Unstoppable

Thoughts on the Church.

Matthew 16:18 ESV: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Gates are used to protect people and their property.  If we put up a gate around our yards, chances are we're trying to protect our houses, kids, or pets.  Gates bring security.  The same was true in Jesus day.  People built gates around cities to protect them.  Jesus uses this analogy regarding Hell, the dwelling place of evil and its father, Satan.  The gates of Hell are powerful (much like the gates to Mordor in the Lord Of The Rings!).  No man, woman, or child can penetrate the gates of Hell.  Only God can come against Hell victoriously.  The Church was God's plan to demolish Hell.  Established by Jesus and built up through the Holy Spirit, the Church is God's plan to destroy the gates of Hell and save the people inside.

The definition of Hell is eternal separation from God.  A person who does not know Jesus is separated from God and therefore is bound to the world and sin which the gates of Hell hold within. Because of Sin, we can't redeem ourselves, only God can accomplish such a task—and He did through Jesus.  So a person who does not know Jesus is far from God.  But those who believe in Jesus, God calls children, apart of His family.  God calls this the church.  The church reaches out, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and saves people from Hell by preaching the gospel.

The church is unstoppable.

Even the gates of Hell cannot prevail against the Church.

The church was God's plan, otherwise it would have died out a long time ago.

See what God's Word says:

34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!

-Acts 5:34-39 ESV

The church was God's Plan.  No one can stand against it, not even Satan.  Jesus won the victory on the cross.  He is inviting all of us to escape the gates of Hell and be joined to Him and His Church.  How?  Simply by putting our faith in Him.

Remember, the church is unstoppable.  It WAS God's plan.  No other organization has ever existed as long as the church throughout history.  The organizations of men die out.  The organization of God exists forever.