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Christ a Rock
By: Benjamin Keach
“The Rock of Israel spake to me,”
2Samuel 23:3 |
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”Upon this rock I will build my
church,” Matthew 16:18 |
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“And that Rock was Christ,”
1Corinthians 10:4 |
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The Lord Jesus is compared to a
Rock. |
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METAPHOR |
PARALLEL |
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I. A Rock is a firm and an immovable
thing, good for a foundation: “He is
like a man which built an house, and
laid the foundation on a rock,” Luke
6:48. That which is built upon a Rock,
stands sure in a tempestuous and stormy
season: “And the rain descended, and the
floods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house; and it fell not:
for it was founded upon a rock,” Matthew
7:25. |
I. The Lord Christ is a firm and sure
foundation: “and upon this rock I will
build my church,” Matthew 16:18.
“Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation
a stone,” Isaiah 28:16. “For other
foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ,” 1
Corinthians 3:11. The Church being built
upon Christ, the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it. Whosoever lays the
stress and structure of his salvation
upon this foundation, the power of hell
and rage of devils shall never be able
to subvert and destroy. This made the
apostle to break forth in that holy
triumph, Romans 8:31-39. |
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II. Rocks in ancient times were made use
of for habitations; people dwelt in
them, as well as built upon them; they
hewed out houses or habitations in
Rocks, Isaiah 22:16, Jeremiah 48:28. |
II. God in Christ is a believer’s
spiritual habitation; they, like the
dove, make their nest in the cliffs of
the rock, Psalms 91:9. “He that dwelleth
in love dwelleth in God, and God in
him,” 1 John 4:16. |
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III. A rock is an high place; though
they have their root low and deep, yet
their tops being high and soaring, are
lifted far above the surface of the
earth. |
III. Christ, our rock, is high in
respect of the dignity of his Person; he
is the high God. He was lower than men
in the state of his humiliation, yet far
higher and more glorious than the
angels. He is high in respect of his
dwelling-place, being exalted far above
all heavens; high in respect of his
power and sovereignty, having absolute
dominion over devils, angels and men. |
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IV. Rocks being high, or eminent places
for height, they are exceeding useful to
take pleasant prospects; from hence one
may see afar off: “For from the top of
the rocks I see him,” Numbers 23:9. |
IV. He that by faith ascends upon the
top of this spiritual Rock, may take a
better prospect and survey of heaven,
than Moses could of Canaan, when he
stood upon the top of Pisgah. He sees
most of god, and the glory of the other
world, that stands upon the Rock Christ. |
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V. Rocks are strong, and were made use
of for defense; they are cannon-proof;
no fortifications like some Rocks; they
are impregnable: David for security came
into a Rock, 1 Samuel 13:6. |
V. God in Christ is the godly man’s
refuge. He that makes God his defense,
or flies to Christ for refuge, needs not
fear devils, nor wicked men, nor what
all the powers of hell can do unto him,
Psalms 89:26 and 94:22. |
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VI. Rocks are durable, permanent, and
lasting; there is no removing a rock;
they grow not weak with age, but
continue the same from one generation to
another. |
VI. The Lord Jesus hath the stability of
a Rock in him. He is the Rock of ages;
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to
day, and for ever,” Hebrews 13:8. He
grows not weak; as in years, so his
strength decays not. |
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VII. Rocks yield honey: “and with honey
out of the rock should I have satisfied
thee,” Psalms 81:16. |
VII. All sweet peace and comfort proceed
from the Rock Christ. His promises are
“sweeter also than honey and the
honeycomb,” Psalms 19:10. |
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VIII. Rocks yield the purest water. Most
pleasant springs proceed from them. No
water, says the naturalist, is so clear,
as that which comes crystallized through
rocks. |
VIII. That celestial stream, spring, and
river of comfort, the Spirit, proceeds
from the throne of God, and the Lamb,
Revelation 22:1. From this Rock, saith a
worthy writer, the clear and crystalline
streams of living water bubble forth. |
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IX. Precious stones and jewels are but
as it were the sweat of rocks. All rich
mines of gold and silver (as is evident
from that in Job) are in and among
Rocks. |
IX. In Christ are hid all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge, all the graces
of the Spirit, (which are compared to,
but far more excellent than gold, pearl,
or precious stones) are only to be found
in this spiritual Rock. |
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X. Rocks yield oil: “and the rock poured
me out rivers of oil,” Job 29:6. And in
another place it said, God made Israel
to “suck honey out of the rock, and oil
out of the flinty rock,” Deuteronomy
32:13. |
X. Christ affords us store of precious
oil; the Spirit is so called, with which
the godly are all more of less anointed:
we have received an unction from the
Holy One. No oil like that which comes
from this Rock. |
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XI. Rocks afford a very sweet and
refreshing shadow in hot countries, to
weary travelers. |
XI. Christ is “as the shadow of a great
rock in a weary land,” Isaiah 32:2. He
keeps off all the hot scorching beams of
the wrath of God, and hell. |
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XII. Rocks are dangerous to stumble at,
or to fall on, especially to fall from.
When men get up almost to the top of a
high and mighty rock, and suddenly
through want of care fall down, such are
broken to pieces, and perish inevitably. |
XII. Christ is a Rock of offence, many
stumble at him, and fall on him, and
some fall from him, all whose state is
very sad: for when men fall from this
Rock, having gotten up very high by a
speculative knowledge, and profession,
they fall suddenly to the lowest hell. |
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METAPHOR |
PARALLEL |
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I. Rocks, though they abide and last
long, yet are not everlasting. |
I. Christ abides forever and ever, he
being styled the rock of ages. |
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II. Rocks in many respects are barren,
useless, and unprofitable things, yield
no fruit; seed that falls upon a Rock
comes to no maturity: “And some fell
upon a rock,” Luke 8:6. |
II. Christ, the spiritual Rock, is very
fruitful, and every way exceeding
profitable. |
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III. Rocks are part of the coarsest and
grossest element; they are but earth,
condensed and congealed into a massy
senseless lump. |
III. Christ is of the highest and best
of beings, he that made and formed the
elements, and gave being to all
creatures and things, who, though called
a Rock, yet is the Lord from heaven, and
a quickening Spirit. |
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INFERENCES |
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1. Take heed Christ be not unto you a
stumbling-stone, the Rock of offence. |
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2. Let the godly, who dwell in this
Rock, fear no evil; “For their rock is
not as our Rock,” Deuteronomy 32:31 |
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3. Get into this rock, be like the dove,
that makes her nest besides the hole’s
mouth. |
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4. When you are down in the valley, and
the waters swell, and threaten to
overflow you, get with David by faith
and prayer upon the Rock that is higher
than you. |
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5. Prize the Rock; precious water, honey
and oil flow from it. A. It is a rich
Rock. B. It is a living Rock. C. It is
an invincible Rock. D. It is a feeding
and fattening Rock. E. It is a rock of
pearls and diamonds. F. It is an eternal
Rock. |
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6. When you see a great Rock, think of
Christ. |
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7. Build all your hopes of happiness
upon it; let your anchor be so cast, as
to take hold of this Rock. |
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