Some local congregations live on for over a century but MANY do not. Often, the church that exists now is radically different from the original godly assembly of believers; many became liberal and unorthodox, some completely different from what they used to be, etc. Even the church Lloyd-Jones pastored is a shadow of what it used to be and by no means the dominant pulpit it once was. Has Christ failed, grown tired? He will continue to build His church but never promised each specific local congregation will remain forever. He will preserve His people and His church will continue to be built each and every generation. She may change from city to city, state to state, nation to nation but she will be built and serve as a witness to the nations until He returns!!!! Rather than trying to determine the shelf life of this church, we need to seek to be faithful to what He has revealed and what He requires of the church. Though we cannot deal with every facet, we will highlight some of the key elements.
III. Christ's Church will Endure: "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (v. 18). • The phrase "gates of hell" or Hades refer to the realm of the dead or death. It could be an allusion to Satan's powers. The phrase "shall not prevail against it" can mean either Christ will protect the church from death or Satan or that the gates will not withstand the advance of the church. The gate is either passive or active. • It probably means that the gates will not withstand the advance of the church which Christ is building. Death cannot stop her nor can Satanic powers. Either forces cannot stop her.
IV. Christ gave the keys of kingdom to His church (v. 19).
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Dr. Mark Herzer has been the pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church (P.C.A.) in Warminster, PA since 1997. Before this, he was ordained to labor as an Assistant Pastor of Korean United Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia (1992-1995). He received his M.A.R. and Ph. D....
