Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. While the apostles are absolutely essential to the foundation of the church, Jesus Himself. Is the builder of the church and the personal foundation of the church. He says, I will build my church. How is he going to do it?
in part by sending out the apostles to preach the gospel. Welcome to the Verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Life is full of important questions. Who am I? Why am I here?
Where am I going? But there is one question that is far more important than any other. Today, on the verdict, you'll have a chance to consider and respond to that single all-important question as we continue our study in the Gospel of Matthew.
So let's join Pastor John Monroe as he begins a lesson titled, I Will Build My Church. Who is Jesus? What do people say about him? What do you say about him? In today's passage from Matthew 16, Jesus asks this question, Who did people say that the Son of Man is?
Everyone has heard about Jesus. There are many opinions about him, but who is he? Who is the authentic Jesus? Isn't it interesting that Jesus asked this question? The answer is central to his mission.
central to the gospel. And today we'll hear the answer given by the Apostle Peter. But how would you answer this question? It's a question that each one of us must answer for ourselves. And to answer the question, we turn not to philosophers or religious tradition, but rather to the inspired word of God.
You'll find this study fascinating as we learn about Jesus and his church. He was born. in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman, He grew up in another village where he worked in a carpenter shop. Until he was thirty. Then for three years he was a wandering preacher.
He never wrote a book. He never held a political office. He never owned a house. He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place where he was born. He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him.
His friends ran away. He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled. for his clothing, the only property he had on earth.
When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Twenty centuries have come and gone. Today he remains the central figure of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed. all the parliaments that ever sat.
All the kings that ever reigned put together have not affected the life of man on this planet so much. as that one solitary life. But Who is he? Who is Jesus? To the church goer, he's a brilliant teacher of the Golden Rule.
To the liberal theologian, he's the embodiment of the best that is in all of us. To the non-Christian, he's a great example of love. To oppress people, he's the first century freedom fighter. To the theater goer, he is Jesus Christ superstar. To the student, he's a killjoy who stops us having fun.
To the salesperson, he's the ultimate motivator. To the new ager, he is the path. to enlightenment. But again, I ask, who is he? Who is Jesus.
That question, who is Jesus, is the most important question you could ever ask an answer. And to answer that question, who is he? Who is Jesus? We turn to the authentic Jesus, yes, to the Jesus of the Bible. In our scripture today, As we continue our study of Matthew's Gospel, the Lord Jesus is in the north of Israel.
place called Caesarea Philippi. And it is there, right in the north of Israel, Caesarea Philippi. Where Jesus asks his Disciples, two questions. First question is, who do people say that the Son of Man is. And they get various answers.
John the Baptist. Elijah. Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Jesus is a prophet, but he's much more than a prophet. But then Jesus asked the disciples this question, this question I'm asking you, whoever you are.
Who do you say? But I am. And this question The central question down through the history of this world comes to you and me afresh today. Who do you say? That I am, who is.
Jesus. Very personal question. Let's read our Bibles, Matthew chapter 16. And we're reading from verse 13 in this very, very important passage of scripture, in a very controversial passage of scripture. as we will see.
Matthew chapter 16 verse 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 And he said, Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. And others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ.
The Son of the Living God. And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona. for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. But my Father who is in heaven, And they tell you. You are Peter.
And on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. 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.
Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was. The Christ. Jesus, who is he? Jesus is the Christ The Son of the Living. God.
Yes, Jesus is the Messiah, Hebrew term. He is the Christ, Christos, in Greek. And Peter The leader of the twelve, always mentioned first in the list of the disciples. Peter, who is their spokesman, answers Jesus' question. But who do you say?
That I am. Peter replies, verse 16, you are the Christ. The Son of the Living God. This is divine revelation, Jesus is telling Peter. He said Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
This is divine revelation given from heaven to earth that Peter can say, as he looks at Jesus, this man he's followed now for some time, he says, You are the Christ, you're the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
So to the question Who is Jesus? One very good answer would be: He's the long-awaited Redeemer, He's the Savior, He's the King, He's the Anointed One. Jesus is The Christ. Is The Messiah. Do you believe that?
Do you believe that this man, this historical man, a man who actually lived, for thirty-three to thirty-six years. That this man Who I believe is the central figure of human history, that he, in fact, is the Christ. The king, the king of kings and lord of lords. If that is true, As I'm saying it is. We owe our total obedience and allegiance to this one.
Now in the first century As we've seen Someone to use the Messiah for their own selfish ends. Similarly in the twenty-first century, Many want a Christ. Many wanted Jesus who does what we want him to do. Who's there to make life more comfortable for us? A Jesus who will help us to fulfill our dreams.
Almost blasphemous, isn't it? That we Finite human beings, specs in the universe, would want the whole world to revolve around us. that Jesus is all about helping me get through. life. We're going to learn next week, Lord willing.
That following this one, following this Jesus, who Peter says is the Christ, the Son of the living God. The this one. includes suffering. It includes self-denial and perhaps even death. Yes, these men who stand and who make this magnificent confession, as led by their spokesman Peter, some of them are going to be very killed for their faith as they follow the Messiah.
Such is their commitment. See, at this point, as we saw last week, the disciples' concept of a Messiah didn't include suffering and death. That wasn't the kind of Messiah they wanted. And they wanted a political figure. Yes, it was wonderful that he could heal.
Wonderful that he could teach. But they wanted him to overthrow the powers, the Gentiles, and to set up there the very throne of David. in the temple. They're in Jerusalem. But Jesus has explained As we saw last week.
That he must suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day rise again. That was hard for them. Hard for us to think that this one who we are following is going to be a life of suffering, a life of self-denial, a life of possible death. That's what it means to follow Jesus. Who is he?
He's the Christ. He's the Messiah. He's the anointed one. He is the king. Not only is he the Messiah, as Peter says, you are the Son of the living God.
What a statement.
Now I know this What Jesus then says. Jesus the Christ The Son of the Living God is building his church. Verse 18. The declaration comes From Peter? Jesus says to Peter, you're right.
Uh uh you didn't get this from uh someone else. Wasn't that one of the rabbis told you this? No, this revelation came from my Father in heaven. Verse 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. What a statement.
What a statement.
The church will be built, Jesus says, on this. Rock.
Now the meaning of this rock is greatly debated as many of you know. These verses that we read, Matthew 16, verses 13 through 20, is one of the basic texts for the establishment of the Roman Catholic papacy. Roman Catholicism teaches that Peter personally is the rock on which the whole church is built. And In verse nineteen Rome would tell us that Jesus promises to give to Peter. the keys of the kingdom of heaven with authority to bind and loose.
Peter, then, in Roman Catholicism, is seen as being given supreme authority over the entire church. And this authority Down through the ages, it has been passed on to the Roman bishops, the popes, who are Peter's divine successors. You may have heard of apostolic. succession. Rome teaches us that the Pope is the vicar of Christ.
He is God's representative on earth. Listen to the Roman Catholic catechism. Listen to their own teaching. The Pope? The Bishop of Rome and Peter's successor.
Note that. This is the claim of Rome. The Pope, the Bishop of Rome, and Peter's successor is the perpetual and visible source and foundation. of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful. For the Roman pontiff, by reason of his offer office as vicar of Christ.
And as pastor, Notice this, as pastor of the entire church, has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered. That's paragraph 882. Not the words of John Monroe, the words of the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church. You can check it yourself. Notice what it says.
Does the follow up? is the pastor of the entire church. The Catholic Church, Catholic meaning universal. He's the pastor of the entire church and has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole church. What a claim!
A power which you can always exercise unhindered. There you have it. Paragraph nine three six The Lord made Saint Peter No, this is. Referring here to the very passage we've read. the visible foundation of the church.
He entrusted the keys of the church to him. The Bishop of the Church of Rome, successor to Saint Peter, and is head of the College of Bishops, the Vicar of Christ, here we have it again, and pastor of the Universal Church. on earth. What a Claim. Can I say The verses we read.
Say nothing. Incidentally, of the successors of Peter being infallible or having full, supreme, and universal power over the whole church. What a claim! Think of what the Pope is quoting. That he has fool.
supreme and universal power over the whole universal church.
So if we at Calvary are part of the church, surely we are that the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, has full supreme and universal power over this church. Is that what Jesus is saying to Peter We saw last week that Peter is about to be rebuked. by Jesus and called Satan. Verse 20. twenty three He turned and said to Peter, Get behind me, Satan.
You are a hindrance. To me. Strange, isn't it? If the Roman Catholic Church is right that Peter would get such a a rebuke. This man Peter is going to deny Christ.
In fact, later in the Gospels, as we all know. He's also married. We met his mother-in-law in chapter 8. And Peter writes as an old man in 1 Peter 5, verse 2. Verse 1 rather, when he's writing to the elders, Peter describes himself as a fellow.
Elder. Presbyteros in Greek, a fellow Elder.
Now what's going on here? Jesus is building his church. I will build my church. Church. The Greek word for Peter is Petros.
Small stone. And the word for rock is petra. Notice verse Yeah. Jesus to Peter, I tell you, you are Peter Petros. And on this rock, Petra, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Now, clearly, There is a play in words which are missing in our English translation with petros and petra, play in words. But notice what Jesus does not say. Jesus does not say to Peter, you are Peter. Petros, and on you I will build my Church. In scripture If you know your Bible.
God, not man, is described as. A rock. And the confession by Peter, Petros, That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the doctrinal foundation of the church, which Christ will build. Peter He's a great man. He's going to be used mightily by the Lord.
This Petros. He's the leader of the apostles. He's the representative of the apostles. And in that sense, he is foundational to the church.
So on the great day of Pentecost, As the disciples are filled with the Spirit, we're not surprised. that the spokesman The main preacher on the day of Pentecost is not Thomas. Or or or um James, it's Peter. He is a preacher on the day of Pentecost.
Furthermore, he's the apostle who first brings the gospel to the Gentiles in Acts 10 and verse 11. But a church, think of this, a church built on the person of Peter would be a very unstable church. Could I say it would be a very rocky church? The doctrinal foundation of the church, please hear me, comes from the apostles and the prophets. But Jesus Christ is the cornerstone.
I turn to Ephesians chapter 2. Paul is going to say this. The church is described in various ways in the New Testament. And here, in Ephesians 2, Verse 19, notice how it's described.
So you, he's talking to Gentile Ephesians who've been converted, so you then are no longer strangers and aliens. But you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. What's the household of God? The church. Do you realize as we gather together, this is the house of God?
You've come into the house of God. No, not a building. But as we meet as believers in Jesus Christ, this is the house of God, the household of God. Verse twenty. Built On the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
That's the doctrinal statement. These men came and they preached the gospel. They preached the doctrine that they had received from the Lord Jesus Christ. And that is the very foundation of the church, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. Here is Jesus in Caesarea Philippi.
Asking the disciples, who do people say that I am? They give the answers, and then he says, Now, who do you say that I am? The response comes from Peter the spokesman. Divine revelation, not set up by Peter, not set up by Thomas, but revealed by. God the Father Himself to Peter representing the apostles.
And the disciples, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Now what's Jesus going to do with these men? They're following him. He's teaching them. Their faith is often shaky. They sometimes find it very difficult to understand the teaching of Jesus, but He's equipping them, He's molding them.
And at the end of Matthew chapter 28, What does he do? After his crucifixion, after his resurrection, just prior to his ascension, he sends them out and says to them, go and make disciples of all the nations. They are going And so these disciples are going into the unbelieving world and to plant and to found and to establish and to establish churches of the living God. But there is no question That while the apostles are absolutely essential to the foundation of the church, as the Lord Jesus is commissioning them, that Jesus Himself. Is the builder of the church and the personal foundation of the church.
He says, I will build my church. How is he going to do it? in part by sending out the apostles to preach the gospel. So Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3 Verse 11. Talking about the church.
For no one can lay a foundation Other than that which is laid, which is Christ. Jesus. Is Peter instrumental for the foundation of the church? Yes, so is John.
So had all the apostles. But the personal foundation of the church is our Lord Jesus Christ, and it is He who says, I will build my church. This is the verdict featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us. From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever.
but to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God. To help you do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World. Through this special resource, John shares his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of Scripture, to offer us clarity on matters of eternity. Get your copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org. While you're there, consider making an investment in this Bible teaching ministry.
Whether it's $5, $50, or more, your gift today helps cover the cost of sharing these gospel messages to listeners around the world. And if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the Verdict Podcast, featuring John's weekly podcast exclusive called Avizandam. It's available wherever you get your podcasts, or simply go to our website. Again, that's theverdict.org. The verdict is a ministry of Calvary Church in South Charlotte.
We're located on the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road. If you've been looking for a church home or a community to help you grow in your walk with Christ, We invite you to join us for our Sunday services. For more details about Calvary and our service times, visit theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? What do you say about Jesus? What do you believe about him? Is he relevant at all in your life? Or to you is he merely a historical or religious figure?
What you believe about Jesus goes to the very heart of the gospel. Don't just repeat what your friends say or your family members might say. What do you say? I trust you'll understand that Jesus is the Messiah. The Son of God, the Savior of the world.
and he's building his church. Make sure your total allegiance is to the Lord Jesus. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
