Scripture Reference: Matthew 16:13-25
2. The Church’s Effectual Relationship to Christ
After Peter made his great confession regarding his faith in Jesus, our Lord said: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18 ESV). This is a beautiful promise that Jesus gave to His church. The thrust of the statement is that the church is invincible because of its dynamic relationship to Jesus Christ.
First, the church is built on Christ. Jesus said, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church.” Here we have a play on words. Jesus said, “You are Peter [petros, a small stone]. On this rock [petra, a gigantic boulder, or foundation stone], I will build My church.” The rock on which the church is built is the person of Christ Himself. The church is built on its Founder, the divine Son of God, not on Peter. The apostle himself told us in 1 Peter 2:4–6 that Jesus is the chief cornerstone of the church. The Bible says that no other foundation for the church can be laid except Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). The hymn writer was correct when he wrote, “The church’s one foundation/Is Jesus Christ her Lord.” You and I are placed in the church as living stones so that we can do spiritual services that are acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:5).
Second, the church is built by Christ. Our Lord said, “On this rock I will build My church,” (italics mine). Not only is the church built on Christ, but the church is built by Christ. Nineteen hundred years ago, Jesus walked the shores of Galilee, the towns and cities of Israel, calling forth fishermen like Peter, James, John, and Andrew. He saved a tax collector named Matthew. He found a zealot named Simon. He discovered a woman at the well and gave her the water of life. Jesus was building His church. Dramatically one day, He turned to His disciples and said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you” (John 15:16).
It is in the providence of God that you are living in this century and that you are a member of your church. This is not by luck, chance, or accident. The same Christ who chose Peter, Andrew, James, and John chose you, saved you, and placed you in His church that you might serve Him.
Since God has placed you in His church, that means at least two things. First, it means God has a place of service for you. You are to love the church and give yourself to it as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Second, it means that you and I must not reject those that Christ has chosen. We are to love the people of the church.
A number of years ago, when I was an associate pastor at a Calvary Chapel, a fellow associate pastor came to me asking advice on how to deal with a lady in our church. He felt that she was sometimes more critical than she ought to be. As a matter of fact, she had given this fellow associate pastor (and myself) a rather rough time. I said, “Don’t criticize that lady. She is one of the most valuable members in our church.”
Rather astonished, he responded, “Why do you say that she is a most valuable member in the church?”
I smiled and said, “She is teaching us a great lesson. If we can learn to love her, then we can learn to love anybody.”
There is a great story I like to share of C. H. Spurgeon:
One day a visitor approached the great British pastor Charles Hadden Spurgeon. Spurgeon inquired why the visitor had not united with the church. The man responded, “I started to join the church, but I looked around, and I saw a hypocrite. I decided not to join.”
Spurgeon, who had a quick wit, said to the man: “In the first church the leader, Simon Peter, cursed. One apostle, Thomas, doubted the resurrection. The treasurer, Judas Iscariot, betrayed the Lord. The first church was not perfect! Furthermore, I have never seen a church that is perfect. But, sir, if you ever find the perfect church, please do not join, for when you become a member it will no longer be perfect.”
The church is being built by Jesus, and you and I should accept those whom the Lord has placed in His church. After all, the Lord has graciously, and mercifully, accepted us.
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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