MEDITATION ON THE REFORMATION — GOD’S PROMISE TO BUILD AND KEEP HIS CHURCH

Dear Readers,

Preceding this text God’s Word tells us that the Lord Jesus and His disciples came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, far in the north of the country. It had come to a separation with Israel, as the Lord would no more perform many wonders there. The Lord had warned His disciples against the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, but then also asked the disciples what men said of Him. This was not that He be praised by men, but to instruct the disciples. The people had wrong ideas about Him; but then the question is asked of the disciples personally. “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

The Lord called Peter blessed, but at the same time he is reminded of his descent. He is Barjona, the son of Jona. God only should receive the honor, even in our confession. And then follows our text: “And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” I say, namely, Christ, Son of the living God, the Mediator between God and man, as Peter had said. Christ is very God and real righteous man. God the Father had said this: “This is My beloved Son.” He is the promised Messiah, Whom Israel expected according to God’s promise.

It was not Peter, but Christ Who here gets the full attention, and this is just opposite to Rome’s explanation. Peter is not the most important party in our text, but his confession of Christ. The honor of man does not have first place in the church, but God’s honor. This is one of the main reasons of the division in the church of Rome, whereunto many others have been added; these together led to the Reformation. Man was given almost Divine honor, where the Pope was the vicar of Christ.

Peter was a man with great privileges in his life,

but he was a man, a sinful man. By the grace of God he was what he was. Here Christ revealed the work of God in Peter. Should we not trust in Peter? He was that dynamic Galilean, a man of short temper. When he walked upon the waves, he soon cried out from fear of perishing. When the Lord spoke about His suffering, Peter rebuked Him for such words. He promised never to deny the Lord, but we know the opposite took place. Peter did not understand that without the help of the Lord he could not do anything. This must make it clear that Rome’s explanation of this text in justifying the office of the pope is no ground at all.

But what is then the intention of the Lord with these words, “And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build My church”? In the true confession which Peter made lies the foundation of the church. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The church is not built by Peter, but Christ is the foundation, as was confessed by Peter. Christ is the foundation of the apostles and prophets, as Paul expressed it: “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”

In the Greek language the word for Peter is “Petros”, which means rock-man. This is not the same as a rock, for a rock is a good foundation upon which to build. Christ is the foundation of His church, as it was said by Peter. Because Rome did not view Christ as the only Head of the church, a separation took place. The foundation was taken away from under the church of Rome. Then the preaching and what the people believe are also vain. And, alas, those views still exist in that church today which caused Luther and Calvin to leave it 464 years ago.

In those days a people was yet found with alarmed consciences, who sought for peace and rest. They tried to find this by going into monasteries, through chastising themselves, and by doing good works. But He, Who only can give peace, was denied as the perfect Savior. The yoke of servitude pressed upon the people, all sorts of human institutions were made, God’s Word was no longer preached, and everything was centered around the sacraments. Therefore we must speak of the “dark Middle Ages”. Yet the Lord did not forget His church. Several times before attempts had been made to cleanse the church of all kinds of abuse, but it seemed in vain. When it appeared to be hopeless, the Lord began to work in the heart of Luther. Soon the church began to waver, for this was the work of God, Who defends His own honor. He binds His church to the confession of Peter. It contains everything, and from it we may not deviate to the left or to the right.

Do we know something of this Foundation? It is laid from eternity, as Christ is the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8). He came in the fulness of time to give satisfaction to God’s justice. He bore God’s wrath against the sin of His church, fulfilled the law, went into death, but is also risen from the dead. Thus Christ became the Rock of salvation; outside of Him there is no life, no foundation. The Holy Spirit will take away all foundations out of the life of God’s people; our good works, tears, wrestlings, are no ground to exist before God. Jesus Christ only is the foundation of faith upon which to build, and through Whom we can be reconciled with God. This is the comfort for a lost sinner when he may receive some knowledge of this.

“I will build My church.” In Greek the word church means the people who are entitled to a vote and who are called together by a herald. For the Israelites it was a calling together by the trumpet to the service of the Lord. “Blessed is the people who know the joyful sound.” The Old Testament Israel was a type of the New Testament church. “But ye are a chosen generation a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” This is the church which the Son of God calls out of all generations to life eternal by Word and Spirit.

Here the Lord promises that He personally will build His church. “I will build My church.” For each building a plan must first be made by the architect in accordance to its purpose. Here this Builder and Maker is God. The plan for the building of the church was made from eternity in the pleasure of the Father. Even through the depth of the fall God will receive the honor. The first cause of the building of the church lies in the Father’s pleasure, which will not be seen at first after regeneration, but later on the Lord will receive the honor of it. Thus we read in Matthew 11: “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father; for so it seemed good in Thy sight.”

The election out of free sovereign grace becomes an eternal wonder when it pleases the Lord to teach something of this in our life, people of God. Not only the plan to build is made by the Lord, but He will also build. He will not only merit salvation, but He will apply it to the heart. Christ regenerates by His Spirit. The great Office-bearer in heaven uses insignificant people as instruments to accomplish His plans for the salvation of the elect. He makes His Word fruitful by the dew of the Holy Spirit, so that dead sinners will be called to life. With lively stones God’s house is built unto a spiritual house upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, whereof Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. The building of this church will continue until the last stone is added. At times it seems that the work has stopped, even that there is no more a church. Think only of the period of the Middle Ages, when the truth was covered by unbelief and superstition. But then there was still a remnant who cried, “The Lord has forsaken me, and My Lord has forgotten me.”

In days of darkness the church often does not feel the power of His promise: “I am with thee alway”. However, also in those difficult circumstances and incomprehensible ways, the Lord fulfils His counsel, which is related with the upbuilding of the church. How clearly this was experienced in the days of the Reformation. The three-headed enemy tried everything, but the work of the Lord could not be stopped. We should not expect it of man, but only from the Lord. Zion often sees the ruins as consequence of sin, but Christ has taken away the cause of sin by His passive and active obedience, so that His church can be built again. Luther and Calvin have been instruments in the hand of the Lord to do this work of reformation which is spoken of in our text. “And I say unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock will I build My church.” What a wonder the Lord has performed in those days!

But the question for us is, “How is it personally with our reformation?” This is not to push the Reformation of the sixteenth century into the background, but if it does not become reality in our life, then we will be ashamed forever. Possibly some among us will say, “Is that necessary to us? We are children of the Reformation and may live under the Truth.” That is a great blessing, but where is the spirit of the Reformation in our days? It is not enough that we have our mouths filled with God’s Word, for the practice cannot be missed. And that is missed in our days! The pledges and blessings of the Reformation with us and not in good hands. The press, the radio and television mock with God and with His Word, and this is followed by almost the entire nation.

Or is it personally different? It can only be so out of grace, when we as a living stone are added to the spiritual building. By nature we are dead in Adam, but the Holy Spirit hews the elect with the mattock of love out of the first Adam. In the moment of regeneration the Lord quickens the dead sinner and gives him a place as a living stone upon the foundation, Jesus Christ. Not all stones will be in the forefront, but also on the side and back. Not all receive a striking place in the kingdom of God. This is not the most important. If I may but belong to that people who are founded upon that Foundation. When we belong to the Church, then we are united with the Foundation by faith, which is a gift of God. For them protection is sure. It is in God’s hand. “And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The Lord represents the realm of Satan as a city, a kingdom, which tries to overcome the church of God. He uses all kinds of means to destroy the church, and has done so throughout all ages. The gates of hell is Satan’s ministry of war, the commander-in-chief in the battle against God and His Anointed. The enmity reveals itself out of hell. This commenced immediately after the rebellion in heaven against God; on earth it became visible in the temptation and fall in Paradise. And this continues. This kingdom leads millions to destruction. Satan knows he has but a short time to work. He comes as an angel of light, but also as a persecutor, a bringer of division. He uses every opportunity to destroy the church.

Thus he also tried after 1517 to interrupt the work of the reformers. The stakes smoked, the scaffolds were red with blood, and thousands died. Still the King of the church rules over it. Notwithstanding the many attacks, Satan will not overcome. The preaching of Reformation Day, October 31, tells us that the Lord protects His church.

This text is therefore an encouragement, but also a warning to stay awake. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak! The church was in great danger, and still is in great danger. A lion becomes satisfied, but of Satan this is not true. He is still looking for a prey. He has made an alliance with Rome, who also is opposed to the doctrine of free grace and who deny that God’s Word is the only guide in our life unto salvation. The ecumenical thought is also a deceitful work of Satan, attempting to bring unity outside of God’s Word, which cannot be. Satan will never overcome the church of God, as Christ has all power in heaven and in earth. This gives hope for the future that the building of God will never be destroyed. October 31 speaks to us of the unchangeable faithfulness of the Lord.

Great is the privilege we may yet have God’s Word. May it lead to a reformation in our hearts, homes and church. Then the confession of Peter will become our confession, which may be learned under Divine instruction. But then it will also lead to a true reformation within us, which is my wish and prayer.

Norwick, Ontario

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