Matthew 16:13-18

I will build My church Matthew 16:13-18: Jesus promised to build His church. It is still true, "Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it..." (Psalms 127:1) Jesus was not John, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. Those that thought Him to be so were wrong. Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:16)

Jesus promised to build His church. Observe: (1) The foundation -- "upon this rock", (2) The certainty -- "I will build My church", (3) The owner -- "I will build My church", (4) The nature of it -- "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", (5) The authority involved -- "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven." Jesus kept His promise and built His church. (Acts 2) He is both foundation and chief corner stone for His church.

It was God's eternal purpose that men should serve Him in the one church that Jesus built. Both Jew and Gentile are reconciled unto God in one body or one church. (Ephesians 2:16) There is only one true church for all nations. (Ephesians 1:22-23; Ephesians 4:4) This one body is also called the church in Colossians 1:18. The one true church was purchased by the blood of Jesus. "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28) The church began on the Pentecost Day following the resurrection of Christ. On that day sinners were told to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) Three thousand people gladly received the word and were baptized. These people were added by the Lord to His church. (Acts 2:47) Today you can be a part of that same church that Christ built!