1.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• The word “church” means “the called-out ones.”
• Jesus Christ is building his church by bringing people to faith in him.
• Jesus Christ is building his church in the midst of suffering and death.
• The church will stand forever.
  - Not even death will make an end to it.

1.2 Matthew 16:13–28←⤒🔗

^16:13 When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?'

^16:14 They answered, 'Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.'

^16:15 He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'

^16:16 Simon Peter answered, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'

^16:17 And Jesus answered him, 'You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven!

^16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

^16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.'

^16:20 Then he instructed his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

^16:21 From that time on Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

^16:22 So Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him: 'God forbid, Lord! This must not happen to you!'

^16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, because you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but on man’s.'

^16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

^16:25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

^16:26 For what does it benefit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?

^16:27 For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.

^16:28 I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.'

© NET Bible

1.3 Jesus is building his Church←⤒🔗

In Matthew 16, Jesus reveals his great plan with the world. He says, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (verse 18). In this world, Jesus is busy building his church! What does that mean?

First, we must know what the word “church” means. It comes from the Greek word ecclesia, which means “the called-out ones.” Do you remember how God called his people out of Egypt and brought them together at Mount Sinai, to worship him? Today God is still calling people out of the world to serve him. Those people make up his church.

As the church of God, we are living in this world. But we are not from this world. We were “called out” of this world to a new world — the kingdom of Jesus Christ.

This world is passing. It will not last forever. On the day when Jesus comes again, this world will be judged and destroyed. But Jesus Christ is building something that will not be destroyed on that day. It will stand forever. It is his church.

The church is like a building. In that building, we are the living stones (1 Peter 2:5). Jesus is putting the stones together and giving them the right shape, to form a beautiful temple for God. That is his great plan. From the beginning of the world until today, he is building his church.

1.4 The Church is built through faith in Jesus Christ←⤒🔗

When Jesus asked his disciples who they thought he was, Peter said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (verse 16). Peter did not yet understand what Jesus came to do. But God had given faith to Peter. That is why Jesus gave him the name Peter, which means “rock.” Peter believed in Jesus Christ, the Rock.

Jesus also said, “On this rock I will build my church” (verse 18). This means that he will build his church by giving to people the same faith as Peter had. If you want to know whether you are part of the church that Jesus is building, then ask yourself this question: “Do I also confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God?” If your answer is “Yes,” then you are part of the church!

Jesus builds his church by bringing people to faith in him. It is wonderful to see how he brings children and old people, rich people and poor people, and all kinds of people to faith. It is also wonderful that he uses us in his work of building. When we tell our children, grandchildren, and other people about him, Jesus uses our words to build his church!

1.5 The Church is built in the midst of suffering and death←⤒🔗

After the conversation between Jesus and Peter, Jesus started to tell his disciples about his death that was coming (verse 21). Peter was shocked and did not believe it. But Jesus answered that anyone who wants to follow him must be willing to die for him (verses 24–25).

Most of us are like Peter. We want Jesus to build his church. But we wish it could happen without troubles and suffering! We must remember that Jesus suffered and died to rescue us, his people. Now he builds his church through people who will pick up their cross and follow him.

Remember how the people of Egypt tried to stop Moses from taking the Israelites out of Egypt. Today, the world is also against the people that God has “called out.” Peter and most of the other apostles were killed in the end. We read in the New Testament how the church was persecuted for its faith. But in all of that, the church grew!

It is still the same today, in many places in the world. Jesus Christ builds his church in the midst of suffering and death.

1.6 The Church will stand forever←⤒🔗

Jesus promised: “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (verse 18). “The gates of Hades” (or “the gates of hell”) is another way to speak about death. Jesus promises that death will not make an end to his church.

Jesus has given his people eternal life. That is why his people do not have to be afraid of anything in this world. They can give their lives to Jesus, even by dying for him (verse 25). Even after they have died, they will still live (John 11:25). The church of Jesus Christ will never be destroyed. It will stand forever!