In the Introduction to this series, we covered that the church is:

1. a mystery
2. a singular body
3. an invisible building
4. the only Bride of Christ

THE CHURCH: ITS FOUNDATION

There is a great deal of controversy over the passage we are going to study here.  It is my hope that any confusion will be laid to rest.

Upon this Rock I will build My church.

The misinterpretation over who is the “rock,” in the above verse, is the major difference between Roman Catholicism and Mainstream Protestants.   It is very important to understand what takes place before this statement is made.  Leading up to it – Jesus asks His disciples:

MATTHEW 16:13

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

They answer by naming some of the prophets:

MATTHEW 16:14

 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He responds:

MATTHEW 16:15

 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

Peter answers:

MATTHEW 16:16

 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

In verse 13, Jesus spoke of Himself as the “Son of man.”  Now, Peter addresses Him as the “Son of the living God.”  Jesus blessed Peter, saying that this Great Truth came from God the Father.

MATTHEW 16:17

 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven.

Again  He said to Peter:

MATTHEW 16:18

 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.

Very important!!!!!

Peter = Petros = little, or small rock

this rock = Petra = great rock

Jesus did NOT say He would build His church upon Peter, but upon Himself, the ROCK OF AGES.

Simon Peter called Jesus Christ the “living Stone,” the chief “Cornerstone,” a “Stone of  stumbling,” and a “Rock of offense.”  Peter spoke of ALL believers as “living stones,”  including himself.  Christ is the foundation, and all believers are the building stones.  Peter does no where indicate that he is anything other than one among many of the building stones of the true church.

1 PETER 2:1-10

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

² As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

³ If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

⁴ To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

⁵ Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

⁸ And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

¹⁰ Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Paul speaks of Jesus Christ as the foundation of all the Apostles and Prophets.

EPHESIANS 2:19-2

¹⁹ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone;

²¹ In Whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

²² In Whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Paul also said:

1 CORINTHIANS 3:11

 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Very important – although the church is a mystery in the Old Testament – yet Isaiah wrote:

ISAIAH 28:16

Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone,

a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

CHRIST IS THE ONLY AND SURE FOUNDATION OF HIS CHURCH – ALL BELIEVERS – INCLUDING PETER – ARE LITTLE BUILDING STONES, BUILT INTO A HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD.