Bible Matters 381: Christ the Rock – Preponderance of Evidence

It is clear from the preponderance of evidence testimonies in the New Testament, that Jesus hated man-made religion used for personal gain.  Jesus despised the very thought of people seeking filthy lucre of God’s name.

Matthew 21:13 – And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Mark 11:17 – And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Luke 19:45-46 – And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;  Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

The behavior of the scribes and Pharisees was unacceptable.  It is not about leaders consuming widow’s houses and seeking your worship.

Matthew 23:14 – Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Mark 12:38-40 – And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,  And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:  Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Luke 20:45-47 – Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,  Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;  Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

It is not about the worship of God is giant temples.  Christ’s death on the cross destroyed man’s temple.

Matthew 26:61 – And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

Mark 13:2 – And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

True to his word, at his death on the cross, the temple veil was destroyed and the rocks rent.

Matthew 27:51 – And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

The Roman soldier, upon witnessing the events of the day and the death of Christ, saw the truth. 

Matthew 27:54 – Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

Mark 15:39 – And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

In three days, Jesus came back at the Rock.  The Rock, the Stone, the Cornerstone was none other than Jesus Christ.  Salvation is only through the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Church of Jesus Christ is founded upon him. He is the Head, and those who have been born again by the grace of God, regardless of what local church you might be a member of, are part of the body of Christ.  Peter is of the flesh and just the son of Jonah.  Jesus is the Rock.  He is the Son of the living God. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 16:15-18 – He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  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.

1 Corinthians 10:4 – And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ, and he alone, is the head of his body which is the Church. Jesus told us he was the stone.  The builders of the Jewish church or Pharisees, rejected Jesus, the Stone. 

Matthew 21:42-43 – Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Mark 12:10-11 – And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:  This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Luke 20:17 – And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?

1 Peter 2:7 – Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

Peter says very plainly that there is no salvation in any other name except through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Peter told the non-believing Jews that the head of the Church is Jesus Christ. 

Acts 4:10-12 – Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

If you hear and do the sayings of Christ, then your church will be built upon the Rock, a solid foundation.  You will be wise.

Luke 6:48 – He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

Matthew 7:24 – Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

John 20:31 – But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Christ was sent to the earth to call sinners to repentance. 

Matthew 9:12-13 – But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.  But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:17 – When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:31-32 – And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Unto repentance and not by works of man, but a new creature. 

Galatians 6:15 – For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Pure religion is simple.  Do not defile God, visit the sick and keep yourself unspotted from the world. You are told to be modest. It is about your worship of God.  Building yourself on faith, praying and keeping yourself in the love of God, seeking mercy in Christ, unto eternal life.

James 1:27 – Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Jude 1:20-21 – But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

The Church of Jesus Christ is not in buildings, temples or in treasures on this earth.  It is only in righteousness, peace and joy, by believing in Christ using the gift of the Holy Ghost given to you by God after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 14:17 – For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

To God be the glory in all you do, Amen.