THE PERPETUITY OF THE CHURCH--MATTHEW 16:18

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CHURCH

THE PERPETUITY OF THE CHURCH

MATTHEW 16:18

Introduction:

We have look at the Lord’s Church and found it to be a local, visible congregation of scripturally baptized believers.

We have noted that His Church is made up of ONLY born-again believers in Jesus Christ.

Now we look at the Perpetuity of His Church.

I. IT IS THE LORD’S CHURCH

A. It is His Church because He instructed it, Matthew 4:19, “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

B. He continued to instruct it from the upper room to Gethsemane, Matthew 14-16.

1. The Lord spent at least 66% of His time instructing and preparing the disciples for the future, Matthew 5:1-2, “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2- And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,”

2. The rest of the time He evangelized the Jews, John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

C. He instructed them to continue to instruct others, Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20- Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

II. THE PERPETUITY OR PERMANENT CONTINUANCE OF THE LORD’S CHURCH

A. When the Lord returns will He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8, “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

B. The faith He will look for is the doctrine He taught when He first instituted the church, Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,”

1. The Lord instructed the church to preach the gospel, Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

2. The gospel He instructed them to preach continues to the power of God unto salvation, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

C. Jesus empowered the church by the coming of “another Comforter,” John 14:16, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”

1. It happened on the Day of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2- And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3- And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4- And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

2. His church was “in one accord” and the Lord “added to the church,” Acts 2:47, “Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

3. He will be looking for the power of the Holy Spirit functioning in His church when He returns.

a. He will find a praying people, Isaiah 62:6-7, “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, 7- And give him no rest [silence], till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

b. He will come in a difficult time for His people, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2- For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3- For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

Next week: The Family of God vs. the Church