Upon This Rock

"And I tell you that you are Peter (little rock), and on this rock (big) I will build my church" 16:18
.
God’s church gives me a place of belonging. Through the Church, God is making us a people.
I will build my "church": ekklesia. The called out ones.
.
Picture:
.
1. The rock of the church is Yeshua, Jesus.
Jesus question is strange: Who do men say I am? You wouldn't ask your friends that! Peter’s response displays confidence in a flaky generation. Some say he is John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, a prophet. When it gets personal, Peter answers with rock solid sureness. "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."16:16
.
Jesus response with excietment. "Blessed are you" 16:17 You are blessed to know who Jesus is!
"for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." 16:17 Inspiration on the spot. God filled the mind of Peter. He’s thinking God’s thoughts.
.
Jesus has always existed in fellowship with God. They are the first community. From the trinity we get: Love, submission, respect. The doctrine that Jesus is Fully man/Fully God is: "hypostatic union." Union of both natures.
.
2. The foundation of the church:
Law, Psalms, Prophets, Apostles Teaching. No longer foreigners, aliens... fellows citizens God’s hosuehold. "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." Eph. 2:19-20 Christ is CORNER STONE.
.
3. The keys of the kingdom:
"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 16:19
.
He describes two things the church will do:
.
He gives us the KEYS to the Kingdom. Keys: Picture of bringing people into the gate. To us he says: I give you keys to the kingdom. I think the keys are evangelism.
.
He says we will bind and loose with authority. This is discipleship. We will bind people to God’s word. In some area’s we will set people free. Your church is to help you get lose from the world. Bind you to God’s Word. Free from: Addiction. Co-dependance. Anger. Immorality. Pride. Gossip. BIND: To God’s Word.