“I will build my church.” – Jesus (Matthew 16:18). Here is a bold statement from the Son of Man. When Jesus first spoke these words to the disciples, the church did not yet exist. Those who first heard this declaration may well have thought to themselves, “What’s a church?” There are at least three truths in Jesus’ promise that show how important the church is in God’s plan for us.
- Jesus is the owner of the church. No one will ever have more invested in the church than Jesus does. We give of our time, our talent and our treasure to serve the church. Jesus gave His blood to purchase the church (Acts 20:28).
- Jesus takes responsibility for the church. No one will ever care more for the church than Jesus does. A church is a place where people gather. Wherever people gather there will be challenges. No matter what challenges arise, we can trust Jesus to build His church.
- Jesus is the authority in the church. No one will ever carry more weight in the church than Jesus does. Jesus appoints human leaders as part of His church, but the greatest calling in His kingdom is not leadership. It is servant-hood. He is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22).
In the centuries that have passed since Jesus first claimed ownership, responsibility and authority over His church, He has proven faithful to His promise to build His church. The church has grown from a group of twelve ordinary men in Jesus’ day to a global movement of over two billion members today. How are you participating in the church Jesus is building?