My Reflection on What Matthew 16:18-19 Means For This Reformation Month
Matthew 16:18-19 is a very misapplied verse. At the same time, it's the assurance that the gates of Hell can't prevail what Jesus started. Here's what it says:
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. 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.
There is the great commission. Jesus told Peter the obvious context. He wasn't building the Church upon Peter. Rather, He's giving Peter the assurance that upon that Rock the Church will be built. It is the solid rock. 1 Corinthians 10:4 tells us that the Rock is Christ. The Rock is referred to in the Old Testament as a description of the triune God. With God as the foundation the Church then how can the gates of Hell prevail against it? If Peter a man who needed salvation was the foundation then it wouldn't make any sense at all.
I think about a lot of situations where the Church was attacked by persecution and how it stood through the years. The Pharisees tried to destroy it. The Roman Empire tried to destroy it. The Roman Catholic institution tried to destroy it while she was claiming to be the Church founded on 33 A.D. when she isn't. The Islamic forces tried to destroy it. Atheist governments tried to destroy it. Yet it stood still. Persecution only made it stronger. The bloodier the persecution the more Christianity grew instead. It's all because Christians have something to die for and they continued loving their enemies by God's grace.
What are the keys of Heaven? The Roman Catholic institution claims to have the literal keys but let us understand what the keys mean. Keys are used to open locked door. This is the key of the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew 18:15-20 also explains what binding and loosing mean in regards to church authority. This is where the Gospel is preached and those who receive it are loosed and those who reject it are still bound.
What are the keys of Heaven? The Roman Catholic institution claims to have the literal keys but let us understand what the keys mean. Keys are used to open locked door. This is the key of the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew 18:15-20 also explains what binding and loosing mean in regards to church authority. This is where the Gospel is preached and those who receive it are loosed and those who reject it are still bound.
The Reformation itself is also proof that the gates of Hell can't prevail against the Church. The Dark Ages collapsed because of more Gospel preaching. The so-called "apostolic power" of Rome crumbled as a result of the Reformation spreading like fire. The power of the papacy was challenged. The Counter-Reformation was launched yet the Reformation further strengthened the true Church that was established last 33 A.D. The claims of Rome to be that Church were further shattered and the Gospel was spread, more Bibles were made available and revival only broke down Hell's doors everywhere it went.
I can have that confidence that the gates of Hell are broken down by the Church. The Church serves not only as a hospital for repentant sinners but also as a museum of saints whose lives are made righteous by God. The Church's function doesn't cease as a hospital for the repentant and a museum of righteous saints who were once sick sinners - it is also a mighty army. It is a mighty army that will seek to preach the Gospel, bring sinners to repentance and it will showcase what God can do to make repentant sinners into righteous saints by the grace of God.
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