Matthew 16:18,19

THE CHURCH

‘I will build My Church.’

Matthew 16:18

There is one part of our Lord’s work which to many is a dead letter. It is the provision He made for the continuance of His work among men. He did not aim at immediate results. Though the end of His labours must be the Cross, He would leave behind Him an organisation which should carry out His work.

I. The Church.—Not a book, not a system of philosophy, but a society, a body, a brotherhood—a body which had no documents, no endowments, but only the memories and precepts of a mysterious Person, Who was full of grace and truth. He left no documents. He employed persons to do His work. As the Father had sent Him, even so did He send them (His disciples). This not unusual, but in accordance with Divine plan. Given a cause, a society follows as a matter of course.

II. Its membership was by baptism, and to-day in the mission-field baptism is well understood to be the dividing line.

III. Its ministry.—He appointed Apostles, to whom He ‘gave authority.’

IV. Its precepts.—Officers and members (disciples and Apostles) were trained by Him.

V. Its prayer.—He gave them the Lord’s Prayer, and all must pray it.

VI. Its Eucharist.—As He had adopted baptism as the sacrament of admission, so He gave them the Eucharist as a sign and seal of union.

After His Resurrection eveything else disappears—the society with its ministry, its message, its sacraments, and its prayers alone remain. And this Society exists still, and to do the same work.

Canon Hammond.