“Ecclesiology 101 – Understanding the Church”

Matthew 16:13-19 (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.”

When God determined to save lost sinners, HE chose to do so by taking on a human Body. HE was conceived by the HOLY SPIRIT in the womb of the virgin Mary. HE was born in that Body, lived out HIS life and ministry in that Body, died and was buried in that Body, was resurrected in that Body; and, HE ascended to Heaven in that Body!

HE chose to be here on earth with HIS Sheep and for HIS Sheep. He came, HE lived, He died, He was raised, and HE ascended for our salvation in that Body!

Since HE has physically left earth, HE has chosen to live in, minister through, and reach the world through BODY #2 – The Church!

The New Testament Church IS the BODY of CHRIST on earth today!

As the LORD allows, this coming LORD’s Day I will begin a seven, or eight, or nine part series on the Biblical Doctrine of the Church.

Other than our personal relationship with JESUS, there is no other relationship on earth as important to HIS Kingdom work as our relationship with a Local Church!

Next Sunday, August 30^th, as the LORD allows, I will begin this series with a message entitled, “The WHAT? WHERE? and “WHY?” of the Church.

I hope you will pray earnestly that the LORD will speak through HIS word to all of us as we learn about HIS work in the world through HIS Body, Body #2, the Church!

As my dear friend Tom Rains often says, “I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!”

It does not get much better than that!