THE CHURCH THAT JESUS BUILT
"(17)And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18)And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:17-18) Verse 18: "Peter" (small pebble) - petros (petrov) ---------- {pet'-ros} AV - Peter (161?) - stone (1?) [162?] 1) Peter meaning 'a stone', was originally called Simon which means 'hearer'.
Verse 18: "rock" (massive rock) - petra --------- {pet'-ra} AV - rock (16?) 1) a rock, cliff or ledge 1a) a projecting rock, crag, rocky ground 1b) a rock, a large stone
The Bible has Jesus building His Church on Himself and NOT on Peter. "(19)And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (20)Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ. (21)From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (22)Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee." (Matthew 16:19-22) If Peter is the founder of the 'church' then is not it amazing that he rebukes his Saviour. This shows Peter's infallibility-sp?. "But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men." (Matthew 16:23) Jesus called Peter "Satan". This seems strange if Peter was supposedly the founder of the 'church'. A Church is a called out assembly of baptized believers sent out to carry out the Great Commission. It started long before Pentecost. I. Who did God use to start the FIRST Church? Jesus Christ organized the first Church during His own ministry. John the Baptist was the forerunner/preparer. Whenever God starts something, He uses a man. This is NOT necessarily always a preacher. "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." (Isaiah 40:3) An Old Testament prophesy of the coming of John the Baptist to prepare the way of Jesus Christ. "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts." (Malachi 3:1) Another O.T. prophesy of the coming of the Baptist to prepare the way of Jesus Christ. What did God need 'prepared'? 1. Something that yet did NOT exist on the earth. 2. The converts of John the Baptist (believers) for the LORD. (The Jews did NOT believe in God; they believed in the Law.) "And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17) "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" Where do we put John? There are three (3) well known ideas: A. John in the Old Testament (Roman Catholics & Protestants) B. John is of the New Testament (Baptists) C. John in an intermediate (compromisers) 2. Proof of John being in the New Testament "(14)And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. (15)And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (16)The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it." (Luke 16:14-16) Verse 16: something new started with John. "(9)But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. (10)For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (11)Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (12)And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (13)For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." (Matthew 11:9-13) Verse 13: Old Testament until John. 3. Intermediate? "(1)The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; (2) As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (3)The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (4)John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. (5)And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. (6)And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; (7)And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. (8)I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." (Mark 1:1-8) Note: Verse 1. "(21) Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, (22)Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection." (Acts 1:21-22) Verse 22: "Beginning from" John the Baptist belongs in the New Testament. Why else would the disciples replace Judas 'the crook' with one of John's type of baptized converts? Roman Catholic quote (Council of Trent): 'If any one affirms that the baptism of John had the same force as the baptism of Christ, let him be accursed.' John and Jesus preached the same Gospel of the New Testament. "And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:17) John was preparing them for the Lord. "(13)Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (14)But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (15)And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (16)And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (17)And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:13-17) "suffered" = permitted = allowed If John was of the Old Testament or intermediate then Jesus made a mistake by accepting John's baptism. God does NOT make mistakes. If John's baptism of Jesus was not of the New Testament then why was God pleased with it? Authority --> "(23)And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? (24)And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. (25)The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? (26)But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. (27)And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things." (Matthew 21:23-27) John had authority from Heaven. "There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." (John 1:6) Where did Jesus get His authority? Jesus got His authority from Heaven just like John did. By Jesus being baptized by John we know that Jesus accepted John's God given authority. "(34)Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: (35)But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (36)The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) (37)That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;" (Acts 10:34-37). John's baptism in New Testament. "(27)John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. (28)Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. (29)He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (30)He must increase, but I must decrease. (31)He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. (32)And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. (33)He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. (34)For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (35)The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. (36)He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3:27-36) Verse 36: John preaching the same Gospel that Jesus preached. "(16)John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: (17)Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. (18)And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people." (Luke 3:16-18) Again John preaching the same Gospel that Jesus preached. II. The Name (Baptist) 1. 'baptizo' (baptism) means 'dip' or 'immerse' (13 times in N.T.) ------------- {bap-tid'-zo} AV - baptized (61) - baptize (9) - baptizing (4) - baptizeth (2) - baptizest (1) - Baptist (1) - wash (1) - washed (1) [80] 1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk) 2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make, clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe 3) to overwhelm
2. rhantizo = sprinkle (9 times in New Testament) It is NEVER associated with baptism. 3. 'baptisma' = submersion (3 times in New Testament) - by the Holy Spirit -------------- {bap'-tis-mah} AV - baptism (22) 1) immersion, submersion 1b) of John's baptism. This was valid Christian baptism, as this was the only baptism the apostles received and it is not recorded anywhere that they were ever rebaptised after Pentecost. 1c) of Christian baptism; a rite of immersion in water as commanded by Christ, by which one after confessing his sins and professing his faith in Christ, having already been born again by the Holy Spirit unto a new life, identifies publicly with the fellowship of Christ and the local Church. In Moslem countries a new believer has little trouble with Moslems until he is publicly baptised.
4. 'baptismos' = ceremonial washings (3 times in New Testament) -------------- {bap-tis-mos'} AV - washing (2) -washing (1) - baptisms (1) [4] 1) a washing, purification effected by means of water of washing prescribed by the Mosaic law (Hebrews 9:10) which seems to mean an exposition of the difference between the washings prescribed by the Mosaic law and Christian baptism.
"One Lord, one faith, one baptism," (Ephesians 4:5). There are six (6) references to the baptism (submersion) of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. ALL six references refer to the day of Pentecost. "Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:2) 'baptismos' (ceremonial washings) "(4)And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. (5)Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? (6)He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. (7)Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (8)For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do." (Mark 7:4-8) "Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." (Hebrews 9:10) "divers" = of old = in the past "(1)Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (2)Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment." (Hebrews 6:1-2) Verse 2: immaturity is the context. "baptisms" (washings) Charismatics use this verse. 5. Baptistes (noun) --------------- {bap-tis-tace'} AV - Baptist (13) - Baptist's (1) [14] 1) The surname of John, the forerunner of Christ.
'John the baptizer'--verb (Catholics) --> (John Calvin doctrine) Augustine (Alexandrian Theology, Alexandria, Egypt) --> Roman Catholic doctrine "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." (I Corinthians 14:33) God picked a man for His Church. God had a name for His Church. "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (I Timothy 3:15) Which Church is it? Name, founder --> Baptist, Jesus Christ 'The dividing line through the centuries has always been baptism.' You NEED to have an authority and an organization, namely a scriptural Church.