Any structure must be built upon a solid foundation. A house built upon a rock will stand while one built upon the sand will fall (Matthew 7:24-27). The same principle applies to the church. Though many use the term “church” to refer to a physical building, it is not used this way in the New Testament. Instead, the church is a spiritual building rather than a physical one. Even so, the church, if it is to stand, needs a solid foundation.
In promising to build His church, Jesus told His disciples that it would have such a foundation.
“Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 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 16:16-18).
Jesus said that His church would be built upon a rock. It would be so strong and secure that it would not even be overthrown by the gates of Hades. But what is the rock that would serve as the foundation?
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