THE TRUE ORIGIN OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

With all the different churches is it possible to know the truth about the “CHURCH” that Jesus promised to build? Matthew 16:13-18

 

From these verses it’s easy to see that it was the intention of Jesus to build His church. He told Peter that He would build His church upon “This Rock”, but what “Rock” was He referring to? 

 

Some advocate that the “rock” refers to Peter because his name in Greek means rock. Even when Jesus first met Peter He said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). The name Peter comes from petros which is a masculine form of petra meaning rock or stone. 

 

So did Jesus intend to build His church on Peter? If He did, why isn’t this acknowledged throughout the New Testament? Another question that needs answering is why did Peter himself teach that Jesus is the “STONE”? Acts 4:8-12; 1 Peter 2:4-10

 

So what was Jesus referring to when He said, “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church…” The “ROCK” that Jesus is referring to is Peter’s CONFESSION that Jesus is “The Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

 

This “ROCK” comes from the Greek word Petra which is feminine meaning stone or rock. This ROCK isn’t referring to a small rock or stone. It is referring to a mountain of a ROCK or a solid stone that is so vast in substance that it can support all that is built upon it.  

 

This is the “STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJESTED…” Psalm 118:19-24

 

From the writings of Isaiah the prophet we learn that the Lord said, “BEHOLD, I AM THE ONE WHO HAS LAID AS A FOUNDATION IN ZION, A STONE, A TESTED STONE, A PRECIOUS STONE, OF A SURE FOUNDATION”. Isaiah 28:14-16

 

This is the “STONE” that Daniel prophesied about because it is the “STONE”that overcomes all the worldly governments and rulers and establishes the foundation for the eternal kingdom of God. Daniel 2:44-45

 

Jesus quoted from these prophecies to confirm the purpose of His coming. Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10-11; Luke 20:17-18   

 

The church of Christ isn’t built on a man or any group of people. It’s not built out of wood with hammers and nails. It’s not mortar and stone. It is built upon the solid ROCK that Jesus is “The Christ, the Son of the living God.” This is the “ROCK” that the church of Christ is built upon. And even though some mayadvocate that it is built upon Peter they are sadly mistaken for the church of Christ encompasses much more than any mortal man or group of men could ever make possible. For the church of Christ leads one into the eternal kingdom of God.