You Are Building Church

JESUS SAID, I TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE PETER, ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH, AND THE GATES OF HADES WILL NOT OVERCOME IT. Matthew 16.18

Many have a problem with this statement of the Lord Jesus Christ. They think that Jesus said that Peter is the rock on which He will build His Church. The Roman Catholic Church has made Peter its first pope! But there were no popes until several centuries after the church at Jerusalem first began on the Day of Pentecost!

Did Jesus really say that He would build His Church on Peter, His disciple? No! Let me refer you to RYRIE’S BIBLE NOTES: Vs. 16:18 Thou art Peter. The name Peter (Gk., Petros) means "rock" or "rock-man." In the next phrase Christ used petra (upon this rock), a feminine form for "rock," not a name. Christ did not say "upon you, Peter" or "upon your successors," He will build His church. But "upon this rock"--upon this divine revelation and profession of faith in Christ uttered by Simon Peter, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16.16).

Jesus began to build His church on Himself. All the apostles, including Peter, built on that sure foundation. The apostle Paul said “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3.11). Peter himself said that Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone! (1 Pe 2.6).

Whatever faults and failures you may find in the Church: strife, division, financial and sex scandals, immorality and perversions coupled with all kinds of false doctrines, teaching and practices, you may be sure of one thing, “Jesus Christ has loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless at His appearing!”(Eph 5.25-27).

You are called of the Lord to be a co-worker with God. You too are building His Church on earth. The kind of life you live as a member of Christ’s church in this world before the people, either builds or destroys it. Therefore the Word says, “But each one should be careful how he builds. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Cor 3.10, 12-15).

Dear believer, this is not some fancy stuff for the faithful Christians only! It is the reality! It concerns your everyday life in this world! It determines your eternal destiny. It influences the lives of others for eternity. You are either building the Church or destroying it. So be careful how you live each day.

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, I am a member of Your Church. Help me to understand that I am building it or destroying it every day by the way I live. Help me to be careful how I live. Amen.