:41,195 --> 00:09:42,735 that we think well of Jesus. 274 00:09:43,754 --> 00:09:44,735 It's not enough 275 00:09:45,309 --> 00:09:48,450 that we consider ourself friendly towards him. 276 00:09:49,070 --> 00:09:49,970 It's not enough 277 00:09:50,509 --> 00:09:53,330 that we simply say, well, I'm not opposed 278 00:09:53,629 --> 00:09:54,370 to Christ. 279 00:09:55,389 --> 00:09:56,610 Instead, Jesus 280 00:09:56,990 --> 00:09:59,330 presses the issue further. 281 00:10:00,804 --> 00:10:01,785 He asked them, 282 00:10:02,325 --> 00:10:03,465 what do they believe? 283 00:10:04,485 --> 00:10:06,884 Of course, Jesus' original audience in the 1st 284 00:10:06,884 --> 00:10:08,504 century was his own own disciples. 285 00:10:09,764 --> 00:10:12,085 But the Lord Jesus still presses this question 286 00:10:12,085 --> 00:10:13,625 on human hearts today. 287 00:10:14,730 --> 00:10:15,709 He wants to 288 00:10:16,089 --> 00:10:17,370 know. Not, well, who do the people say 289 00:10:17,370 --> 00:10:19,129 that I am? Who do your parents say 290 00:10:19,129 --> 00:10:21,610 that I am? What's the general opinion? What's 291 00:10:21,610 --> 00:10:22,750 the cultural consensus? 292 00:10:23,370 --> 00:10:25,690 He wants to know, from individual human hearts, 293 00:10:25,690 --> 00:10:27,549 the question presses on us tonight, 294 00:10:27,929 --> 00:10:29,949 who do you say that Christ is? 295 00:10:30,575 --> 00:10:32,735 Who do you believe the Son of Man 296 00:10:32,735 --> 00:10:33,235 is? 297 00:10:34,095 --> 00:10:35,794 Jesus presses the issue 298 00:10:36,174 --> 00:10:37,315 on our own hearts 299 00:10:37,695 --> 00:10:38,195 tonight. 300 00:10:40,095 --> 00:10:42,674 So look at verse 16. As Jesus 301 00:10:43,230 --> 00:10:44,289 presses the question, 302 00:10:45,149 --> 00:10:47,330 the apostle Peter has a confession. 303 00:10:48,269 --> 00:10:49,409 Look at verse 16. 304 00:10:50,029 --> 00:10:51,409 Simon Peter replied, 305 00:10:53,470 --> 00:10:54,690 you are the Christ, 306 00:10:55,709 --> 00:10:56,529 the son 307 00:10:57,070 --> 00:10:58,289 of the living God. 308 00:10:59,095 --> 00:11:01,514 Now here we have Peter's confession 309 00:11:02,054 --> 00:11:03,754 of faith in Christ. 310 00:11:04,774 --> 00:11:07,575 We need to notice how different Peter's answer 311 00:11:07,575 --> 00:11:09,674 is from the opinion of the crowds. 312 00:11:10,215 --> 00:11:13,095 It's different from beginning to end. First, Peter's 313 00:11:13,095 --> 00:11:14,075 answer contains 314 00:11:14,500 --> 00:11:15,240 a confidence 315 00:11:16,019 --> 00:11:18,440 that Jesus is who he says he is. 316 00:11:18,899 --> 00:11:20,500 What a difference that is from the opinions 317 00:11:20,500 --> 00:11:21,320 of the crowds. 318 00:11:21,779 --> 00:11:23,700 They don't know. They're not confident in their 319 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:25,960 answer. Maybe he's John the Baptist. 320 00:11:26,544 --> 00:11:27,365 Maybe Jeremiah. 321 00:11:27,904 --> 00:11:29,904 Maybe Elijah. They paint with a broad stroke. 322 00:11:29,904 --> 00:11:31,684 Maybe any one of the other prophets. 323 00:11:32,065 --> 00:11:32,965 There's a question. 324 00:11:33,345 --> 00:11:36,165 There's no question for Peter. Peter's confident. 325 00:11:36,705 --> 00:11:38,245 He answers with conviction. 326 00:11:38,785 --> 00:11:41,365 He says, lord, you are the Christ, 327 00:11:42,149 --> 00:11:42,649 the 328 00:11:43,110 --> 00:11:44,809 son of the living God. 329 00:11:45,750 --> 00:11:47,829 He says that Jesus is the Christ, that 330 00:11:47,829 --> 00:11:49,049 is, he's the messiah, 331 00:11:49,829 --> 00:11:52,069 the promised one spoken of in the Old 332 00:11:52,069 --> 00:11:52,569 Testament 333 00:11:53,190 --> 00:11:54,649 to fulfill the covenant 334 00:11:55,194 --> 00:11:57,034 that God has made with his people to 335 00:11:57,034 --> 00:11:57,934 make redemption 336 00:11:59,034 --> 00:12:00,654 for the forgiveness of sins 337 00:12:01,034 --> 00:12:02,975 for God's people. He's the Christ. 338 00:12:03,355 --> 00:12:05,774 Not only that, Peter says he's the son 339 00:12:06,315 --> 00:12:07,615 of the living God, 340 00:12:08,710 --> 00:12:09,210 meaning 341 00:12:09,750 --> 00:12:10,410 that Jesus, 342 00:12:10,790 --> 00:12:12,710 separated from even the greatest of the prophets 343 00:12:12,710 --> 00:12:14,730 of the Old Testament, is no mere man. 344 00:12:15,350 --> 00:12:17,450 The Lord Jesus is God himself, 345 00:12:18,389 --> 00:12:19,290 fully man 346 00:12:20,004 --> 00:12:21,064 and fully God. 347 00:12:21,365 --> 00:12:24,584 And so Peter confesses his faith in Christ. 348 00:12:25,684 --> 00:12:27,225 Look at verse 17. 349 00:12:28,164 --> 00:12:29,144 We have Jesus's 350 00:12:29,684 --> 00:12:30,184 response 351 00:12:31,044 --> 00:12:32,264 to Peter's confession. 352 00:12:32,725 --> 00:12:34,539 If this is your first time reading this, 353 00:12:34,539 --> 00:12:37,179 we would be steeped in anticipation wondering how 354 00:12:37,179 --> 00:12:38,399 will Christ respond. 355 00:12:38,940 --> 00:12:40,539 You certainly didn't like the answer that the 356 00:12:40,539 --> 00:12:43,500 crowds gave. What about Peter's answer? What will 357 00:12:43,500 --> 00:12:46,320 Jesus say? Verse 17. And Jesus answered him, 358 00:12:46,865 --> 00:12:49,985 blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and 359 00:12:49,985 --> 00:12:52,084 blood has not revealed this to you, 360 00:12:52,625 --> 00:12:54,565 but my father who is in heaven. 361 00:12:55,345 --> 00:12:58,304 2 things we notice about Jesus' response to 362 00:12:58,304 --> 00:12:59,845 Peter's confession. 1st, 363 00:13:01,620 --> 00:13:04,360 Jesus says that Simon, the son of Jonah, 364 00:13:04,419 --> 00:13:04,919 Peter 365 00:13:05,620 --> 00:13:07,799 he says that Peter is blessed. 366 00:13:08,740 --> 00:13:09,879 He calls him blessed. 367 00:13:11,299 --> 00:13:14,039 There is no greater or richer blessing 368 00:13:15,504 --> 00:13:16,804 than a sure confidence 369 00:13:17,664 --> 00:13:18,485 that Jesus 370 00:13:18,865 --> 00:13:19,365 Christ 371 00:13:20,304 --> 00:13:21,684 is the Son of God. 372 00:13:22,784 --> 00:13:25,204 That's the riches of the mercy of God. 373 00:13:25,745 --> 00:13:27,904 To have that confession on our lips and 374 00:13:27,904 --> 00:13:28,725 in our hearts 375 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:31,419 is to be blessed. 376 00:13:32,039 --> 00:13:33,980 We should be reminded that 377 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,159 the Lord Jesus does not bless does not 378 00:13:37,159 --> 00:13:38,139 measure, rather, 379 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:39,100 blessedness 380 00:13:39,639 --> 00:13:41,100 by the standard of man. 381 00:13:41,639 --> 00:13:42,839 If we were to go and ask the 382 00:13:42,839 --> 00:13:44,519 common opinion of the people, what does it 383 00:13:44,519 --> 00:13:45,500 mean to be blessed? 384 00:13:46,174 --> 00:13:48,654 We get all kinds of answers of the 385 00:13:48,654 --> 00:13:51,475 attainment of all of the physical accoutrements, 386 00:13:52,254 --> 00:13:54,355 that the world has to offer. 387 00:13:54,814 --> 00:13:55,875 The Lord Jesus, 388 00:13:56,495 --> 00:13:58,034 how does he measure blessedness? 389 00:13:59,009 --> 00:14:01,169 What does it mean to be blessed by 390 00:14:01,169 --> 00:14:01,669 God? 391 00:14:03,090 --> 00:14:05,269 It is to confess with conviction 392 00:14:06,049 --> 00:14:07,809 that Jesus is who he says he is, 393 00:14:07,809 --> 00:14:08,549 the Christ, 394 00:14:09,090 --> 00:14:10,690 the son of the living God. In fact, 395 00:14:10,690 --> 00:14:13,190 this is exactly what the apostle Paul says 396 00:14:13,794 --> 00:14:15,955 about the blessings that God has poured out 397 00:14:15,955 --> 00:14:17,335 on his people in Ephesians 398 00:14:17,794 --> 00:14:20,434 chapter 1 verses 3 through 4. Remember there 399 00:14:20,434 --> 00:14:21,894 where Paul is extolling 400 00:14:22,674 --> 00:14:23,735 the the the marvelous 401 00:14:24,035 --> 00:14:24,535 majesty 402 00:14:24,915 --> 00:14:25,654 of God 403 00:14:26,059 --> 00:14:27,820 and the doctrine of election. Listen to what 404 00:14:27,820 --> 00:14:30,459 Paul says in Ephesians 1:3 and 4. Blessed 405 00:14:30,459 --> 00:14:31,980 be the God and Father of our Lord 406 00:14:31,980 --> 00:14:33,039 and Jesus Christ, 407 00:14:33,659 --> 00:14:34,879 who has done what? 408 00:14:35,339 --> 00:14:37,759 Who has blessed us in Christ 409 00:14:38,554 --> 00:14:41,134 with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 410 00:14:41,514 --> 00:14:43,834 even as he chose us in him before 411 00:14:43,834 --> 00:14:46,074 the foundation of the world, that we should 412 00:14:46,074 --> 00:14:49,115 be holy and blameless before him. It's a 413 00:14:49,115 --> 00:14:51,750 magnificent statement that Paul has made. He says 414 00:14:51,750 --> 00:14:53,830 that that for those who've been chosen before 415 00:14:53,830 --> 00:14:56,070 the foundation of the world, for those who've 416 00:14:56,070 --> 00:14:58,250 been given the gift of faith in Christ, 417 00:14:58,629 --> 00:15:01,210 for those who profess to believe that Jesus 418 00:15:01,269 --> 00:15:03,050 is the Son of the living God, 419 00:15:03,509 --> 00:15:04,970 he says that that amounts 420 00:15:05,585 --> 00:15:08,945 to being blessed with every spiritual blessing in 421 00:15:08,945 --> 00:15:10,004 the heavenly places. 422 00:15:10,625 --> 00:15:12,625 Put another way, there is no blessing that 423 00:15:12,625 --> 00:15:14,625 God the Father has for his people that 424 00:15:14,625 --> 00:15:15,684 he has held back. 425 00:15:16,065 --> 00:15:18,865 He's blessed his people with everything that he 426 00:15:18,865 --> 00:15:19,365 has, 427 00:15:19,850 --> 00:15:21,310 every spiritual blessing. 428 00:15:22,490 --> 00:15:24,110 And the evidence of that blessing 429 00:15:24,649 --> 00:15:26,590 is made clear in the life of Peter 430 00:15:26,970 --> 00:15:29,070 as he confesses with conviction 431 00:15:29,610 --> 00:15:31,210 Jesus to be the Christ, the son of 432 00:15:31,210 --> 00:15:32,910 the living God. Secondly, 433 00:15:33,904 --> 00:15:36,485 as Jesus responds, he also reveals 434 00:15:37,424 --> 00:15:39,445 how this happened to Peter. 435 00:15:40,465 --> 00:15:43,024 Right? How is Peter how is Peter able 436 00:15:43,024 --> 00:15:45,365 to confess the truth about Christ 437 00:15:46,709 --> 00:15:50,089 while the common opinion of the crowds failed. 438 00:15:50,870 --> 00:15:52,329 How did Peter learn this? 439 00:15:52,949 --> 00:15:55,029 How did Peter know that Jesus was the 440 00:15:55,029 --> 00:15:55,529 Christ, 441 00:15:55,909 --> 00:15:57,589 the son of the living God? Well, look 442 00:15:57,589 --> 00:15:59,129 there again at verse 17. 443 00:15:59,845 --> 00:16:02,325 After calling Peter blessed, Jesus says to him, 444 00:16:02,325 --> 00:16:03,705 for flesh and blood 445 00:16:04,245 --> 00:16:05,865 has not revealed this to you, 446 00:16:07,125 --> 00:16:08,664 but rather my father 447 00:16:09,605 --> 00:16:10,664 who is in heaven. 448 00:16:11,205 --> 00:16:12,965 See, how was Peter able to confess the 449 00:16:12,965 --> 00:16:14,105 truth about Christ? 450 00:16:14,970 --> 00:16:17,049 Well, Jesus tells us the fact that Peter 451 00:16:17,049 --> 00:16:19,370 is able to do this, to confess this 452 00:16:19,370 --> 00:16:20,350 truth about Christ, 453 00:16:21,049 --> 00:16:22,990 is nothing short of a miracle. 454 00:16:23,529 --> 00:16:25,450 It took a miracle in the heart of 455 00:16:25,450 --> 00:16:27,950 Peter for Peter to be able to confess 456 00:16:28,009 --> 00:16:30,544 this truth. It required an act of God 457 00:16:30,924 --> 00:16:33,404 for Peter to come to this understanding. Jesus 458 00:16:33,404 --> 00:16:35,024 says, flesh and blood 459 00:16:36,044 --> 00:16:38,205 flesh and blood alone could never have done 460 00:16:38,205 --> 00:16:38,705 this. 461 00:16:40,284 --> 00:16:43,424 Flesh and blood would produce something altogether different. 462 00:16:44,230 --> 00:16:46,950 Flesh and blood produced the mere opinions of 463 00:16:46,950 --> 00:16:47,690 the crowds. 464 00:16:48,230 --> 00:16:50,549 It speculated that Jesus perhaps might be a 465 00:16:50,549 --> 00:16:51,610 great moral teacher 466 00:16:52,389 --> 00:16:53,850 or maybe even a prophet, 467 00:16:54,950 --> 00:16:57,350 but the work of God, a miracle wrought 468 00:16:57,350 --> 00:16:59,294 by the Holy Spirit and the heart of 469 00:16:59,294 --> 00:16:59,955 a believer, 470 00:17:00,415 --> 00:17:02,115 it produces this confession, 471 00:17:02,654 --> 00:17:05,154 this confession that Jesus is the Christ, 472 00:17:05,775 --> 00:17:08,335 the Son of the living God. Theologian John 473 00:17:08,335 --> 00:17:09,875 Calvin puts it this way. 474 00:17:10,789 --> 00:17:13,190 He says, from this, we infer that human 475 00:17:13,190 --> 00:17:16,250 minds lack the ability to perceive the mysteries 476 00:17:16,390 --> 00:17:17,529 of heavenly wisdom 477 00:17:18,149 --> 00:17:19,289 hidden in Christ. 478 00:17:19,669 --> 00:17:20,169 More, 479 00:17:20,710 --> 00:17:23,909 all human senses fail in this respect until 480 00:17:23,909 --> 00:17:25,450 God opens our eyes 481 00:17:25,795 --> 00:17:27,494 to see his glory in Christ. 482 00:17:28,195 --> 00:17:30,595 And so let no one, trusting in his 483 00:17:30,595 --> 00:17:32,934 own insight, break out in pride, 484 00:17:33,394 --> 00:17:35,795 but let us humbly allow ourselves to be 485 00:17:35,795 --> 00:17:38,195 taught inwardly by the father of lights that 486 00:17:38,195 --> 00:17:40,615 his spirit alone may enlighten our darkness. 487 00:17:41,539 --> 00:17:43,799 Now, let those who have been given faith 488 00:17:43,940 --> 00:17:46,519 learn to be aware of their own blindness 489 00:17:47,380 --> 00:17:49,159 and to refer to God 490 00:17:49,700 --> 00:17:51,400 what they have received. 491 00:17:52,579 --> 00:17:53,720 You see, as we're reminded 492 00:17:54,424 --> 00:17:56,664 of the fact that even to confess that 493 00:17:56,664 --> 00:17:58,825 Jesus is Christ, the son of the living 494 00:17:58,825 --> 00:18:00,284 God, is a miracle, 495 00:18:00,984 --> 00:18:03,404 it ought to cause in us 2 responses. 496 00:18:04,904 --> 00:18:07,404 1st, it it ought to utterly humble us. 497 00:18:08,149 --> 00:18:10,089 It's exactly what Calvin says here. 498 00:18:10,950 --> 00:18:13,849 He says that when we learn this fact, 499 00:18:14,149 --> 00:18:16,329 we ought to recognize our own blindness, 500 00:18:16,950 --> 00:18:18,869 a blindness that we could have never overcome 501 00:18:18,869 --> 00:18:19,369 ourselves. 502 00:18:19,990 --> 00:18:22,470 We ought to recognize that when we, with 503 00:18:22,470 --> 00:18:22,970 conviction, 504 00:18:24,525 --> 00:18:25,505 honestly confess 505 00:18:26,365 --> 00:18:28,045 that Jesus is the Christ, the son of 506 00:18:28,045 --> 00:18:29,644 the living God, we ought to be humbled 507 00:18:29,644 --> 00:18:31,565 to realize that a miracle has taken place 508 00:18:31,565 --> 00:18:32,465 in our own hearts. 509 00:18:32,924 --> 00:18:35,904 We're here tonight confessing that Jesus is Lord, 510 00:18:36,525 --> 00:18:37,025 not 511 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:39,920 because we're just the good people and everyone 512 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:41,539 else out there the bad people, 513 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:43,700 not because we've done something 514 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:45,299 worthy or meritorious 515 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:47,380 or deserving of God's favor, 516 00:18:47,759 --> 00:18:50,320 but because God in his sovereign mercy has 517 00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:51,860 looked upon us in his kindness 518 00:18:52,424 --> 00:18:54,025 and he's done for us what we can't 519 00:18:54,025 --> 00:18:56,125 do for ourselves. We ought to be humbled 520 00:18:56,744 --> 00:18:58,605 that we're able to confess with conviction 521 00:18:58,985 --> 00:19:00,365 that Christ is lord. 522 00:19:01,065 --> 00:19:01,565 Secondly, 523 00:19:01,945 --> 00:19:03,565 it puts into perspective 524 00:19:04,345 --> 00:19:05,404 what we're doing 525 00:19:06,039 --> 00:19:08,859 as we seek to build a church. 526 00:19:10,119 --> 00:19:11,819 You see, as we seek to establish 527 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:13,099 a new church, 528 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,380 like this church, the Woodlands Reformed Church, 529 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:19,160 as we seek to establish a new church, 530 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:20,220 what are we doing? 531 00:19:20,724 --> 00:19:22,644 What are we doing when we're building a 532 00:19:22,644 --> 00:19:23,384 new church? 533 00:19:24,325 --> 00:19:26,565 Jesus reminds us that what we're doing when 534 00:19:26,565 --> 00:19:29,605 we're planting, establishing, building a new church is 535 00:19:29,605 --> 00:19:33,144 nothing less than asking God to work miracles 536 00:19:34,700 --> 00:19:35,519 in the hearts 537 00:19:35,980 --> 00:19:36,559 of men 538 00:19:36,940 --> 00:19:37,680 and women 539 00:19:38,220 --> 00:19:38,880 and boys 540 00:19:39,259 --> 00:19:40,000 and girls. 541 00:19:40,460 --> 00:19:42,480 They might come to confess 542 00:19:43,099 --> 00:19:44,480 that Jesus is Lord, 543 00:19:45,099 --> 00:19:47,200 the son of the of the living God. 544 00:19:48,375 --> 00:19:49,994 We're asking God again 545 00:19:50,695 --> 00:19:51,595 to do something 546 00:19:51,974 --> 00:19:53,755 that we cannot do for ourselves 547 00:19:54,454 --> 00:19:56,394 and that we cannot do for our neighbors, 548 00:19:56,615 --> 00:19:58,315 that we can't do for our friends, 549 00:19:58,855 --> 00:20:00,555 that we can't do for our coworkers, 550 00:20:01,559 --> 00:20:03,660 that we can't do for our family members. 551 00:20:04,759 --> 00:20:05,980 We're asking God 552 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:07,900 to build his church. 553 00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:11,180 How different this is 554 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:13,019 in building the church, 555 00:20:13,654 --> 00:20:16,315 how different this is from building or establishing 556 00:20:16,855 --> 00:20:18,554 any other human institution. 557 00:20:19,654 --> 00:20:21,674 I need to be reminded tonight, the church 558 00:20:21,974 --> 00:20:24,234 is built differently from a business. 559 00:20:25,335 --> 00:20:28,075 The church is built differently than a government. 560 00:20:28,134 --> 00:20:28,954 Praise God. 561 00:20:29,730 --> 00:20:31,269 The church is built differently 562 00:20:31,730 --> 00:20:34,690 than any other human establishment or institution that 563 00:20:34,690 --> 00:20:35,670 we could name. 564 00:20:36,289 --> 00:20:39,089 The church is built by the work of 565 00:20:39,089 --> 00:20:39,589 God. 566 00:20:39,970 --> 00:20:41,750 It's something that God must do. 567 00:20:42,605 --> 00:20:44,065 In fact, that's exactly 568 00:20:44,845 --> 00:20:47,105 what Jesus promises to his church 569 00:20:47,884 --> 00:20:48,945 in verse 18. 570 00:20:49,884 --> 00:20:51,585 Listen to Jesus as he continues 571 00:20:52,125 --> 00:20:53,105 with the promise. 572 00:20:54,365 --> 00:20:55,184 Verse 18, 573 00:20:55,724 --> 00:20:57,585 Jesus says, and I tell you, 574 00:20:57,890 --> 00:21:00,789 you are Peter and on this rock, 575 00:21:01,809 --> 00:21:02,950 I will build 576 00:21:03,410 --> 00:21:04,230 my church 577 00:21:05,250 --> 00:21:06,549 and the gates of hell 578 00:21:07,090 --> 00:21:08,870 shall not prevail against it. 579 00:21:09,410 --> 00:21:11,110 Here in verse 18, Jesus 580 00:21:12,055 --> 00:21:13,115 makes a glorious 581 00:21:13,575 --> 00:21:15,035 promise to his church. 582 00:21:15,894 --> 00:21:17,115 He says to Peter 583 00:21:17,494 --> 00:21:19,755 that he's going to build 584 00:21:20,055 --> 00:21:20,875 his church 585 00:21:21,494 --> 00:21:23,515 on the confession that Peter has just made. 586 00:21:24,329 --> 00:21:26,490 Now Jesus' play on words here make more 587 00:21:26,490 --> 00:21:28,089 sense if we're able to hear them in 588 00:21:28,089 --> 00:21:28,750 the Greek 589 00:21:29,130 --> 00:21:30,509 that Matthew records. 590 00:21:31,289 --> 00:21:34,109 You see, Peter's name means rock. It's pronounced 591 00:21:34,250 --> 00:21:34,750 petros, 592 00:21:35,609 --> 00:21:38,315 which sounds very similar to the word for 593 00:21:38,315 --> 00:21:41,055 rock that Jesus uses, but it's not identical. 594 00:21:41,914 --> 00:21:42,795 So if we're to hear it in the 595 00:21:42,795 --> 00:21:44,795 Greek that Matthew recorded, it would sound something 596 00:21:44,795 --> 00:21:46,734 like this. Jesus says to Peter, 597 00:21:47,035 --> 00:21:48,174 you are petros, 598 00:21:48,875 --> 00:21:50,255 and on this petra, 599 00:21:51,150 --> 00:21:53,110 I will build my church. Now we need 600 00:21:53,110 --> 00:21:53,809 to be clear. 601 00:21:54,430 --> 00:21:56,130 Jesus is not saying 602 00:21:56,430 --> 00:21:58,130 that he will build his church 603 00:21:58,670 --> 00:21:59,490 on Peter. 604 00:21:59,950 --> 00:22:01,390 Jesus wanted to say that, it would be 605 00:22:01,390 --> 00:22:03,150 very simple. He would have said, I'm building 606 00:22:03,150 --> 00:22:05,490 my church on you, petros, Peter. 607 00:22:06,085 --> 00:22:08,164 That's not what Jesus says. He's not building 608 00:22:08,164 --> 00:22:10,085 the church on Peter. Peter's far too weak 609 00:22:10,085 --> 00:22:10,744 for that. 610 00:22:11,365 --> 00:22:13,144 The church can't be built on Peter. 611 00:22:13,445 --> 00:22:13,945 Instead, 612 00:22:15,045 --> 00:22:17,285 as Jesus makes this promise to build his 613 00:22:17,285 --> 00:22:17,785 church, 614 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,579 he is revealing what the foundation 615 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:22,420 of the church is. 616 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,359 He's revealing what the church is built upon, 617 00:22:25,359 --> 00:22:26,500 and it's not Peter. 618 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:29,039 It's not any other leader in the history 619 00:22:29,039 --> 00:22:30,019 of Christ's church. 620 00:22:30,799 --> 00:22:31,619 It's actually 621 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:32,819 Christ himself. 622 00:22:34,115 --> 00:22:36,934 That that is what Peter's confession reveals. 623 00:22:37,715 --> 00:22:38,775 As Peter confesses 624 00:22:39,154 --> 00:22:40,994 that Jesus is the Christ, the son of 625 00:22:40,994 --> 00:22:41,975 the living God, 626 00:22:42,674 --> 00:22:45,315 Jesus blesses him because he understands what the 627 00:22:45,315 --> 00:22:48,295 foundation of the church is. It's Jesus himself. 628 00:22:48,950 --> 00:22:50,789 This is what Paul tells us in Ephesians 629 00:22:50,789 --> 00:22:52,809 chapter 2 verses 19 through 22. 630 00:22:53,109 --> 00:22:55,670 Remember when Paul's marveling at the reality that 631 00:22:55,670 --> 00:22:56,170 Gentiles, 632 00:22:56,549 --> 00:22:58,789 who were once aliens, have now been called 633 00:22:58,789 --> 00:23:00,789 into the church, are now a part of 634 00:23:00,789 --> 00:23:02,569 the church that Christ is building. 635 00:23:03,194 --> 00:23:05,115 Listen to what Paul says there in Ephesians 636 00:23:05,115 --> 00:23:06,575 2 19 through 22. 637 00:23:06,875 --> 00:23:08,634 He says, so then you are no longer 638 00:23:08,634 --> 00:23:09,774 strangers and aliens, 639 00:23:10,394 --> 00:23:11,934 but you are fellow citizens 640 00:23:12,394 --> 00:23:14,554 with the saints and members of the household 641 00:23:14,554 --> 00:23:15,214 of God 642 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:17,419 built on the foundation 643 00:23:17,799 --> 00:23:18,700 of the apostles 644 00:23:19,160 --> 00:23:20,059 and the prophets. 645 00:23:20,359 --> 00:23:22,299 And we ask Paul, what's the foundation? 646 00:23:22,839 --> 00:23:24,839 What's the foundation of the apostles and the 647 00:23:24,839 --> 00:23:26,940 prophets? He answers us. Christ 648 00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:28,460 Jesus himself 649 00:23:29,480 --> 00:23:30,460 being the cornerstone, 650 00:23:31,345 --> 00:23:33,664 and whom the whole structure, being joined together, 651 00:23:33,664 --> 00:23:36,164 grows into a holy temple in the lord. 652 00:23:36,545 --> 00:23:38,625 In him, you also are being built together 653 00:23:38,625 --> 00:23:40,005 into a dwelling place 654 00:23:40,465 --> 00:23:41,285 for God 655 00:23:41,745 --> 00:23:42,805 by the spirit. 656 00:23:43,690 --> 00:23:45,690 You see, Paul tells us Christ is the 657 00:23:45,690 --> 00:23:46,190 cornerstone. 658 00:23:47,049 --> 00:23:49,390 Christ is the foundation of the church. 659 00:23:50,170 --> 00:23:51,470 And the reason that 660 00:23:51,930 --> 00:23:54,029 Jesus calls Peter Petros, 661 00:23:54,490 --> 00:23:55,150 the rock, 662 00:23:55,930 --> 00:23:57,710 is because all those who confess 663 00:23:58,090 --> 00:23:58,990 like Peter, 664 00:23:59,494 --> 00:24:00,775 the Christ of the Lord, the Son of 665 00:24:00,775 --> 00:24:03,335 the living God, they too are rocks. They're 666 00:24:03,335 --> 00:24:03,835 stones 667 00:24:04,295 --> 00:24:06,535 that are added to the building of the 668 00:24:06,535 --> 00:24:07,035 church 669 00:24:08,375 --> 00:24:09,515 that Christ himself 670 00:24:10,455 --> 00:24:11,275 has promised 671 00:24:11,975 --> 00:24:12,715 to accomplish. 672 00:24:13,680 --> 00:24:14,580 And notice 673 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,360 that as Jesus makes this grand promise to 674 00:24:17,360 --> 00:24:19,539 the church, he guarantees it. 675 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,180 He guarantees it against all enemies. 676 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:24,400 Look there again at verse 18. And I 677 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,080 tell you, you are Peter on this rock. 678 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:27,299 I will build my church 679 00:24:28,024 --> 00:24:29,404 and the gates of hell 680 00:24:30,424 --> 00:24:32,684 shall not prevail against it. 681 00:24:34,024 --> 00:24:34,924 Jesus tells 682 00:24:36,424 --> 00:24:37,884 us that none of the devices 683 00:24:38,424 --> 00:24:40,764 of Satan will accomplish their purpose. 684 00:24:41,450 --> 00:24:43,529 They will not succeed. He says the gates 685 00:24:43,529 --> 00:24:45,930 of hell will not prevail against the building 686 00:24:45,930 --> 00:24:48,349 that Christ has promised. Now so often, 687 00:24:49,369 --> 00:24:52,009 when we picture the visual that Jesus has 688 00:24:52,009 --> 00:24:54,109 just created about the gates of hell, 689 00:24:54,634 --> 00:24:56,174 So often, we're we're tempted 690 00:24:56,555 --> 00:24:58,575 to picture something like 691 00:24:59,195 --> 00:25:01,134 Satan and the forces of darkness 692 00:25:02,075 --> 00:25:02,575 almost 693 00:25:03,035 --> 00:25:06,154 overcoming the church, almost overwhelming the church. But 694 00:25:06,154 --> 00:25:09,515 the church, because of Christ's promise, just barely 695 00:25:09,515 --> 00:25:10,015 holds 696 00:25:10,660 --> 00:25:12,039 and Satan doesn't prevail. 697 00:25:12,660 --> 00:25:15,400 But actually the picture is the exact opposite. 698 00:25:16,180 --> 00:25:18,680 Jesus's promise is that the gates of hell 699 00:25:18,980 --> 00:25:19,799 won't prevail. 700 00:25:20,420 --> 00:25:21,960 Do you know where gates are? 701 00:25:22,420 --> 00:25:23,559 Gates are on walls. 702 00:25:24,295 --> 00:25:26,154 You know what walls are used for? 703 00:25:26,695 --> 00:25:28,234 They're used for defenses. 704 00:25:29,095 --> 00:25:31,255 See, the picture is that the Christ the 705 00:25:31,255 --> 00:25:32,315 kingdom of Christ 706 00:25:33,015 --> 00:25:36,615 is growing and establishing and it's subduing Satan 707 00:25:36,615 --> 00:25:37,994 and the forces of darkness. 708 00:25:38,549 --> 00:25:41,610 And those defenses, those gates will not hold. 709 00:25:42,070 --> 00:25:43,210 They will not prevail. 710 00:25:43,990 --> 00:25:46,570 Christ will build his church. 711 00:25:47,350 --> 00:25:48,650 He makes this promise. 712 00:25:49,350 --> 00:25:51,210 He makes this promise to Peter. 713 00:25:51,544 --> 00:25:53,544 He makes this promise to all who by 714 00:25:53,544 --> 00:25:54,044 faith 715 00:25:54,424 --> 00:25:56,204 trust in Christ alone. 716 00:25:58,424 --> 00:25:59,644 As we leave this 717 00:26:00,025 --> 00:26:02,105 passage this evening, I just wanna make very 718 00:26:02,105 --> 00:26:04,125 quick three final observations 719 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:06,840 about the promise that Christ makes to his 720 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:07,820 church. 1st, 721 00:26:09,000 --> 00:26:10,539 as Jesus makes this promise, 722 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:12,380 he promises to protect 723 00:26:12,759 --> 00:26:14,299 and uphold his church 724 00:26:14,759 --> 00:26:16,759 and in the end, subdue Satan and all 725 00:26:16,759 --> 00:26:17,980 the forces of evil. 726 00:26:18,585 --> 00:26:20,424 What a comforting promise this ought to be 727 00:26:20,424 --> 00:26:21,484 to us in 2024. 728 00:26:22,744 --> 00:26:24,044 As we see our culture 729 00:26:24,345 --> 00:26:24,845 increasingly 730 00:26:25,304 --> 00:26:25,804 hostile 731 00:26:26,984 --> 00:26:29,544 against Christ and his kingdom, at times, it 732 00:26:29,544 --> 00:26:32,130 does feel like the forces of darkness are 733 00:26:32,130 --> 00:26:33,970 breaking in on the church and the church 734 00:26:33,970 --> 00:26:35,509 is just barely holding, 735 00:26:36,130 --> 00:26:37,029 but we're reminded 736 00:26:37,490 --> 00:26:38,389 what the picture 737 00:26:38,769 --> 00:26:40,609 in all of the history of redemption and 738 00:26:40,609 --> 00:26:43,809 all of eternity actually is. Christ promises to 739 00:26:43,809 --> 00:26:44,950 protect his people, 740 00:26:45,365 --> 00:26:48,025 to protect his sheep, to uphold us. 741 00:26:48,805 --> 00:26:50,265 It may cost us greatly. 742 00:26:50,724 --> 00:26:53,125 It may cost us even our lives, but 743 00:26:53,125 --> 00:26:55,205 Christ has already gone to the grave. He's 744 00:26:55,205 --> 00:26:56,265 conquered death. 745 00:26:56,965 --> 00:26:59,460 There is nothing left of the enemies of 746 00:26:59,460 --> 00:27:02,579 the people of God. Christ has secured salvation 747 00:27:02,579 --> 00:27:03,480 for his people. 748 00:27:03,859 --> 00:27:06,180 He promises to protect us and uphold us. 749 00:27:06,180 --> 00:27:06,680 Secondly, 750 00:27:07,380 --> 00:27:09,859 this also reminds us that as Calvin puts 751 00:27:09,859 --> 00:27:10,359 it, 752 00:27:11,234 --> 00:27:13,815 so long as the church is a pilgrim 753 00:27:14,355 --> 00:27:15,335 on this earth, 754 00:27:16,115 --> 00:27:18,194 she will know no rest but will be 755 00:27:18,194 --> 00:27:19,894 exposed to many assaults. 756 00:27:20,914 --> 00:27:22,994 See, Calvin there is is saying that the 757 00:27:22,994 --> 00:27:25,174 reason Jesus puts this promise 758 00:27:25,789 --> 00:27:27,329 in the terms of a battle 759 00:27:28,029 --> 00:27:30,029 is because that's what it is to be 760 00:27:30,029 --> 00:27:31,169 a follower of Christ. 761 00:27:31,869 --> 00:27:33,409 We're entering into a war, 762 00:27:34,509 --> 00:27:35,649 a war with ourselves, 763 00:27:36,349 --> 00:27:38,049 a war against our sin, 764 00:27:38,865 --> 00:27:42,065 warring against our fleshly nature, putting to death 765 00:27:42,065 --> 00:27:42,805 our sin, 766 00:27:43,345 --> 00:27:46,625 calling sinners to repentance, to faith in Christ. 767 00:27:46,625 --> 00:27:48,944 Reminded by this that building the church, planting 768 00:27:48,944 --> 00:27:50,724 the church is not easy. 769 00:27:51,690 --> 00:27:52,349 It's difficult. 770 00:27:53,210 --> 00:27:55,369 It's hard. I can tell you. We've been 771 00:27:55,369 --> 00:27:57,130 planting. We have planted a church for the 772 00:27:57,130 --> 00:27:58,109 last 3 years. 773 00:27:58,569 --> 00:27:59,549 It's not easy. 774 00:27:59,929 --> 00:28:01,309 There's often opposition, 775 00:28:01,849 --> 00:28:03,389 difficulties, and trials, 776 00:28:03,849 --> 00:28:06,429 but Christ makes this promise to the church. 777 00:28:06,914 --> 00:28:08,134 I will do it. 778 00:28:08,434 --> 00:28:09,735 I will build it. 779 00:28:10,195 --> 00:28:11,414 This is my promise. 780 00:28:13,154 --> 00:28:14,215 3rd and finally, 781 00:28:14,595 --> 00:28:17,095 the main thrust of Jesus' promise here 782 00:28:17,715 --> 00:28:20,134 is that Jesus must do 783 00:28:20,515 --> 00:28:21,735 this work. 784 00:28:22,619 --> 00:28:24,539 If the church is to be built, The 785 00:28:24,539 --> 00:28:27,180 Woodlands Reformed Church, any other church, any true 786 00:28:27,180 --> 00:28:28,079 church of Jesus, 787 00:28:28,619 --> 00:28:30,700 if it is to be built, Christ must 788 00:28:30,700 --> 00:28:31,359 do it. 789 00:28:32,299 --> 00:28:33,119 It's possible 790 00:28:33,500 --> 00:28:35,039 to call something a church 791 00:28:35,524 --> 00:28:37,784 and to build it by many other means, 792 00:28:38,884 --> 00:28:40,024 but a true church 793 00:28:40,724 --> 00:28:43,224 is built by the Lord Jesus Christ. 794 00:28:43,924 --> 00:28:44,984 That means then 795 00:28:45,444 --> 00:28:47,224 that the measure of success 796 00:28:48,180 --> 00:28:50,420 for The Woodlands Reformed Church, for any other 797 00:28:50,420 --> 00:28:51,480 church for that matter, 798 00:28:52,500 --> 00:28:53,320 is not 799 00:28:54,259 --> 00:28:55,000 the numbers. 800 00:28:55,619 --> 00:28:57,539 Although we want people to come we want 801 00:28:57,539 --> 00:28:58,900 people to come to faith in Christ. We 802 00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:00,200 want this church to grow. 803 00:29:00,585 --> 00:29:02,424 The measure of success ultimately won't be the 804 00:29:02,424 --> 00:29:02,924 budget. 805 00:29:03,304 --> 00:29:05,625 Although we want resources to be increased, that 806 00:29:05,625 --> 00:29:07,304 we might do more and more ministry in 807 00:29:07,304 --> 00:29:07,964 this place, 808 00:29:08,505 --> 00:29:10,284 the ultimate measure of success 809 00:29:11,304 --> 00:29:13,144 for this church, for any other church, any 810 00:29:13,144 --> 00:29:15,304 other true church of the Lord Jesus, is 811 00:29:15,304 --> 00:29:15,804 faithfulness. 812 00:29:16,980 --> 00:29:18,519 It's faithfulness to Christ. 813 00:29:19,140 --> 00:29:20,839 At every turn, every decision, 814 00:29:21,539 --> 00:29:23,940 every trial, every difficulty, the question ought to 815 00:29:23,940 --> 00:29:26,500 be not what is easiest, what will work 816 00:29:26,500 --> 00:29:29,184 most, what will people like best, what will 817 00:29:29,184 --> 00:29:31,744 get the most people here. The question always 818 00:29:31,744 --> 00:29:34,065 has to be, what will be faithful to 819 00:29:34,065 --> 00:29:34,565 Christ? 820 00:29:35,265 --> 00:29:36,484 This is his church. 821 00:29:36,785 --> 00:29:39,365 This is why Jesus says, I will build 822 00:29:39,744 --> 00:29:40,565 my church. 823 00:29:41,265 --> 00:29:42,325 He owns it. 824 00:29:42,950 --> 00:29:44,089 He owns the church. 825 00:29:44,390 --> 00:29:46,009 He promises to build it. 826 00:29:46,710 --> 00:29:48,869 And so then our call is to be 827 00:29:48,869 --> 00:29:49,369 faithful, 828 00:29:50,150 --> 00:29:51,049 to be obedient, 829 00:29:51,990 --> 00:29:53,210 and to rest in him. 830 00:29:53,910 --> 00:29:55,694 So what a joy it is for us 831 00:29:55,934 --> 00:29:59,054 tonight to celebrate the faithfulness of Christ to 832 00:29:59,054 --> 00:29:59,794 his church 833 00:30:00,654 --> 00:30:03,134 and to celebrate this new call for our 834 00:30:03,134 --> 00:30:03,634 brother 835 00:30:04,014 --> 00:30:04,835 Juan Carlos. 836 00:30:05,375 --> 00:30:06,994 Amen. Let me pray for us.