Reference: Matthew 16:13-18
Did you know my friend, that there isthree ways in which we can think that the above verses of scripture pertainsto? If you have ever studied other religions to see what they teach andbelieve, you would have to come to the conclusion that each and everydenominational church is built upon how they understand what Jesus meant whenhe said that upon this rock he would build his church. Looking at all thechurches in the land today, it can be seen that there are two views as to whatthe builders thought Jesus meant when he spoke of the rock on which he wouldbuild his church. The two views are shared by the Catholics and theProtestants. The Catholic church thought that Jesus meant that he was going tobuild his church upon Peter. By this they mean that Jesus elected Peter to bethe first pope and ruler of the church. This is where they get the idea ofhaving one single man as being the head of the church. All through the ages asthe Catholic church began to grow larger and larger, it became a very powerfulchurch. As Peter was thought to be the first pope of the church that Christ hadsupposedly began to build, the elected pope would reign until his death andanother would be elected to take his place. Each pope would be the head of thechurch and could put into effect any point of doctrine that he wanted to. Thishas been the way and rule of the Catholic church all down through the ages oftime until today.
The other view of which the Protestant bodies of different denominations hold to as their meaning as to what Christ meant about hisbuilding his church upon a rock, was the idea that upon the confession ofChrist as being the Son of God was the rock that Christ was referring to.Actually both of the two views that the Catholic church and the many Protestantchurches hold about what they thought Christ meant about what was the rock thathe would build his church, is one hundred percent void of the true meaning orinterpretation. Only the Catholics hold to the belief that Christ was referringto Peter as being the rock that Christ would build his church upon. The beliefthat the confession of Christ as being the Son of God is held by each and everyother organization that the world is sofull of. There are hundreds of different Protestant bodies that share the samebelief that Christ was referring to Peter's confession of Christ being the Sonof God and that he was the Christ. This is absolutely not what the rock is thatChrist will build his church upon. If you know anything about religion and whatis being taught in the Protestant denominations, then you will know that theyall are the same in their basic teaching of confession that Christ is the Sonof God. They base this confession as being the very thing that saves them whenthey claim to have accepted Christ as their own personal Lord and Saviour. Whatthe religious world has failed to take into consideration is the statementabout what Christ said about his building his true church upon a rock. Thereare two revelations connected with these verses of scriptures that hardlyanyone has recognized. If you will notice that Jesus first asked the discipleswho they thought he was, and Peter told him that he was the Christ, the Son ofthe living God. Jesus then made a very important statement of which is thefirst revelation that I want you to see. Jesus said that flesh and blood didnot reveal to Peter that he was the Christ, the Son of the living God, butrather it was the heavenly Father. The revelation here is the fact that Peterwas revealed this truth by the heavenly Father. Peter received this truth byrevelation. Then Christ told Peter that upon this rock he would build hischurch. The rock that Christ was referring to here is the "rock ofrevelation". The other revealed truth that I want you to see is the factthat Christ said that he was going to "build" his church upon thisrock of revelation. Christ used the word "build" because this isexactly how he will bring his one true church into existence. The word buildmeans to put together. If you were to build a natural house you know that youmust use many different types of material and put these seperate materialstogether one at a time. To build a house you must start with the foundation.After this you begin to build the outer structure which consists of the wallsmade from boards called two-by-fours. Next you build the roof and put shinglesetc on top of it. Then you begin to side the house with aluminum siding or someother type of siding.... I am quite sure you understand what is involved whenbuilding a house. When Christ said that he was going to build his church uponthe rock, he meant that he would build his church in the same way as a naturalhouse is built. By this I mean that the church that Christ is building is madeof spiritual material instead of natural material. The spiritual materials thatChrist will build his church out of are called spiritual stones. This is whyChrist is referred to as being a stumbling stone and a rock of offence in I Peter 2:6-8. Christ buildshis church out of spiritual stones which are revealed truths that the gospelcontains. The one true church grows into a spiritual house with Christ beingthe chief cornerstone and the apostles being the foundation. In Ephesians 2:19-22you will find it stated that through Christ we become fellow citizens with thesaints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of theapostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; Inwhom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in theLord.... These scriptures plainlyreveal that Christ builds his church through and by the revelation of the wordof God. The common teaching today in the nominal churches is that you become aborn again child of God when you confess belief on Christ accepting him as yourpersonal Lord and Saviour. The truth of the matter is that you become a trueborn again child of God through and by the revealed word of truth that thegospel contains. The Holy Spirit is the teacher of the truth that makes thebeliever a child of God in a progressive manner. Christ builds his church uponrevelation of truth. Your receiving and walking in truth is being one of themembers of the church that Christ is building and perfecting of which he willsoon come back to this earth for. If you belong to any organization thatteaches that you become a member of the true church, which is Christ's body, byjust your confession on Christ taking him as your Lord and Saviour, then youare being deceived and you will not be one that will be taken when Christ comesback to this earth for the second time. You can reject this statement if youwant to, but if you are a person that allows God's word of be true and man'sword a lie, then you will say amen to this article. Nobody is forced to serveGod and love his revealed truth.....