A. Two People
Christ, the Son of the LIVING God
Simon son of BARJONA

Simon means HEARING, and Son of Barjona means SON OF A DOVE. It points to the matter of spiritual hearing that comes through the Holy Spirit who is likened to a dove.

Peter means a STONE. He’s a sample of living STONES. In the Greek Peter is PETROS which means MOVABLE rock.

PETRA in the Greek means massive bed-rock. That is Christ Himself.

The city of Petra was a Rock City. Christians like Peter, are living stones & all are together built on the ROCK Christ Himself, as His house.

B. Two Questions
GENERAL – Who do people say that the Son of Man is?
PERSONAL – But who do you say I am?

C. Two Answers
GENERAL – Some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.
PERSONAL – You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

D. Two Sources of Revelation
HUMAN reasoning
The Father God—DIVINE Revelation

E. Two Fold Revelation

Each member of Christ’s Church must have an INNER personal revelation of who Jesus is.

The Son REVEALS the Church that He would build His Ekklesia. So, the Lord ADDS to the Church those that receive the revelation of who He is from the FATHER GOD, Matt 16:18.

First Revelation: You are the Messiah
Second Revelation: Son of the living God

Let’s note the response to the Gospel before people were added to the Church
A. REPENTANCE from Sin

1) Repentance was the MESSAGE of the prophets
2) Repentance is the FIRST word of the Gospel of Christ

What Repentance is Not
a. It is Not CONVICTION of Sin
b. It is Not Worldly SORROW

c. It is Not REFORMATION
d. It is Not RELIGIOUS

e. It is Not MENTAL Ascent

B. FAITH Towards God
1) Faith was the message of HEARING God’s Word
2) Faith is the SECOND Word of the Gospel of Christ

C. WATER Baptism

D. BAPTISM of the Holy Spirit

Exo 31:3; Judges 11:29; Num 24:2; Isa 11:2; 1 Sam 10-1-10; 16:14

The First Century Church really did not just JOIN UP, they were ADDED to the Church after they responded to the steps laid out by Peter in the initial Pentecostal message.

Is it Scriptural to have some kind of Church roll or records? The answer is YES!

Old Testament Records
- ISREALITES had their names in the Books of Genealogy of the Nation. They were numbered before the Lord, Numbers 1 – 2.

- LEVITES were also numbered before the Lord before they could minister in the priestly offices, Numbers 3.

- EVERYONE numbered in Israel had to be redeemed with silver, Exodus 30:11-16;
1 Chronicles 21; 2 Samuel 24.

New Testament Records
- The Church of the FIRSTBORN have their names written in heaven, Hebrews 12:22-24.

- The Great Shepherd calls his own sheep by NAME, John 10:3, 14.

- The REDEEMED of all the ages have their names also written in the Book of Life.

When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound
And time shall be no more
When the morning breaks eternal bright and fair
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore
And the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there

When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there

On that bright and cloudless morning
When the dead in Christ shall rise
And the glory of His resurrection share
When His chosen ones shall gather
To their home beyond the skies
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there

When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there

A. What Does the Word CONFIRM Mean?

Webster defines the word to mean to make firm, to strengthen; to establish; to encourage.

It also means to make certain; to verify; to ratify; as to confirm an agreement, promise, covenant or title.
New Century Dictionary adds, “To make valid or binding by some formal or legal act."

B. What Examples of Things Being CONFIRMED do we have in the SCRIPTURE?

1) COVENANTS were Confirmed, Daniel 9:27; Galatians 3:15-17.
2) PROMISES were Confirmed, Romans 15:8.
3) LETTERS were Confirmed, Esther 9:29-32.
4) WORDS were Confirmed, 1 Kings 1:14; Ezekiel 13:6; Daniel 9:12.
5) INHERITANCES were Confirmed, Psalms 68:9.
6) The GOSPEL of Jesus Christ was Confirmed with Signs Following, Hebrews 2:3; Philippians 1:17; Mark 16:20.

C. Do we have EXAMPLES of People Being Confirmed? YES!

It also stands to reason that to be EXCOMMUNICATED, you would first have to be confirmed, 1 Corinthians 5.

1) By the LAYING on of Hands, Local Members were Confirmed by Oversight and Prayer
2) By extending the right hand of FELLOWSHIP

3) By a verbal commitment or a public AFFIRMATION where the believer enters into a covenant relationship and is willing to receive the privileges, assume the responsibilities and accept the discipline of the Local Church of which a member

A. Fear of being HURT
B. Fear of LEGALISM
C. Do not Believe it is SCRIPTURAL
D. Do not have a SUBMISSIVE Spirit
E. Desire to only be SELF Governing
F. Do not want to SUPPORT a Church Financially
G. Do not desire discipline or CORRECTION
H. Do not like being under a COVERING
I. Do not like COMMITMENT
J. Do not want to be RESPONSIBLE

A. SECURITY in a Family
B. FELLOWSHIP—a Sense of Belonging
C. Spiritual FOOD and Nourishment from God’s Word
D. DISCIPLINE and Correction and Adjustment when Necessary
E. The COMMUNION Table
F. LOVE, Care and Concern
G. SUPPORT of God’s Church

A. Maintaining the DOCTRINE of Jesus, Hebrews 6:1-3
B. FELLOWSHIP—This happens through the continuation of the Doctrines of Jesus as we fellowship with Jesus and other believers. There can be no true fellowship with doctrines of devils.
C. BREAKING of Bread—The Lord’s Supper which is Spiritual meat and drink. The communion of the body and the blood of Jesus.
D. PRAYER—As we pray and make intercession, we’re in contact with the risen head in heaven. Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us at the Father’s right hand.