Scripture Reading

Matthew 16:13-20 (ESV)
¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
¹⁶ Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
¹⁸ And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
²⁰ Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

 Sermon Outline

Jesus promised to build one church.  Our scripture reading is a bedrock moment in the life and times of Jesus Christ.  He wants to survey his disciples, to see who they think he is.
Who do people say that I am?
Who do you say that I am?

• Simon Peter lays it out – “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
• Jesus responds – Right ON! “Blessed are you”
• This faith was a gift to Peter, from the Father.
• Christ responds that he will build his church on the rock of this confession.  Planned and designed by Jesus.
• Christ gives the “keys of the kingdom of heaven” to help us unlock the mysteries of Christ.
• Like Nicodemus was helped to understand the mysteries of Christ – he had to have a moment where he proclaimed his faith.
• All of these things take a bedrock moment of faith – and we should be working to bring others to that bedrock moment of faith.

Then, Jesus charges them to tell no one that he was the Christ (vs 20).

• Had to wait until the glory of Christ was revealed by his own proclamation that he was the Christ, and son of the living God.  That way he could build his church – not for Jews, or Gentiles, or any others, but for the world.
• A perfect church filled with the imperfect – those that have proclaimed Jesus in faith.

Romans 10:5-9 (ESV)
⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them.
⁶ But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down)
⁷ or “ ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).
⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim);
⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Jesus is the living representation of the word.  (The word is with us, the word became flesh…)

Need to put verse 9 into context – must Repent, Believe, and be baptized to be saved (as seen elsewhere in the New Testament).

This bedrock moment of faith (the confession of Christ and his death, burial, and resurrection) must result in baptism.

Galatians 3:27-29 (ESV)
²⁷ For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

 

Romans 10:10 (ESV)
¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

What must be confessed?  This is not a confession of sin, but a confession of Christ.  Nobody can confess Christ, except with the Holy Spirit – which we get when we become a Christian, but again – to get there we have to have that Bedrock Moment of Faith.

What does Jesus’ church look like?  It is a relational church

• It’s about being hands on (washing of feet in the basin).
• It’s always on it’s knees, calling on the lord through prayer.

What does man say about us as his church?

• Bigots? Exclusive? Preaching ourselves rather than Christ?
• We pray that we are not bigots, hypocrites, etc.
• Jesus is not interested in our politics – he’s interested in where we will spend eternity.
• Should be a church that wants to include people.
• Must take every opportunity that we have to reach out in this community – to proclaim Christ.

So, as we look at this church, we need to be a part of the one body, one baptism, one salvation.  We call you to Christ, to make your Bedrock Confession of Faith, today is your day!  Be buried with Jesus in baptism, so his blood can cleanse you of your sins.

Sermon Audio

2-16-14 AM sermon