What Does Matthew 16:18 Mean?

"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

Matthew 16:18(NASB)

Verse of the Day

The conclusion that every man and woman born into the human race has to reach at one time or another, is the answer to the eternally significant question, "What think ye of Christ, who do you say He is?" It was the Spirit of God that moved Peter to make the earth-shattering, yet correct answer, "You are the Messiah, the Christ – the Son of the living God." Peter trusted in Jesus as His Saviour, and even when Satan sought to sift Peter as wheat, the gates of hell could not prevail against this child of God, for Christ was praying for him.

It was this wonderful and eternally significant proclamation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel, and the Saviour of mankind upon which the Lord Jesus would build His Church – for His spilt blood was to seal the fate of Satan and destroy the evil power of death and hell that had snaked its icy fingers around the throat of every man and woman born into the human race. 

The Church was not to be founded on Peter the person, but upon the wonderful and eternally significant confession of faith about the person of Christ that God revealed to him.

For 2000 years, the Lord Jesus has been building His worldwide Church. The Church of Christ consists of all those that have trusted His name. They are the called-out ones, men and women that have been called out of the dark kingdom of Satan and placed into the glorious kingdom of His dear Son.

The Church that Christ has been building is different from any other group of people, for it has been built up of men and women of all races and languages, Jews and Gentiles who are being united to form a new temple, a residence for God where Christ is the Head. 

We are living stones who have put our faith in the confession that Peter once made, so many years ago: "JESUS is the Messiah. JESUS is the Christ, the anointed One. JESUS is the Son of the living God." And on this confession of faith, Jesus said, "On this Rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

My Prayer

Loving Father, thank You that I am Your child and that Christ is the Rock of my salvation. May I build my confession of faith upon Christ and Christ alone, Who is my precious Saviour and loving Friend. In His name I pray, AMEN.

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