Today we are studying about the builder of the church. The fact that a building exists is proof that it was built by
someone. Paul declares in Heb. 3:4, "For every house is builded by some man; but he that buildeth all things is
God." The church had to be built by someone. You may be thinking, "Why is that important?" or, "What difference
does it make?" To answer I would say that it makes a great deal of difference. Since many churches exist today, it is
important that we identify the one built by Jesus. One way we can do this is by studying the builder of the church.
Christ founded the church of the Bible.
In Mt. 16: 18 Jesus said that He would build "my church." The church belongs to Christ. It is His, because He
purchased and built it. I have no church, you have no church, only Christ has a church. If this is the case, whence
cometh all the religious bodies in the world today? The answer is simple. Someone bas been building churches
when they had no right to do so. Organizations in the world today that owe their existence to John Wesley, Joseph
Smith, Jr., Henry VIII, Mary Baker Eddy, or any other human being can never hope to meet the scriptural
requirements of the Word of God. If Jesus is not the builder, then the Church is not the one of the Bible. Perhaps it
would be wise to also notice that: The church was not built by John the Baptist.
Some people have mistakenly taught that John built the church. This cannot be true for several reasons. First of
all let us notice what is said in Mt. 14:10, "And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison." Thus this passage marks
the death of John. However, it is two chapters later that Jesus says, "I will build my church." Notice the future tense of
"will build." In other words, the church had not been built at the time of Mt. 16:18; it was still future. Therefore, since
John was already dead, he could not have built it. Secondly, notice Mt. 11:11, "Verily I say unto you, Among them
that are born of women there hath not risen a (man) greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in
the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Now the question is this: if John is a great man, why would it be said that
the least in the Church was greater than he was? The answer is as simple as the question. John was never in the
kingdom or church. He died before it was built. Therefore the very least in the Church is greater than John. But
thirdly, let us notice another reason John could not have built the church. In. 3:29-30, "He that hath the bride is the
bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the
bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease." The language and
lesson here are familiar. When a couple marry, the bridegroom gets the bride. The friend of the bridegroom or the
best man, who stands up with them, is not the bridegroom. Thus Jesus the bridegroom is married to the church,
John the friend of the bridegroom (best man) is not. Jesus, the bridegroom, must increase. John the Baptist, who is
the friend of the bridegroom, must decrease. But let us notice this lesson further. Suppose when you married your
wife, she had turned to you immediately after the ceremony and said, "Now I love you, but I prefer to wear the name
of the best man, instead of yours!" That, no doubt, would have shocked and saddened you. What do you think
Christ thinks of His bride, the church, when she says I don't want to wear your name, I had rather wear the name of
someone else or the name of the best man? John the Baptist did not build the church, neither should the church
wear his name.
THE HOLY SPIRIT DID NOT COME UNTIL THE DAY OF PENTECOST, ACTS 2:1-4. SINCE THE CHURCH IS THE
BODY OF CHRIST, AND A BODY WITHOUT A SPIRIT IS DEAD, JAMES 2:26, IF THE CHURCH WAS BUILT DURING
THE LIFETIME OF JOHN THE BAPTIST OR BE FORE ACTS 2, IT WAS A DEAD BODY!
In Mt. 15: 13 we read, "But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father bath not planted, shall
be rooted up." What a solemn warning. If the Lord did not plant or build the institution it is destined to destruction.
There is no escape from this conclusion. Check my dear friend: did Jesus build the church of which you are a
member, or is it of human origin?
THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
No less important than the building is the foundation of the church. No building is stronger than its foundation.
What then is the foundation of the church, is it human or divine, is it weak or secure? Again let us go back to Mt.
16:18. Jesus says, "...upon this rock I will build my church..." What is "this rock" to which Jesus refers? What ever it
is, upon it the church is to be built. In order to get the complete picture of the text, we invite your attention again to
verse sixteen, "And Simon Peter answered and said, 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" Then in verse
seventeen the Lord blesses Peter for the confession he bas made, and in verse eighteen promises to build His
church. It is clear from the above that Christ planned to build the church upon the fact of Peter's confession, i.e., the
fact that He was the Son of the living God. What a blessed thought, to know that the church is founded upon such a
secure foundation. The church is founded upon the Lord and the fact that He is God's Son.
Some have mistakenly interpreted this passage and taught that Christ promised to build the church on Peter.
However, I believe a closer look at the wording will show that this is not, and cannot be true. When Jesus said, "I say
also unto thee that thou art Peter," He used the Greek word for Peter, which is petros, meaning a stone, a rock, a
small pebble, etc. But when He said, "Upon this rock... ," He used the Greek word petra, meaning a huge mass or
ledge of rock. The two words are different as are their meanings. The church is founded upon the fact that Jesus is
God's infallible Son, not upon fallible, erring men, such as Peter.
The following passages prove that the church is built upon Christ and not upon Peter. I Cor. 3: II, "For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Language could not be plainer than this. If Peter
became the foundation of the church, Paul certainly did not know it, nor did he deceive the Corinthians into believing
it. Eph. 2:20, "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief
comer stone..," Again, Paul affirms that Christ is the solid foundation upon which our faith rests, Next, let us notice a
prophecy from Isaiah 28: 16, 'Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a
tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste," Of whom speaketh
the prophets? There is no better way to answer that question than to allow Jesus Himself to speak. Hear Him in Mt.
21 :42 as he applies the prophecy to Himself: "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 marvelous
in our eyes?" Again to make doubly sure, we find the apostle Peter by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit applying the
same prophecy to Jesus in Acts 4: II, "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the
head of the comer," Surely these scriptures are sufficient to show that Jesus and not the apostle Peter is the head
of the church as well as its foundation. If the church was built upon Peter, he certainly did not know it.
No Building can endure longer than its foundation. When the foundation begins to crumble and decay, the
Building will soon do the same. This is why it is so important that we recognize that the Church is built upon a divine
rather than a human foundation. Christ is eternal and immortal. He cannot die, in that He has already conquered
death. Therefore, as the foundation of the church He will endure forever. What a consoling thing it is to know that
the changing scenes of time cannot affect the church. Death, decay, depreciation, or dilapidation cannot harm her,
for Christ shall live forever.
But what about those institutions that are built upon some man or some human doctrine? The answer is plain,
They cannot hope to remain. Since no building is stronger than the foundation upon which it rests, and since these
organizations are founded upon man, the inescapable conclusion is that when man ceases to exist they will also.
And in addition to that Jesus declares in Mt. 15:13, "...Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall
be rooted up." This is the dismal future to which every human organization looks. Won't you seriously consider the
matter today? Leave behind all man-made churches and take your stand with the Lord in His church. The one which
He built, and of which He is the foundation. The only one that will abide forever.
