What is the rock? Because the name Peter (Greek form) or Cephas (Aramaic form) means a stone, some assert that Peter is the rock. No, Jesus is the rock. His identity was the subject of conversation: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” “Who do you say I am?” (vv. 13, 15). Scripture makes this point unmistakably clear when it says, “For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 3:11 ). Peter himself described Jesus as the stone which the builders rejected but it nevertheless became the cornerstone of God’s temple (1 Pet. 2:7 ). The fact that Jesus is the Son of God was the basis on which He would build.

What is the church? When people hear the word church, some think of ornate buildings with steeples and stained-glass windows. Others conjure up pictures of men wearing robes and funny hats. Just what did Jesus plan to build?

The word rendered church in our English Bibles is not an inherently religious term. It means an assembly; literally, the called out. A group of people is what Jesus had in mind to build.

Simply put, based on His identity as God the Son, Jesus planned to call men to follow Him, to become His disciples. Notice how the verses that follow our text talk about the cost (full surrender) and benefits (salvation) of following Jesus (vv. 24-27). “‘Come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord” (2 Cor. 6:17 ). Coming out of the world includes leaving behind whatever religion we have been practicing. Those who answer Jesus’ call are the assembly or the church.

How did Jesus build it? On the day of Pentecost Jesus’ apostles began to extend the invitation: repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38 ). Three thousand gladly received that invitation, were baptized, and were added that day (v. 42).

The promise of Matthew 16:18 is not limited to the events of Pentecost, however. As the apostles continued to preach and people continued to obey the gospel, “the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:47 ). He was still building His church. Nearly 2,000 years later, He is still at it. Whenever one hears the good news of salvation through Jesus’ death and accepts the invitation by faith and obedience, Christ adds one more to the assembly. Has He added you?

This article is not about how distracting and dangerous cell phones are to drivers. It is about allowing ourselves to be distracted on the journey through life. Bad things happen when we are not paying attention, among them. . .

Sin. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8 ). Satan is subtle. He tries to catch us off guard. If we are not careful, sin is the result, with all its ugly consequences. 1 Corinthians 10:12 sounds a warning to overconfident brethren who think they can toy with temptation and not be affected: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”

Lost opportunities. “So then, while we have opportunity, let us to good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10 ). What if we are not looking for those opportunities? What if we are focused mostly on self? We will be goats in Jesus’ shepherd picture of the judgment: “Lord, when did we ever see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?” (Mt. 25:44 ). The goats went to eternal punishment (v. 46).

False teaching. Paul warned the Ephesian elders, “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert . . .” (Acts 20:29-31 ). Our shepherds must be watchful, yet each of us is responsible to avoid the wolves. John wrote, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world. . . Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward” (2 Jn. 7-8).

Lack of readiness. “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming” (Mt. 24:42 ). May God help us all not to be distracted by the scenery or “fall asleep at the wheel” in His service.

November 4-9, 2007

Sunday @ 9:30am, 10:30am, 3:30pm

Monday-Friday @ 10am and 7:30pm

Gospel singing Sunday at @ 2:30pm

Everyone is invited!

“And put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Eph 4:24 ).

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Col. 3:12-14 ).

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:11-17 ).

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ . . .” (Rom 13:14 ).

These are truly “all occasion,” “once size fits all” garments. You’ll look good in them.

The Physical Place

A recent newspaper article reported that the favorite baptizing place for a group of United Baptist churches in south central Kentucky is a baptizing center in Beaver Dam Creek near Rhoda. They have been using it for generations. It is a matter of conviction with these folks to use running or “living” water in baptism. They point out that Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River; therefore, to use an indoor baptistry would not be following His example.

If people prefer to baptize in a creek for scenic or nostalgic reasons, that is their business. To insist on that, however, is another matter. The New Testament does make a few references to “living water” (Jn. 4:10-11; 7:38 ), but none of them are talking about baptism. John baptized at Aenon near Salim because there was much water there (Jn. 3:23 ), not because there was moving water there. We do not know what bodies of water the apostles may have employed in their worldwide preaching. (3,000 were immersed at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost [Acts 2:41 ]. Since it had only one small stream, several commentators suggest the city’s pools made that possible.)

The Place in God’s Plan

Ironically, these Baptists who make such a point about the physical place of baptism completely ignore its place in God’s plan. The newspaper report said some of the boys baptized on a particular day in August were saved at revival in March but had to postpone their baptism. How can that be?

• Baptism is into Christ (Gal. 3:27 ). If one is saved prior to baptism he is saved out of Christ.

• Baptism is into Christ’s death (Rom. 6:3 ). If one is saved prior to baptism he is saved apart from Christ’s death.

• Baptism is for forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38 ). If one is saved prior to baptism he is be saved without being forgiven.

• Baptism is to wash away sins (Acts 22:16 ). If one is saved prior to baptism he is saved while still in the filth of sin.

• Baptism saves us (1 Pet. 3:21 ). That is what Peter said. The Baptist preacher said the opposite: “Baptism doesn’t save us. It’s a testament of what is happening. It’s saying the seed of the gospel has come into my heart.” Where does the Bible teach any such thing?

Conclusion

It is nice to see people who are willing to be different to stand for what they believe in. It is sad, however, that they are so confused. They make a point of something to which the Bible attaches no significance, yet at the same time they ignore basic New Testament teaching about how we are saved.

The temptation to sin is life’s greatest challenge. This text reminds us of three important facts about it.

First, “no temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man.” It is natural to think we are facing something alone or for the first time ever. Teenagers are certain mom and dad “just don’t understand.” How often does someone who is struggling say, “You don’t know what I am going through.” The danger in such thinking is despair, the assumption that no help is available, and especially, that Bible solutions to one’s problems will not work.

In the preceding verses, Paul reminded the Corinthians that they were facing the same old temptations that came Israel’s way 1,500 years earlier. Circumstances may change, but Satan’s tactics do not. You can learn much by studying how Bible characters dealt with temptation. There is consolation in knowing others have been where you are. Remember, too, that Jesus was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15 ).

Second, “God . . . will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.” God does not tempt us Himself (Jas. 1:13-16 ), but He does allow Satan to do so. What God does is maintain control over the situation so that it does not get out of hand, a fact aptly illustrated in the story of Job (Job 1-2). There may be times when it seems as though you are facing too big a challenge, but rest assured you are not. As Matthew Henry worded it, “Either our trials will be proportioned to our strength, or strength will be supplied in proportion to our temptations.” We can be victorious!

One implication of this fact is worth emphasizing: I am responsible for my sin. If temptation is not greater than I can bear, sin is my choice. I did not have to do it.

Third, “. . . but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” What is the way of escape? Here are a few. Begin with avoidance when possible: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Stay out of circumstances in which Satan’s appeals are stronger. Associate with those who will be a positive, rather than a negative, influence.  Jesus stored up Scripture in His heart and used it to combat temptation (Mt. 4:4, 7, 10; cf. Ps. 119:11 ). Prayer is another escape route. Sometimes you may need to do as Joseph did and literally run away from a situation (Gen. 39:12 ). God promises the way of escape; it is up to us to use it.

The church at Corinth was rife with problems: wrong attitudes, immorality, false teaching, etc. Timothy, a young preacher, was on the way, but it was not his responsibility to fix everything. Paul addressed a letter to the entire congregation (1 Cor. 1:2 ) in which he outlined what each one should be doing.

The church at Thessalonica faced significant opposition from without. Whose job was it to encourage them? Everyone’s. “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Th. 5:11 ).

Every Christian is a member of the body (1 Cor. 12:27 ). A problem in the body is therefore everyone’s problem. Elders, deacons, teachers, and preachers have their specific tasks. But let no one sit back and leave all the work to them. Get involved and help. As an old saying goes, “If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.”

How do we know what matters to God and what does not? If He has not spoken it is all guesswork, and one’s guess would be as good as another’s. However, the Bible affirms that God has spoken. “God . . . in these last days has spoken to us in His Son” (Heb. 1:1-2 ). That divine communication which started in Christ was completed through the apostles, Jesus’ inspired spokesmen (Jn. 16:13-15; Mt. 16:19; 1 Th. 2:13 ). When we read what they wrote, we can know the mind of God.

Being a woman doesn’t matter to God regarding one’s salvation. All are one in Christ (Gal. 3:28 ). But it clearly does matter to Him when it comes to being a preacher. He commanded through the Apostle Paul, “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet” (1 Tim. 2:10-11; see also 1 Cor. 14:34-35 ). The same is true for pastors or elders or overseers. (Denominational people often confuse this function with that of preacher or evangelist.) One requirement of a pastor is that he be “the husband of one wife” (1 Tim. 3:2; Ti. 1:6 ).

In view of these plain statements, how can one assert that in this context, “Being a woman doesn’t matter to God”? Is it ignorance or rebellion?

In the Old Testament, God’s requirement was that priests be taken from the tribe of Levi, specifically the family of Aaron. On one occasion, some men from other tribes and Levites not from Aaron’s line affirmed their right to be priests too. “All the congregation are holy,” they argued. In other words, “Being from Aaron’s family doesn’t matter to God.” God responded by sending fire from heaven and opening the earth to swallow them up (Num. 16). What was true then and now is this: it matters to God that we respect and obey His revealed will.

In addition to this basic fourfold division, consider some other New Testament descriptions of hearers.

• “Now all the Athenians and the strangers visiting there used to spend their time in nothing other than telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21 ). Old truths had no appeal to this crowd. They were obsessed with novelty. And their spirit lives on. Suggest a Bible study and these folks will yawn. Yet they intensely follow every detail of stories about the so-called “lost books of the Bible” or the Bible Code or the Gospel of Judas or the Da Vinci Code or any other “new” thing (which is really old infidelity). Not surprisingly, Paul had little success at Athens. Fascination with the bizarre does not lend itself to acceptance of plain preaching.
• “. . . always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7 ). Perhaps these were also enamored with new ideas. The context suggests two other problems. One is that they were learning from wrong sources: slick-talking teachers whose hearts were not wholly devoted to God. You cannot learn truth by listening to error. (Contrast that with the instruction of vv. 14-17: Timothy was to continue in the Scriptures, which he had learned from a godly mother.) The other problem was these hearers’ hearts. They were “gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts” (v. 6, NKJV). As Matthew Henry observed, “A foolish head and a filthy heart make persons . . . an easy prey to seducers.”
• “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths” (2 Tim. 4:3-4 ). Truth hurts, at least sometimes. Yet it is the truth that makes us free (Jn. 8:32 ). Error keeps us in bondage to sin. Nevertheless, there is no shortage of people who prefer entertainment, feel-good stories, and pats on the back to solid gospel preaching, and no shortage of speakers anxious to provide whatever the audience wants.

Compare these to Luke’s description of the Bereans: “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11 ). What kind of hearer are you?

Jesus has numerous roles in God’s plan: teacher, model, savior, lawgiver, king, high priest, head of the church, advocate, intercessor, etc. He is also our judge. Jesus is uniquely qualified for this task: He is both God and man, He was tempted in all things as we are yet without sin, and He showed both His love for us and dedication to the Father’s will in giving Himself on our behalf.

This text reminds us of several important characteristics of the judgment.

It is universal. All will appear before Christ for judgment. No one is exempt. Even if you die before it occurs, you will still be there. “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds” (Rev. 20:13 ). Jesus’ own resurrection is the guarantee of ours and the judgment to follow (Acts 17:31 ).

It is personal. Each one will be judged according to what he has done. You will not be held accountable for another’s misbehavior. Some say we are guilty before God because of what Adam did or because of what our parents did, but the Bible teaches otherwise (see Ezek. 18). You answer for your choices in life. Others may influence you to do wrong, and they will have to answer for that, yet that does not eliminate your responsibility for your conduct. This also means that no one else can do right for you. You will not pass the judgment because your parents or your spouse or your children are godly. Righteousness cannot be borrowed.

It is behavioral. We will be judged according to what we have done. The Bible emphasizes that we are justified by faith in Christ (Rom. 5:1 ), not on the basis of our own goodness. Yet it also reminds us that faith without works is dead (Jas. 2:26 ), that Christ is the source of salvation to those who obey Him (Heb. 5:9 ). “Lord, Lord” will be an empty cry on that day (Mt. 7:21 ). What we claimed to be or intended to do will count for nothing. In Matthew 25:31-46 , Jesus’ depicted the judgment as a shepherd separating sheep and goats. Interestingly, the goats in that picture are not those who were grossly immoral in life; they are those who failed to do right.

It is final. Jesus said that the Father has given Him all judgment (Jn. 5:22 ). That being the case, there can be no appeal of His decision. There is no higher court to which one could turn. The verdict is for eternity.

The verse following our text says, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. . .” Are you persuaded to follow Christ now?