Christ is the ROCK-PETRA

The Church Will Not Be Defeated

How often when we think of church we drive by or enter a church sanctuary and think of church.
What is church? Is it a mere building or is it an invisible kingdom here on earth until Jesus Christ’s return?

We learned last week that Jesus Christ is the head of the body of Christ.

“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

Colossians1:18 NIV

Jesus is the life blood to the body of Christ. In the Gospels Jesus repeatedly reminds the disciples that he is leaving this earth. He was going to die.Actually. He was going to die a brutal death on a crucifix. The Romans death penalty was by crucifixion. In other words Jesus was born in the flesh-incarnate to die. This was the God the Father’s will to offer hope to a lost and dying world.

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. [3] Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
John.17.1-3.NIV

John chapter 17 is the true disciples prayer. Notice verse 3 “Now this is eternal life, that they know you… the only true God, and Jesus Christ.

Notice the word know. There are people we know, then there are people who are associated of friends. Business, social circles. etc. We say we know them. but they are not close or intimate friends. We really don’t know them do we?

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
1John 5:11-12.NIV

Do we know God in a relational level or do we know about God. Jesus is not just a part of history, but is about His Story.

Its a personal relationship with Christ. “You must be born again” John 3:3

This is not a cliche’ it’s what Jesus said.
Its a spiritual transformation of the heart. Its not about a physical birth. Jesus’s mission was all about eternity.

The disciples walked with, but yet wrestled with Jesus dying and the truth of salvation. The works of the law were more comfortable. But the law could not save us. It was our teacher to bring us to Christ.

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. [22] This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. [25] God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— [26] he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. [27] Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. [28] For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law….”
Romans 3.21-28.NIV

Peter finally got it with Jesus. Flesh and blood did not reveal this to him, but God the Father in heaven did.

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
Matthew 16.18.NIV

Peter is not the head of the church- Jesus Christ is the head. Peter was an apostle of the church. Jesus the large ROCK ‘Petra’ in the Greek. Peter the small rock like a pebble – ‘Petros’ in the original Greek. God used Peter after Christ death and resurrection. The Holy Spirit was poured out, when the birth of the church came to being in Acts Chapter 2.

No denomination or organization can save you, only faith in Jesus can you and I.

“And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros–a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra–a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].” Matthew 18:18 AMPC

To sum it up the body of Christ has no need to fear, because the gates of hell will not prevail against it! The Lord has given us the victory and the battle is the Lord’s my friend. Remember, religion cannot save us, only Jesus can forcthe forgiveness ofvour sins.