Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from radical dot net.

Matthew chapter 16 verse 18

Jesus is speaking to Peter and he says I tell you you are Peter and on this rock I will

build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Now this verse has caused all kinds of question,

controversy in the history of the church. So what does it mean for Jesus to say

you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church so what is the rock

that the church is built on is the rock Peter is it Jesus is Jesus the rock

is it the apostles is it the gospel? Is it the apostles? Is it the gospel? And I'm convinced the answer is yes.

So think about it. What's unique here is that Peter's name means rock. so there's a play on words as basically

Jesus is saying I tell you you are rock and on this rock I will build my

church which certainly points us to the fact that Jesus is acknowledging some kind of foundation in Peter.

You're the rock, Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.

But what was the foundation in Peter that was so significant? Well what happened right

before this is Peter confessed his faith in Christ. He said Jesus is the

Christ the son of the living God and Jesus is saying that confession of faith

is the confession of faith upon which the church is built so this is Jesus in this

verse saying in light of that confession,

Peter, you are an authoritative apostle.

Sent out from me to proclaim this gospel and upon you and your proclamation of this gospel I will build my church so the

rock of the church is the people of God proclaiming the truth about Christ, the Gospel of Christ.

Specifically here, Peter, as the first apostle to make that declaration,

and then you get to Acts Chapter 2,

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