I want to take you back to a powerful moment in Scripture, when Jesus made a promise that still stands unshaken today. In Matthew 16, beginning in verse 13, I see Jesus doing something deeply personal with His disciples: He asks them two questions. First, “Who do people say that I am?” And then more pointedly, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter, bold as ever, answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus doesn’t just agree, He commends Peter. But He makes it clear that Peter didn’t figure this out on his own. That confession came from divine revelation, from the Father Himself. And right there, Jesus shifts to a topic that would change history. He says, “Upon this rock, I will build My church.”
Let that sink in—My church, He says. Not man’s church. Not Peter’s church. Not Rome’s church. His church.
Now I want you to really think with me, what is this church that Jesus said He would build? What does it look like? Who belongs to it? What’s the foundation holding it up? And how could it possibly stand against the gates of Hades?
Let’s start here: the word Jesus used for “church” is ekklesia, meaning called-out assembly. And in Scripture, I see this word used in two ways: the universal church—saved souls across time and geography —and the local church—a visible, active body of believers in a specific place, like what we have right here. But in Matthew 16, Jesus is speaking about the church in the universal sense—the spiritual body of the saved.
Scripture gives me beautiful pictures of this church. It’s called:
- The Body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22–23)
- The Household of God (1 Timothy 3:15)
- The Temple of God (Ephesians 2:19–22; 1 Peter 2:5)
- The Kingdom of God (Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:9)
- The Bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:6–9)
Each one of these names tells me something vital—this church belongs to God, it’s filled with His Spirit, ruled by His Son, and cherished like a bride.
And when Jesus said, “I will build My church,” I take that to mean the church hadn’t been established yet. But He was about to bring it into existence. I see it happening in Acts 2, on the Day of Pentecost. That’s when Peter stood up and preached the first gospel sermon—and thousands believed, repented, were baptized, and were added to the Lord’s church.
And from that day on, the church existed. Not just in some abstract form, but in real, visible congregations. Real people gathering together in places like Jerusalem, Antioch, and Corinth—just like we gather today. They worked, worshipped, and walked in the teaching of the apostles. And you know what? That’s how I know where the true church is today—wherever people have obeyed the gospel and are walking in the apostles’ doctrine.
Now, let me talk to you about the foundation of this church. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, “Upon this rock, I will build My church.” Some folks believe that rock is Peter himself. Some even go so far as to claim he was the first pope. But I want you to hear me clearly—Scripture never teaches that. Peter’s role was important, yes, but the church is not built on any man. In fact, Peter himself, along with Paul, teaches that Jesus is the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6–8; 1 Corinthians 3:11; Ephesians 2:20). Christ is the first and primary stone laid. And yes, the apostles and prophets were part of the foundation too, but always under Christ.
What Peter confessed, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, that’s the rock the church is built upon. That’s the truth that holds us all together.
Now, Jesus didn’t just talk about building the church; He also talked about its authority. He told Peter, “I give you the keys to the kingdom.” Keys represent access. Authority. And I see Peter use those keys in Acts 2 when he opens the door of salvation through the gospel. But Jesus also promised this authority to all the apostles, to bind and to loose, based on heaven’s will, not man’s.
And guess what? As long as I follow the apostles’ doctrine, which came through the Holy Spirit, I can walk in that same truth. The early Christians did (Acts 2:42), and so can I. That doctrine, that teaching, is the authority we stand on today, not traditions, not councils, not creeds, but the gospel once delivered.
But here’s the part that gives me the greatest hope: Jesus promised that the gates of Hades would not prevail against His church. Death couldn’t stop Him, and it can’t stop His church. Satan’s schemes won’t destroy it. Time won’t erode it. Culture won’t cancel it. Why? Because Jesus is still alive, still ruling, and still adding the saved to His church.
So I have to ask you today, do you want to be part of that church? Not a denomination. Not a man-made system. But the church, His church.
Here’s how you enter it:
- Hear the gospel (Romans 10:17)
- Believe in Jesus as the Christ (John 8:24)
- Repent of your sins (Acts 2:38)
- Confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9–10)
- Be baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16)
- Then, walk faithfully—remain steadfast in the apostles’ doctrine until death (Revelation 2:10)
That’s not my invitation; that’s the Lord’s. And through His grace, you can be part of a church that cannot be shaken, that will never die, and that will reign with Christ forever.
So I ask you, just as Jesus asked long ago: “Who do you say that I am?” Your answer doesn’t just shape your belief; it determines your eternity.
