Matthew 16, Church, Pharisees, Sadducees, Yeast, Leaven, Caesarea Philippi, Panias, Banias, Rock, Stone, Forgive Sins, Grave Venial Sins, Overcome, Human Soul, Rewards, ss, The Christ, The Son Of The Living God, Will Build His Church, What’s “this rock”?, Who Can Forgive Sins But God Alone?, The Church Won’t Be Overcome, But The Tribulation Saints Will Be, Human Soul Value,

1. M a t t h e
w 16
T h e C h r i s t ,
T h e S o n O f
T h e L i v i n g
G o d

2. Matthew 16:1, “Pharisees”
• Matthew 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees…
• Easton’s Dictionary says, “2926 Pharisees, separatists
…The first mention of them is in a description by
Josephus of the three sects or schools into which the
Jews were divided (B.C. 145). The other two sects were
the Essenes and the Sadducees. In the time of our Lord
they were the popular party John 7:48 They were
extremely accurate and minute in all matters
appertaining to the law of Moses Mt 9:14 23:15 Lu
11:39 18:12 Paul, when brought before the council of
Jerusalem, professed himself a Pharisee Ac 23:6-8
26:4,5 There was much that was sound in their creed,

3. Matthew 16:1, “Pharisees”
• yet their system of religion was a form and nothing
more. Theirs was a very lax morality Mt 5:20 15:4,8
23:3,14,23,25 Joh 8:7 On the first notice of them in the
New Testament Mt 3:7 they are ranked by our Lord
with the Sadducees as a "generation of vipers." They
were noted for their self-righteousness and their pride
Mt 9:11 Lu 7:39 18:11,12 They were frequently
rebuked by our Lord Mt 12:39 16:1-4 From the very
beginning of his ministry the Pharisees showed
themselves bitter and persistent enemies of our Lord.
They could not bear his doctrines, and they sought by
every means to destroy his influence among the
people.”

4. Matthew 16:1, “Pharisees”
• The Archaeological Study Bible says "The
Pharisees, the party of the synagogue, were a
legalistic and separatist group who strictly kept
the Law of Moses and the unwritten "tradition of
the elders“… Although they were comparatively
few in number, the Pharisees enjoyed the support
of the people and influenced popular opinion, if
not national policy. They were the only party to
survive the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70
and were the spiritual progenitors of modern
Judaism…"

5. Matthew 16:1, “Sadducees”
• The Archaeological Study Bible says "The
Sadducees were a Jewish party that represented
the wealthy and sophisticated classes. They were
more politically minded than the Pharisees and
denied the resurrection, angels and spirits. They
were located largely in Jerusalem and made the
temple and it's administration their primary
interest. Though they too where a relatively small
group, in Jesus' day they exerted powerful
political and religious influence…”

6. Matthew 16:1, “Sadducees”
• “… the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the
dead… the immortality of the soul, the doctrine
of reward and punishment and the validity of the
oral law…. They accepted as binding only those
laws based directly upon the written text of the
Pentateuch. It is for the this reason that Jesus
defended the doctrine of the resurrection to
them from the standpoint of Exodus 3:6 rather
than from the prophets (MT 22:32). The influence
of the Sadducees virtually ceased with the
distruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, leaving
postbiblical Judaism to develop along the
Pharisaic lines…” Archaeological study Bible pages 1563 and 1600

7. Matthew 16:1-4
• Matthew 16:2 But He replied to them…
• The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and
testing Jesus…
• They never learn, they have not tricked Him, or
stumped Him yet. Never will!
• Jesus usually answers with a question, but not
this time.
• He rebukes them and leaves
• We’re past ch. 13, over the top

8. Mat 16:2-3, Sky Is Red
• Sky is red? What do we say?
• Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.
Red sky at night, sailors delight.

9. Matthew 16:5-12

10. Matthew 16:6, Yeast/ Leaven
• 1st. Mention of leaven is in Exodus 12:15 'Seven
days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the
first day you shall remove leaven from your
houses; for whoever eats anything leavened from
the first day until the seventh day, that person
shall be cut off from Israel.
• Exodus 12:19 'Seven days there shall be no
leaven found in your houses; for whoever eats
what is leavened, that person shall be cut off
from the congregation of Israel, whether he is an
alien or a native of the land.

11. Matthew 16:6, Yeast/ Leaven
• Exodus 13:7 "Unleavened bread shall be eaten
throughout the seven days; and nothing leavened
shall be seen among you, nor shall any leaven be
seen among you in all your borders. 8 "You shall
tell your son on that day, saying, 'It is because of
what the LORD did for me when I came out of
Egypt.' 9 "And it shall serve as a sign to you on
your hand, and as a reminder on your forehead,
that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth;
for with a powerful hand the LORD brought you
out of Egypt.

12. Matthew 16:6, Yeast/ Leaven
• Matthew 13:33 He spoke another parable to them,
"The kingdom of heaven is like leaven…[Luke 13:21]
• Mark 8:15 And He was giving orders to them, saying,
"Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and
the leaven of Herod.“
• Luke 12:1 …He began saying to His disciples first of all,
"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is
hypocrisy.
• Matthew 16:12…the teaching of the Pharisees…
• 1 Corinthians 5:4-10 Church discipline
• Galatians 5:5-14 Legalism or Freedom

13. Matthew 16:13-20

14. Matthew 16:13, Caesarea Philippi
• Matthew 16:13…Jesus came into the district
of Caesarea Philippi…
• “Caesarea Philippi” is only used here and the
parallel account in Mark 8:27

15. Matthew 16:13, Caesarea Philippi
• Caesarea Philippi is at Panias, or Banias
• Is not what Easton’s describes as; “Caesarea,
(Palestinae), a city on the shore of the
Mediterranean, on the great road from Tyre to
Egypt, about 70 miles northwest of Jerusalem,
at the northern extremity of the plain of Sharon.
It was built by Herod the Great (B.C. 10) who
named it after Caesar Augustus…”
• That is “Caesarea Maritime”

16. Caesarea Maritime

17. Caesarea Maritime

18. Caesarea Maritime

19. Caesarea Philippi,
Panias, or Banias

20. Israel: Caesarea Philippi:
Near Mount Hermon
The city of Caesarea Philippi is on the
southwestern slope of Mount Hermon and the
northernmost extent of Jesus' ministry.

21. Israel: Caesarea Philippi:
Near Mount Hermon
The city of Caesarea Philippi is on the
southwestern slope of Mount Hermon and the
northernmost extent of Jesus' ministry.
DLK adds; Unless you believe Matthew 15:21
Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into
the district of Tyre and Sidon.

22. Matthew 16:13, Caesarea Philippi
• Matthew 16:13…Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His
disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?“
• Good question! Ask this of everyone you meet.
• Listen to find out if they’ve got “another Jesus”.
• 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent
deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led
astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to
Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus
whom we have not preached, or you receive a different
spirit which you have not received, or a different
gospel which you have not accepted…

23. Matthew 16:16, Peter Answered
• Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You
are the Christ, the Son of the living God.“
• Good answer Peter!
• But it wasn’t from him.
• Matthew 16:17 And Jesus said to him,
"Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because
flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but
My Father who is in heaven.

24. What’s “this rock”?
• Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are
Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;
and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

25. One billion people, or
more, have been
deceived into believing
that “this rock” is Peter
• Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are
Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;
and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

26. Matthew 16:23 But He
turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind Me, Satan!...
• Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are
Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;
and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Does it make sense that Jesus would call Peter Satan, if he
was the foundation of Christ’s church?
Matthew 26:74 Then he began to curse and swear, "I do
not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed.
75 And Peter remembered…
Galatians 2:11 …I opposed him to his face, because he
stood condemned…. 13 by their hypocrisy… 14 But when I
saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of
the gospel… [Man! What an unstable Rock!, even if we ignore Acts 1]

27. Paul replaces Peter, for all intents and
purposes in Acts 12, “Paul” is used
160X’s after Acts 12, “Peter” is used
5X’s after Acts 12.
If a mere human is the “Rock” you tell
me who is more
important/foundational to the church?
• Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are
Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church;
and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Please just do a word study on “Rock”,
“Stone,” “Cornerstone,” and “Foundation”

28. 1 Corinthians 10:4…and the rock was Christ.
Acts 4:11 "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED…
Romans 9:33 …A STONE OF STUMBLING…
Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner
stone,
Peter said in; 1 Peter 2:4 And coming to Him as to a living stone
which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in
the sight of God,… 6 For this is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I
LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND
HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." 7 This
precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who
disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS
BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone," 8 and, "A STONE OF
STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE"

29. Who Can Forgive Sins But God Alone?
• The eternal destiny of 1 billion people pivots
on who can forgive sins, who this “Rock” is,
and what are/is “the keys of the kingdom of
heaven.”

30. Matthew 16:19 Matthew 9:3, This
Fellow Blasphemes
• Matthew 9:3 And some of the scribes said to
themselves, "This fellow blasphemes."
• Mark 2:7 "Why does this man speak that way?
He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but
God alone?“
• Luke 5:21 The scribes and the Pharisees began
to reason, saying, "Who is this man who
speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins,
but God alone?"

31. Matthew 16:19 Matthew 9:6, Who
Can Forgive Sins?
• Matthew 9:6 "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has
authority on earth to forgive sins "-- then He said to the paralytic,
"Get up, pick up your bed and go home.“
• Mark 2:7 …who can forgive sins but God alone?"
• CCC 1461 Since Christ entrusted to his apostles the ministry of
reconciliation,65 bishops who are their successors, and priests, the
bishops’ collaborators, continue to exercise this ministry. Indeed
bishops and priests, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, have
the power to forgive all sins “in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (981)
• CCC 1493 One who desires to obtain reconciliation with God and
with the Church, must confess to a priest all the unconfessed grave
sins he remembers after having carefully examined his conscience.
The confession of venial faults, without being necessary in itself, is
nevertheless strongly recommended by the Church.
• [DLK Grave Sins/Venial Faults?]

32. Matthew 16:19 Matthew 9:6, Who
Can Forgive Sins?
CCC 1461 Since Christ entrusted to his apostles
the ministry of reconciliation, 65 bishops who are
their successors, and priests, the bishops’
collaborators, continue to exercise this ministry.
Indeed bishops and priests, by virtue of the
sacrament of Holy Orders, have the power to
forgive all sins “in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (981)
DLK, Does “the ministry of reconciliation” mean
humans can forgive sin? Or are we ambassadors
for Christ, who alone can forgive sins? Jesus gave
me a job to do, does that make me God?

33. Matthew 16:18, This Rock
• Matthew 16:18…I will [future tense] build My church…
• The forgiveness, payment in full, of sins, of people is
the only way the church is built up.
• Did Jesus say priests would do it, or Christ?
• Matthew 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter
[masculine singular] , and upon this rock [feminine singular ] I will
build My church…
• Some think that Jesus switched genders so no one
could legitimately teach that Peter is the “rock”
• Jesus said He would “build” not Peter.
• Jesus is saying that He will build, based on the fact that
He is “… the Christ, the Son of the living God.“
• That is the church’s unchanging foundation., and core.

34. Mat 16:18, Summary Of “This Rock”
• Peter [masculine singular] , and “rock” [feminine singular ]
• Peter is an unstable rock (before and after Pentecost)
• Jesus said He would “build” not Peter.
• Jesus is “… the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
• The church’s unchanging foundation, and core is Jesus, “…
the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
• The credit for saying “… the Christ, the Son of the living
God,” is given to the Father, not Peter.
• The “keys” for anyone to get into “the kingdom of heaven”
is the Gospel, having their sins paid for by Christ’s blood.
Not having a human say “Your sins are forgiven.”
• James was the “head” of the church in Jerusalem, Paul
replaced Peter, for all intents and purposes in Acts 12
• 1 Corinthians 10:4… “and the rock was Christ”

35. Matthew
16:18…
I will build
My church

36. Matthew 16:20, Keep Quiet!, Is A Different “oikonomia”
• Matthew 9:30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus
sternly warned them, saying, "See here, let no one know
about this!“
• “So they went out and told no man.”
• 31 But they went out, and spread the news about Him in all
that land.
• I find that everyone that is truly “healed” by Jesus wants to
tell everyone they know.
• This is a different “oikonomia” than the church age,
Matthew 16:20 Then He warned the disciples that they
should tell no one that He was the Christ. [Matthew 10:5, 11:11,
16:20, 28:19, Luke 16:16, Mark 8:29, John 14:17]
• Matthew 8:4, 9:30, 16:20, Mark 5:43, 8:29

37. Matthew 16:18, I Will Build My Church
• Which “church”?
• There is only one!

38. Matthew 16:18, The Church Won’t Be
Overcome
• Matthew 16:18 …the gates of Hades will not
overpower it.
• Princes, kings, and other rulers of the world have used
all their strength and cunning against the Church, yet it
continues to endure and hold its own.
• --John Foxe (John Foxe, martyrologist, author of Foxe's
Book of Martyrs, an account of Christian martyrs
throughout history but especially emphasizing the
sufferings of English Protestants from the fourteenth
century through the reign of Mary I)

39. Matthew 16:18, The Church Won’t Be
Overcome, Tribulation Saints Will Be
• Matthew 16:18 …the gates of Hades will not
overpower it.
• Revelation 13:7 It was also given to him to make war
with the saints and to overcome them, and authority
over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was
given to him.
• Daniel 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war
with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22 Until
the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to
the saints of the most High; and the time came that the
saints possessed the kingdom.

40. Matthew 16:21-23

41. Matthew 16:22,
• Matthew 16:22 Peter took Him aside and
began to rebuke Him, saying, "God forbid it,
Lord! This shall never happen to You.“
• Double negative
• CSB ……"Oh no, Lord!
• NIV …"Never, Lord!"
• Is “No Lord” an oxymoron?

42. Matthew 16:23, God's Interests, Or
Man's
• Matthew 16:23…you are not setting your mind on God's
interests, but man's."
• Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the
wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His
judgments and unfathomable His ways!
• Romans 9:33 just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A
STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE
WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.“
• Revelation 15:3 And they sang the song of Moses, the
bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,
"Great and marvelous are Your works, O Lord God, the
Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the
nations!

43. Matthew 16:26, Human Soul
• Matthew 16:26 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the
whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give
in exchange for his soul?
• Why would Jesus place such great value upon a human
soul?
• Genesis 1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our
image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over
the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over
the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creeps on the earth.“ 27 God created man in His
own image, in the image of God He created him; male and
female He created them.
• Genesis 9:3 "Every moving thing that is alive shall be food
for you; I give all to you, as I gave the green plant.

44. Matthew 16:27, Rewards According To
Deeds
• Matthew 16:27 "For the Son of Man is going to come in the
glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY
EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS.
• Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not
as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
• Romans 12:19 …"VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says
the Lord.
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6 For after all it is only just for God to
repay with affliction those who afflict you,
• Mark 9:41…he will not lose his reward.
• Luke 6:23 …, your reward is great in heaven…

45. Matthew 16:27, Rewards According To
Deeds
• 1 Corinthians 3:8…each will receive his own reward according
to his own labor.
• 1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man's work which he has built on it
remains, he will receive a reward.
• Hebrews 11:24 By faith Moses…26 considering the reproach
of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he
was looking to the reward.
• 2 John 1:8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we
have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.
• Revelation 11:18…the time came for the dead to be judged,
and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and
the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the
great…
• Revelation 22:12 …My reward is with Me, to render to every
man according to what he has done.

46. THE END Piano and
Violin
Building
China

47. Matthew 16:23, 1 Chronicles 21:1=1st mention, Satan
• QUESTIONFOR THE DAY
• Dear Compass,
• Where does Satan live and what does he look like? If he lives in hell, why should we be concerned about him?
•
ANSWER:
• Satan does not have a red tail and live in hell. In fact, just the opposite. Satan is:
• The "god of this world."in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the
image of God. —2 Corinthians 4:4
• Actively accusing us before the Lord day and night.Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His
Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. —Revelation 12:10
• When he is finally revealed for all the world to see, the world will marvel at his wisdom and beauty:
• Full of wisdom, perfect in beauty . . . wisdom . . . splendor. —Ezekiel 28:12Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty. —Ezekiel 28:17
• Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms? —Isaiah 14:16
• He presently resides in the air:
• . . . the prince of the power of the air. —Ephesians 2:2. . . spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. —Ephesians 6:12
• But don't confuse "heavenly places" with the part of heaven where God resides. Satan was kicked out of the highest realm, the third heaven where God resides, prior to Adam's fall.
• By the abundance of your trade
You were internally filled with violence,
And you sinned;
Therefore I have cast you as profane
From the mountain of God.
And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the stones of fire. —Ezekiel 28:16
See also 2 Corinthains 12:2.Hell is where Satan will eventually end up, a special place designed just for him:
• . . . the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. —Matthew 25:41He is a formidable foe as he prowls the earth "seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
Fortunately, born-again believers have a great advantage, if they choose to use it:
• . . . greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. (Greater is Jesus who is in you than Satan who is in the world.) —1 John 4:4Additional resource for this GML:Satan's Big Six -
Mike Gendron
http://www.compass.org/store/categories/Steeling-The-Mind-Speakers/Mike-Gendron/Satan's Strategies for Your Heart and Mind - Ed Hindson
http://www.compass.org/store/categories/Steeling-The-Mind-Speakers/Ed-Hindson/
• Satan's Top Two Cults - James Walker
http://www.compass.org/store/categories/Steeling-The-Mind-Speakers/James-Walker/
•
About Compass...

48. 1 Timothy 4:13,16 Matthew 16:3 Hebrews 5:14 1 Kings 3:9
Proverbs 2:5+9, Senses Trained To Discern Good And Evil
• The Demise of Biblical Discernment
• T. A. McMahon
•
• In last month's issue of this newsletter we exhorted our readers to discipline themselves to read the Word of God daily. The emphasis was on developing a habit, the best and most
necessary habit--one that every believer should have. Of course, we encouraged reading the Bible as a basis for living one's life by what it teaches, which is the only way that one who is
born again spiritually can mature in the faith. Yet, here is the simple truth that too many Christians have missed: if we don't read God's Word for ourselves, we can't truly know its
instructions. If we don't know God's instructions, we can't follow Him, and we therefore can't do what pleases Him. Tragically, many if not most Christians haven't considered that simple
truth. Their spiritual beliefs tend to be a collection of things they've heard (sermons, radio, TV, books, movies, etc.) mixed with what they may or may not have gotten from the Bible.
They have been spoon-fed rather than getting their spiritual meals directly from God's Word.
•
• Why is that tragic? Wouldn't it be of value to get input from the various Christian media regarding the teachings of our Lord? Hasn't our Lord gifted teachers to help believers better
understand His Word? Certainly, but if that is our primary feeding of God's Word, it leads to a spiritual anemia at best and makes us defenseless against spiritual deception at worst. How
can a believer tell the difference between a good teacher and a false teacher? Although Scripture tells us that God gave some to be teachers (Ephesians 4:11), His Word also tells us,
"There shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies" (2 Peter 2:1). So how can we know what's what and who's who?
•
• Most Christians are not asking such questions--nor do they seem to be concerned about the consequences related to a lack of biblical discernment. The second chapter of Hebrews
begins with a warning that we could drift away from the Scriptures and find ourselves going along with something that seems biblical but is not. More and more frequently these days, I
hear confessing and professing Christians excusing themselves and others for their unbiblical beliefs and practices by declaring that they all nevertheless "love Jesus." What Jesus might
that be? Is it the biblical Jesus--the One who declares that He is "the way, the truth, and the life"? Is it the Word incarnate, who challenges everyone who professes to be a believer in Him
by asking: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Would our reply be, "Sorry, Lord, I wasn't aware of most of the things that you said"? If that's
the case, having "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16) is a wishful delusion.
•
• Just so there is no misunderstanding, the heart of this article is a concern for the fruitfulness of everyone who truly knows the biblical Jesus, everyone who has by faith alone put his or her
trust in Christ as Savior, the One, the only One, who could (and did) pay the full penalty for the sins of mankind. For those who have put their faith in Him and have received His gift of
eternal life, what follows is their life in Christ, which is all about living a godly and productive life. Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly" (John 10:10). A believer's fruitfulness not only greatly enriches his own life, but his new life in Christ becomes a testimony, a witness to the truth of the gospel that changed
his life, so that others may be drawn to Jesus. Yet a believer's life in Christ will be spiritually futile if he (or she) doesn't really know what Jesus taught.
•
• An unproductive life in Christ is bad enough, but it can go far beyond just being spiritually feeble. Not knowing the Word of God sets one up for being spiritually deceived. Again, it should
be rather obvious: if we don't know what the Bible says, we can't discern what is true to it and what is contrary to it. Consequently, a person who is ignorant of the Scriptures is ripe for
being led away from God's truth. When such a condition becomes epidemic among Christians, they become collective pawns of God's adversary, Satan, and participants in the apostasy
as well as unwitting contributors to the emerging religion of the Antichrist (Revelation 13). But could such a thing happen?
•
• Both Dave Hunt and I have been observing trends in the evangelical church for 35 years. In those three and a half decades significant developments have taken place, all of which have
greatly undermined the belief in and dependence upon the Scriptures. We have documented such developments in the twenty years of TBC's existence and five years prior to that in The
Seduction of Christianity. In past articles we have shown from God's Word that Satan's primary strategy as the deceiver of mankind is reflected in his initial statement to Eve in the Garden
of Eden, a tactic calculated to weaken her trust in God's Word by questioning it: "Yea, hath God said...?" (Genesis 3:1). Down through history, he has expanded his assault on the Word
beyond planting seeds of doubt to distorting, denigrating, corrupting, compromising, and outright lying about the Scriptures. In the last 30 years, some of his most effective devices have
seduced Christians away from the written Word of God, replacing it with subjective and experiential content (feelings-oriented beliefs). Briefly (see our archives for more extensive
writings on these subjects and others), that drift has been a major contributor to the demise of biblical discernment.
•
• For example, the false teaching known as Rhema vs. Logos says that God speaks today to believers with the same or even greater authority than is found in the Bible. For decades this
doctrine has led millions of Charismatic and Pentecostal believers away from the objective, written Word of God.
•
• The subjective pseudoscience of Christian psychology, with its goal of integrating psychology with the Bible (primarily through psychological counseling), has infected the conservative
evangelical church with the humanistic doctrines of self-love and self-esteem. Even more damaging, it has all but eliminated the belief in the sufficiency of the Scriptures for multitudes of
Christians.
•

49. Matthew 16:18 2 Timothy 3:16-4:5
Ephesians 4:12, Purpose of the church
• QUESTIONFOR THE DAY
• Dear Compass
• What do you think of the Purpose Driven church model?
•
• ANSWER:
• We do have many concerns regarding the Purpose Driven movement. But rather than critiquing Purpose Driven, we believe it wiser to look at pure biblical truths so everyone can
examine their own church, whether it's denominational, independent, Purpose Driven, Emergent or whatever, against the infallible Word of God and let the chips fall where they may.
Here's what we found to be the desired characteristics of a biblical local church from the Word of God:
• First and foremost, a biblically successful church has zero to do with the size or growth of the congregation. The Bible does not implore pastors to grow their churches. Rather, it is God
who adds to the Body of Christ (Acts 2:47). If a pastor waters down what he teaches or avoids teaching certain things like sin and repentance, regardless of his sincerity or motivation, it is
called "tickling the ears" and is wrong (2 Timothy 4:3). It would be far better for a Believer to attend a small church where an humble pastor knows everyone's name and spiritual gifts
while making it his priority to nurture individuals' spiritual growth and formation. On Judgment Day (Romans 14:11) pastors will not be judged according to how large their churches were
but for how well they biblically armored His flock for service (2 Timothy 4:2)
• Therefore, regardless of the size, the purpose of the local Church is:
• To equip Believers for service (2 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 4:12).
• Armoring Believers, not evangelism of non-believers, is to be the focal point of the local church. Individual Believers are instructed to exhibit God's love and be used by the Holy Spirit to
evangelize the community (2 Timothy 4:5 ). All examples of early church activities have Believers doing the evangelizing (Acts 4:1-2, 13:5, 17:2). Therefore, the focus of the pastor and his
number one priority should be the equipping of those the Lord has put under his ministry. From the Sunday sermon, youth activities, and home Bible studies to miscellaneous activities,
ALL should be focused on the Believer and his/her spiritual armor and growth in God's love. It is not the church's purpose to attract non-believers for evangelism and growth.
• To Glorify God (Romans 15:6, 9; 1 Peter 4:11; Acts 21:18-20; Ephesians 3:20-21).
• The Church of Jesus Christ is the place where God lives in His people (their hearts) so that He might set His Glory on display. Those called to be a part of this Church (Ephesians 1:4) are
implored to know His Word well enough (2 Timothy 2:15) to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading in the hope that they may allow the world to see God's love working in their lives.
Prophetic references by Jesus, and specific references in the Epistles, provide us a blueprint for how this church is to be built up in the likeness of Christ by maturing in the Word of God
(2 Corinthians 10:5; Matthew 16:18). It is not taught in the Bible that the Church's growth and success is dependent on the human resources, ingenuity, ability, or strength of the local
Body of Believers.
• To share spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Romans 12:4-8; Colossians 3:16).
• Listed in the above passages are some 18 spiritual gifts, given by God, to whom He desires (1 Corinthians 12:11; Romans 12:6). These gifts are for building up the Body of Christ (Ephesians
4:11-12). Therefore, a wise pastor, as well as wise elders, should know who has what gift. And they should also know where Believers are weaker so they can better protect them like a
good shepherd (1 Corinthians 12:22, 2 Timothy 2:25).
• To bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2; 1 John 3:17; 1 Peter 5:9).
• It would be difficult to share burdens if a local church body meets only once a week in a large auditorium. A smaller, more intimate gathering is necessary to accomplish this command. A
larger church must work hard to have a pastoral staff large enough to oversee the flock in a personally knowledgeable and intimate way. Weekly and biweekly small groups, under the
authority of the local church, are an effective way to achieve this, but few large churches have more than a token number of small groups.
• To pray for one another (Acts 2:42, 4:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Colossians 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:1-8). (See "burdens" above.)
• To exhort one another (Galatians 6:1; 2 Timothy 4:2; 1 Timothy 4:13). (See "burdens" above.)
• To counsel/instruct one another (1 Timothy 1:3, 5, 2:11, 6:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 3:14; Colossians 3:16; by application—Proverbs 12:15, 15:22). (See "burdens" above.)
• Notice also that it is the Body of Christ counseling each other, under the leadership, overview and authority of the elders. Sending someone outside the local church body to a "Christian
counselor" is a recent invention and found nowhere in Scripture. A Believer is accountable to his elders, not a hired counselor who is not under the elders' authority.
• To receive Bible teaching (Acts 17:2).
• Bible teaching should come from the pastor (Ephesians 4:11 should read "pastor-teacher," not "pastors and teachers") and elders (1 Timothy 3:2). A pastor is simply one of the elders
(Ephesians 4:11). The main purpose of Bible teaching is to armor the flock so they can be sensitive to, and be used by, the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:11-14). Another purpose of Bible
teaching would be to allow the Holy Spirit to convict a person of sin. So Bible teaching doesn't necessarily make people feel better (John 16:8; James 2:9; 1 Corinthians 14:24; 1 Timothy
4:11; 2 Timothy 2:2, 24). Always remember that the entire Bible revolves around both love and sin (and sin's consequences). To teach the Bible and ignore sin is not teaching the Bible
(1 John 1:8; 1 Corinthians 15:22).
• It must be noted here that the Word of God to be studied is just that—the inerrant Word of God—not a watered down paraphrase of the Word of God. The real and exact word-for-word
translation. God wants us to study what He said, not what someone thinks He said (2 Timothy 3:16).
• To sing/praise together (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19; James 5:13; 1 Corinthians 14:26; Hebrews 2:12, 13:15).

50. Mat 16:18, Summary Of “This Rock”
• Peter [masculine singular] , and “rock” [feminine singular ]
• Peter is an unstable rock (before and after Pentecost)
• Jesus said He would “build” not Peter.
• The church’s unchanging foundation, and core is Jesus, “…
the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
• The credit for saying “… the Christ, the Son of the living
God,” is given to the Father, not Peter.
• It is this fact, the Father’s declaration, this is “the rock”
• The “keys” for anyone to get into “the kingdom of heaven”
is the Gospel, having their sins paid for by Christ’s blood.
Not having a human say “Your sins are forgiven.”
• James was the “head” of the church in Jerusalem, Paul
replaced Peter, for all intents and purposes in Acts 12
• 1 Corinthians 10:4… “and the rock was Christ”

51. Matthew 17:1, More Audio From The
Father
• I summarized “the rock” because six days later the
Father speaks from heaven again.
• Here is where it is made clear who we should listen to.
• Does it say, "This is My beloved Peter, with whom I am
well-pleased; listen to Him! He and his successors
alone will be able to forgive sins, and on him the
church will built”?
• No! The glory and the praise are to the Son.
• The crucial “until” is when “the Son of Man has risen
from the dead,” not when the “keys” were given.
• The “key” is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus

52. John 21:17 John 6:68, Mat 16:18,
Successor of Peter
• Successor of the Apostle Peter
• April 03, 2013
• Pope Francis became absorbed in prayer and repeated
with a loud voice the three professions of Peter: “Lord,
You are the Christ, Son of the Living God”; “Lord, to
whom do we go? You have the words of eternal life”;
“Lord, You know all things! You know that I love you!”
At that moment, we had the distinct impression that
the life of Peter rose out of centuries past and became
present and living in the current Successor of the
Apostle Peter.
- CatholicCulture.org
• DLK; The bold & underline emphasis is mine

53. Job 27:8 Matthew 16:26 Mark 8:36 Luke 9:25 1 John
2:15 Psalm 49:7, Life =Heaven Or Hell
• Between us and heaven or hell there is only life,
which is the frailest thing in the world.
• Blaise Pascal
• Psalm 49:7 No man can by any means redeem his
brother Or give to God a ransom for him—
• Job 27:8 "For what is the hope of the godless
when he is cut off, When God requires his life?
• 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world nor the things
in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love
of the Father is not in him.

54. M a t t h e w 16
T h e C h r i s t ,
T h e S o n O f
T h e L i v i n g
G o d