“I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matt. 16:18b).

Another year lies ahead.

What will it bring? What will we experience if we may live another year? Such questions may arise in our minds, perhaps accompanied with feelings of insecurity and fear. What will happen to the world, to the church, to our families, to our children, and to ourselves? To such questions, we have no answers. We do know that in 1989 Christ will “build His church.”

The setting of these words of Christ is near Caesarea Philippi in a conversation between Jesus and His disciples. Jesus’ earthly ministry was nearing its climactic end. He asked them a basic question to which He wanted them to have the right answer. He asked them who people thought that He really was. After the disciples gave some answers, He asked the same question of them: “Who do you think I am?” This was the important question. We know Peter’s answer, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The disciples must know that this answer was given them by the Father in heaven. He would build His church, and the gates of Hades would not overcome it. The last part of this answer is the subject of this meditation.

The Lord speaks about the church. The church is the body of saved sinners called out of this world into fellowship with Christ and with one another. These people God chose from before the foundation of the world. While many members of that church already enjoy the blessings of the church, triumphant in heaven, some are living on the earth today, and others still have to be born.

The gathering of these children of God will cross boundaries of all denominations that are true to God’s Word and confess it’s cardinal truths. By the grace of God in Christ, they will be gathered from the “four corners” of the earth, from various times of history. What a gathering that heavenly multitude will be.

Christ says that this is His church: “I will build my church.” It’s not our church, not the church of pastors or elders and deacons. It is His alone. He is it’s Owner and Builder. He calls the church a “building” of this “building,” Peter calls the members “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:5). Jesus will build this, His church. The Heidelberg Catechism nicely summarizes the Bible teachings that the Son of God through His Spirit and Word, from the beginning of the world to the end, gathers, protects, and preserves for Himself a community chosen for eternal life, and united in true faith.

This text says that “the foundation” of His church will be the confession of Peter. That Christ will build this church means that He will gather His people, strengthen them and preserve them. Christ will do this in 1989. Of this one thing, we are sure.

We read, also that “the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Other older versions read, “the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” Hades (hell) is here spoken of as the abode or dwelling place of the devil with all his cohorts. It is the stronghold of the devil from which warriors stream forth to attack the church. This army of enemies of the church is in the world today. It was present throughout the history of the Old Testament and when Jesus was on earth and will be in this world until the end of time. In Revelation 12 we read that the dragon (the devil) was enraged against the woman (the church) and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring, those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. This war will continue in 1989. The thought, of this continuing war may not be popular or attractive to people or even to the church of our time but it is the truth, the Word of God. Our Lord assures us that He will build His church and the gates of Hades will never overpower her. Whatever the devil may do or try to do against Christ’s church, He will build it. That assurance is our comfort and hope.

It is important for us to know how satan attacks the church. In history he has mainly used two methods, attacking the church from without and from within. From without, he has again and again brought persecution upon people of God. He is doing this today. Although we in the United States or Canada may be unaware of it, reliable reports tell us that more people are being persecuted today than ever before in the history of the world. Satan also tries to destroy the church from within, in a more subtle and dangerous attack on the Word of God. He tried this already in Paradise, really calling God’s word a lie. He told Adam and Eve that they would not die if they ate of the forbidden fruit. Today in the same attack he asks, “Is the Bible the infallible and inerrant Word of God or not?” The devil’s attacks on the church in various ways deny God’s Word. He denies that there is any antithesis or difference between that Word and men’s contrary teachings. He ridicules that Word and encourages it’s neglect. Think also of the humanism, secularism and materialism that have crept into the church. Perhaps the greatest threat to the church today, is it’s own apathy, lethargy and indifference. The prophet Amos warned, “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion.” Today many members of the church, who are all called upon to be warriors in this great battle, don’t even realize that there is a battle going on. Although we may still sing, “Onward Christian Soldiers, Marching as to War,” or “Stand up, Stand up for Jesus, ye Soldiers of the Cross,” we must remember that sleeping soldiers will win no wars.

We must not lose courage. The last word of Scripture is not a negative one. We must come back to those words of Jesus, “I will build my church.” Christ is Lord of His church in 1989. While the devil tries to destroy the church by denying the Word, the one sure defense for the church and it’s weapon in fighting this important battle is the confession and use of this Word. The Word is “the sword of the Spirit.” We must confess the infallibility and inerrancy of the Word. We must keep that Word. Our pastors must preach the Word and nothing else. Let the elders and deacons be faithful to the Word in their work in the church. May there be many Bible classes in our churches, studying the Word. May our Christian school teachers use this Word as their guide. May parents use this Word faithfully in training their children. And last, but not least, may we all, old and young, be faithful in personal devotions, studying this Word with prayer. May we daily live by it and, if need be, die for it.

That Word above all earthly powers No thanks to them—abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours

Through Him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,

This mortal life also;

The body they may kill,

God’s truth abideth still,

His kingdom is forever.

Martin Luther