And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it
(Matthew 16:18).
The Lord Jesus made the remarkable statement in our theme scripture above in response to Peter’s amazing revelatory insight about the Master’s identity as the Christ, the Son of the living God. Many have misconstrued what the Master meant when He said, “Upon this rock I will build my Church.”
Some have speculated that Jesus was referring to Peter’s revelation about Jesus being the Christ, but no! He wasn’t referring to Peter’s revelation. The Master was succinct in His communication; He didn’t say, “Peter, upon the revelation that I’m the Christ will build my Church.” Rather, what He said in essence was, “I will build my Church on Christ.” Christ is the Rock.
To further clarify this, it’s important to follow and understand certain prophetic nuances in the Bible. For example, in Matthew 22:41-46, Jesus asked the Pharisees about their understanding of the Messiah, and they replied that Christ was the Son of David. Then He asked them if the Messiah was the son of David, how come David addressed Him as Lord? And then He quoted what David said in Psalm 110:1, “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”
When you read several other portions of the Scriptures, you’ll observe where David referred to the Lord as “the Rock.” In 2 Samuel 22:1, for example, he spoke to the Lord, expressing gratitude for the deliverance from all his enemies, including Saul. He declared, “…The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer…” (2 Samuel 22:2).
Then in Psalm 18:2, he said, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength…” In the 46th verse, he continues, “The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted” (Psalm 18:46 NKJV). In essence, Christ the foundation of the Church, He is the Rock. 1 Corinthians 10:4 states clearly, “…and that rock was Christ.” The Church is not built on Peter’s revelation; it stands unshakeable on the Rock—Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the revelation that the Church is built on Christ, the solid Rock. I stand firm on this foundation, anchored in Christ’s unchanging, unmovable, unshakeable, resolute, firm, constant and unwavering truth. The Church is marching on, making progress, establishing your will in the earth, and in the hearts of men, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Psalm 18:2
The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.
1 Corinthians 10:4 AMPC
And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ.
Psalm 18:31 AMPC
For who is God except the Lord?
Or who is the Rock save our God,
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan Luke 12:1-21 & Judges 7-8
2-Year Bible Reading Plan Romans 8:29-39 & Psalm 114-115