Sermon # 41 Series: Matthew
Title: “THOU ART THE
CHRIST”
Text: Matthew 16:13-18
Subject: Peter’s Confession
Readings: Office: Buddy Daugherty – Aud. Lindsey Campbell
Date: Tuesday Evening – April 25, 1995
Tape: R-29
Introduction:
The
legions and imaginary theologians have wrangled and argued for two thousand
years over some of the things contained in this paragraph of Holy Scripture. I
have no desire to enter the controversy. And I have no illusions of settling
the issues for others. But I will, by way of introduction, briefly explain the
controversial statements in this passage to the best of my ability and
understanding. My only purpose in doing so is your edification. After briefly
looking at the controversial things in our text, I will move as quickly as
possible to the comforting things in it.
1.
What is the meaning of our
Lord’s statement – “Upon this rock I will build my Church?” Without question, the Roman
fabrication that Peter was to be the foundation of the church is ludicrous. To
speak of a fallen, sinful, depraved son of Adam as the foundation upon which
God’s holy temple is built is contrary to scripture. Such an exaltation of
Peter above the rest of the Apostles would have been contrary to the plainest
teachings of our Lord (Matt. 20:1-28). The rock upon which the Church of God is built is Peter’s confession, not Peter
(Eph. 2:20-22; I Cor. 3:11).
2.
What is the meaning of our
Lord’s promise – “I wilt give unto thee the keys of the
kingdom of heaven?” Again, the papal doctrine that Peter and his successors, the popes, and
priests of Rome (as they dream) have the power to admit souls into heaven is a
delusion. Peter does not open and close the gates of heaven. That prerogative
belongs to Christ alone (Rev. 1:18).
This sentence
appears to have no greater meaning, and no less, than this – By God’s special
decree Peter was ordained to be the first messenger, the first preacher of the
gospel after the resurrection, by whom (as God’s mouthpiece and instrument) the
doors of salvation were thrown open to both Jews and Gentiles.
·
The
Jews at Pentecost (Acts 2)
·
The
Gentiles at Cornelius’ House (Acts 10).
·
Acts
15:7-9.
3.
What do the last words of
verse 19 mean? – “Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt
loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
·
Our
Lord did not give Peter the power to forgive sins and absolve sins!
·
This
text has nothing to do with church discipline.
What the text does teach is this – Peter and the Apostles were
commissioned to teach the way of salvation with inspired authority. “As the Old Testament priest
declared authoritatively whose leprosy was cleansed, so the apostles were
appointed to ‘declare and pronounce’ authoritatively, whose sins were
forgiven.” (J.C. Ryle).
As the Apostles of Christ they were inspired to lay down and establish
the rules and regulations by which the church and kingdom of Christ must be
governed. Those
things which they made binding are binding.
All matters of indifference they left as matters of
indifference, “The loosed,” so that each believer is free to decide what is
best for himself.
NOTE: This authority and power was
confined to the apostles. It began with them. And it ended with them. It has
never been given to anyone else.
NOTE: I am not an infallible teacher, and neither is any
other man.
NOTE: No pastor, no church, no
denomination has any right or power to lay down any laws, rules, or guiding
principles for the kingdom of God – The Word of God alone is our only rule
of faith and practice.
I
hope those comments are enough to help you understand this passage clearly.
But, now, I want to show you the more important aspects of our text. Here are
the matters of immediate concern to each of us.
Proposition:
Remember, that which Peter
here confessed is the Rock of Foundation upon which the Church and Kingdom of
God is and must be Built.
Here
are five blessed things spoken of in this passage of Scripture.
I. A Blessed Confession (vv. 13-16).
At
first glance the careless reader might pass over these words thinking, There is
nothing extraordinary in them; but such thoughts arise from great ignorance.
Peter’s confession here is truly remarkable. The more I study it, the more
remarkable and blessed it appears – Blessed because of Its Circumstances and
Its Content.
A. It Was a Confession that put Peter at odds with the rest of the world.
Few
were with Christ in those days. Many were against him. But Peter confessed him.
When the rulers of his own nation and all the religious people he knew, the
Scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the priests, and the people all opposed
Christ, Peter confessed him. Many would gladly acknowledge him to be a prophet,
even a great prophet, even a resurrected prophet. But Peter confessed him to be
“The Christ, The Son of the living God.”
B. This Confession of faith came from a man of tremendous faith,
character, commitment, and zeal.
Say
what you will about Peter. He had his faults I know. But do not underrate this
man. His heart was under the rule of Christ. Grace is evident in him. Peter was
a true-hearted, fervent, faithful servant of our God.
C. Now, look at the content of this Confession.
Looking in the face of the Son of man, Peter
said to that man, “Thou art the Christ, The Son of the living God.” Peter confessed that…
1. The Man
Christ Jesus is, God, the eternal Son.
2. The
Despised Nazarene is the Christ.
I do not know what all Peter
knew or did not know. But I know this – He knew Christ and confessed him. Do you?
II. A Blessed Man (v. 17).
Peter
was a truly blessed man. His blessedness was manifest not in his lifestyle, or
his freedom from trouble and sorrow, but in the grace of God he had experienced
as was evident in his confession.
A. He was
Blessed with Spiritual Understanding.
B. He was
Blessed by Divine Decree.
C. He was
Distinctively Blessed by Distinguishing Grace.
III. A Blessed Foundation.
The
Foundation upon which God church is built, the foundation on which our souls
are built, the foundation on which our faith and hope is built is the Rock
Christ Jesus.
IV. A Blessed Promise.
Perhaps
no word in the Bible has been more misunderstood, more abused, and more confusing
to men than the word Church. Man’s
misunderstanding of this word has led to bigotry, sectarianism, strife,
isolationism, and even persecution.
A. What is this Church which the Son of God calls, “My Church”?
·
Not
a local church.
B. What does the Lord Jesus here promise his church?
1. He
promised to build it – “I will build my church.”
2. He
promised to protect it – “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
·
Visible
Churches do wither and die.
·
But
not one member of Christ’s mystical body shall perish.
·
John
10:28
Illus: The Burning Bush.
V. A Blessed Gift (v. 19).
The
Lord Jesus gave to Peter and the Apostles the keys to the kingdom of heaven,
and he has given them to us by them in the Volume of Holy Scripture.
Application: Now, look at verse 20 – Here
is a charge reversed –
1.
He
told his disciples to “tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ” – Because his
hour was not yet come.
2.
But
now, he has commanded us to tell all men that he is Jesus, the Son of the
living God – (Matt. 28:18-20).