When Jesus said, “On this rock I will build MY church” (Mt 16:18), what church was he talking about?
Bruce asked the question:
There are now over 30,000 Christian denominations. Which one did Jesus authorize and promise, “The gates of hell will not prevail against it”? (Note: The pronoun “it” is singular.)
In your answer, please give historical evidence to link a particular church with Jesus’ promise.
Related posts:
- Matthew 16:18; Is this the true rock of Jesus’ church? or Satan in disguise? Silver Tongue asked the question: Matthew 16:18 “….that thou art...
- Are there any Christian denominations that are leftist? Mamita_Salsita asked the question: I know it may seem like...
- There was only one church for 1500 years, untill the reformation, now, there are more than 20,000 denomination mariatheresa asked the question: If the catholic church is not...
- The 2001 edition of World Christian Encyclopedia estimates that there are 33,830 Christian denominations? PicassoInActions asked the question: So the question is how would...
- There was only one church for 1500 years, untill the reformation, now, there are more than 20,000 denomination mariatheresa asked the question: If the catholic church is not...
Filed Under Religion & Spirituality |
Tagged With Christian Denominations, Jesus Promise, Pronoun
Comments
41 Responses to “When Jesus said, “On this rock I will build MY church” (Mt 16:18), what church was he talking about?”
Yes and only 1 true faith!
The true Church are the ppl who trust Jesus for eternal life.
He speak to St. Peter so he mean the Catholic church.
Why bother giving you any answer. You will not believe any remarks that go against what you want to believe. What a waste of air.
HIS church. It is not a particular denomination.
he saw a vision when he said it of i kiss concert
I won’t link any particular church with Jesus’ promise, because it’s not a visible denomination.
It is a group of people whose hearts have been truly converted by the Holy Spirit, and those people can be found in all of the Christian denominations that hold to the Christ preached in scripture.
There are also non-Christians in all of these denominations.
The ‘one true church’ is the invisible church of the truly converted.
The house of ROCK!
Get it…rock, because its on a rock.
before the council of nicea( around AD 360 ) there was only one church. then it split into catholic and orthodox..then much much later split even more into protestants..
God does not make distinctions via denominations. Man and cults (like Watchtower followers) do that.
Jesus’ church consists of those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Those who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior by being Born Again.
Acts 20:28
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
He may have not meant what we think of as organized religion as it appears today.
The answer to that lies in the meaning of what rock they are talking about. The Catholics think that Peter was the rock and so the built their church around it. The Mormons believe Christ was talking about Revelation - because Peter’s testimony didn’t come from belief it came from a revelation from the spirit. No one else counts because they don’t have a leg to stand on because they are a break off of the two.
Christianism.
According to the Catholics, it was the Catholic Church.
They are correct in the fact that they were the first organized Church. It’s the oldes denomination that there is.
There is no one church. I agree with Mike & Schneb. It is the people that believe in Christ Jesus and the true Word of God.
Peter the apostle to Jesus.
This was given to Peter by Jesus as he would build his church A Confession of Faith that Salvations comes through the Lord Jesus Christ..Peter is the rock in Christianity
He didn’t mean a what.. he meant a person, his name was Peter. Peter was the first leader of the Church, there was only one church for decades only the Catholic Church.
Schisms and lack of communications has splintered the one true Church that Jesus founded.
Spirit and Truth
Peter is the rock because he was lead by the Holy Spirit who reveals all Truth
OK, this might be among the easiest questions to answer. The “Rock” jesus was referring to was Peter the Apostle, therefore it would have to be the church Peter could be linked to directly. The only church which can provide a direct lineage without breaking off is the Catholic church. Therefore if we are to assume that jesus founded one church, beggining with peter and continuing forward throughout history, it can only be reasoned that the church which still reguards PETER as its beginning would have to be the one jesus was speaking about.
mmm … I wonder often that God gave instructions for one temple only. One place to worship Him.
Jesus also said (in the GnosticGospels) “You will not find me in buildings of wood & stone…. split a piece of wood & you will find me … lift a stone and I am there”.
I dont believe His intent was the ‘church’ as we know it now.
I dont think He anticipated the many divisions and dogmas or doctrines within the church - He would also (i imagine) be pretty irrate at the amount of corruption etc.etc.
Acts 15 talks about the issue of circumcision
How was it settled?
Verse 2 says:
“They arranged for Paul and Bar′na·bas and some others to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem regarding this dispute.”
The context shows the Apostles and elders of the Jerusalem congregation form a governing body.
That must be the ‘church’ to which Jesus referred.
It was foretold that this ‘church’ would become corrupted. Acts 20:29, 30, as well as Jesus analogy of the wheat and the weeds.
So, it disappeared.
It is suppose to be set-up anew during the ‘last days’.
Are we in the last days now?
The Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints.
Everyone is going to say that it was their church though.
You should read up on alot of churches, then pray about the answer. It will come to you.
Jesus was speaking to Peter that the fact that Jesus was the Christ is the rock that Jesus’s church would be built on.
You go read the OLd Testament and see that God refers to himself as a rock over and over….
There is no human that is a rock, God himself is.
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
God doesn’t change. It is NOT the humans or our congregations that are rocks.. it is Christ who is.
No matter where, no matter what we call ourselves, if you are in Christ- you ARE the church, part of the body of Christ.
No one organization can say they are “The” only one.
Dear Friend,
First of all the title Christian is very “generic” today. A true born again Christian has a “personal” relationship with Jesus Christ.
Second. The church, still future when Jesus spoke those words, was formed on the Day of Pentecost and is composed of all true believers in Christ, both Jew and Gentile. A distinct society known as the “body” and “bride” of Christ, it has a unique heavenly calling and destiny.
Jesus was talking about His church, not a denominational church. There are a bunch a different branches because everyone thinks there church is the root, be it with the Catholics Muslims or whomever. It is not their denomination that is correct, it is God’s word, which lies with church. And the church are those believers who believe that God sent His son, the Messiah, to come and die for our sins, and live their lives properly and awaiting His return.
HE WAS NOT REFERRING TO A PHYSICAL PLACE BUT RATHER A SPIRITUAL HAPPENING.A REVELATION FROM GOD NOW YOU WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.JESUS STARTED NO CHURCHES OR DENOMINATIONS THESE ALL CAME LATER AND WERE BORN OUT OF CONFUSION AND FALSE DOCTRINES.JESUS IS NOT IN SOME BUILDING BUT RATHER HIS SPIRIT IS IN YOUR HEART SO TO SPEAK.MANY HAVE DIED BECAUSE MEN THOUGHT THAT JESUS SAID HE WOULD BUILD HIS CHURCH ON A PHYSICAL ROCK IN THE HOLY LAND DR DAVID BANNER
The church of Jesus Christ- there may be more than one denomination, but all Christian churches that believe that Jesus was born of a virgin, came to earth to die on the cross, and rise again, to save us from sin and death, and will return one day for His own- that is the church and the foundation is CHRIST
the rock Jesus mentioned was Peters comment, that though are the Christ the Son of God…Jesus when asked what must one do to do the works of God, He answered , believe in whom He sent…Jesus came to fullfill the law and their is only one body, although very divided today…in every church you those who believe and those who dont, Jesus seperates them and many will say lord lord did we not cast out demons in your name, and he says go away i never kneew you..in heaven it will only be those who believed no matter what you call home for a church today..
you guys, the rock Jesus is referring to is Himself. Peter is little rock (petra)…in this statment Jesus uses the word for big rock (petro). That’s himself. I may have petra/and petro mixed up….but the one Jesus uses in this statement means the big one, and Peter is always referred to as the little one.
]9:37[†]9:47[
In God we Trust
[9:39].[9:40]
It is God hoo builds the Church.’
[14:25[10:37]]
psalm 23/96/118/53
Mark 16:6
The Catholic Church which uses Matt: 16, verses 18-19 for all of its infallible authority even in creating dogmas. It administers all seven sacraments which were instituted by Jesus Christ Himself in the scriptures. The four marks of the ONE and only true Church are: (1) One (all basic dogmas are the same throughout the entire world as found in the Catholic Catechism). (2) Holy (it was founded by Jesus Christ Himself). (3) Universal (it is available to all without any exception). (4) Apostolic (it can be traced back to the Apostles and St Peter through history).
He was talking about whichever manages to find good in all people and don’t try and force their religion on other people or tell people that they are “wrong” in whatever way and will burn in hell for their sins.
Unfortunately I don’t think there is an established church where all the members are like this. I guess that’s why Jesus got crucified though… maybe…?
It saids his church…..A believer in faith that Jesus Christ is his lord and savior is “born again”..Now he is a member of the church that christ is building.
God loves you…..God bless
When Jesus said these words He called Peter ‘Petros’, but called the rock upon which He would build the church ‘Petra’.
Petros is a small rock, Petra is a large rock.
What was that large rock? You can find that in verse 16.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
The rock upon which the church would be built was the statement by Peter that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. The term Christ means ‘anointed’ as does the term Messiah in the Old Testament. This was a statement that Jesus was the Messiah of prophecy.
As to the ‘it’ of verse 18, the word was ‘autos’ which can mean ‘he’ ’she’ or ‘it’. In this case it should say ‘against her’, not ‘against it’. Why is it feminine? Because the church is to be the Bride of Christ, therefore it would be referred to in the feminine.
The answer to your question is; ‘the church is all those who accept Jesus as the Christ’.
grace2u
No church today has any relation to what Jesus was refurring to and none ever has because he was using a metaphysical trait as reference, not a hman or an actual rock.
The Catholic Church
From Scripture, we can see that the Church:
is one, unified
is holy, but not all who belong to it will be saved
is universal (”katholikos” in Greek, or “Catholic”)
is Apostolic
is hierarchical and has bishops (episkopos), priests (presbyteros or “elders”), and deacons (diakonos)
is the Pillar and Ground of Truth
is the “light of the world”, visible, cannot be hid
was founded by Christ through Peter, whom He made the Church’s earthly father, and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against it
On Saint Peter to whom he gave the gates of heaven and the Church he started is the Roman Catholic Church.
Peter was the first Pope.
The New Testament came about 300 years later, again from the Catholic Church. Most other Christian denominations started about 400 years ago, they keep branching and branching trying to make God fit them instead of the other way around.
Peace be with you.
The Catholic Church from the beginning of its history and all the other churches are break off groups from it.
Jesus started not a vague, spiritualistic idea, but an actual human organization, with a leader (Peter), a hierarchy (the apostles), and authority to “bind and loose,” which included replacing lost leaders like the fallen Judas with new leaders like Matthias.
This is the Catholic Church, which has a continuous historical record dating to Jesus grant of authority in AD 33.
Our Protestant friends will not be honest on this point. Understandably, because they do not want to recognize their organizations as rivals to the only Church authorized by Jesus.
CDF
His church comes from among all those churches you mentioned but is made up specifically of those who would hear his Word and do it. Again, Bruce, being born again in the spirit. His church, His bride is no different than what you find in Revelations when He describes those already around His throne. Of many peoples, tongues, colors etc. To them that would receive Him to them gave he the power of everlasting life.
Catholics use that scripture almost universally to suggest that they are the one true church because they wrongly assume that Jesus is calling Peter the Rock. Peter didn’t become a rock, like the rest of the apostles, until they were visited in the upper room, after Christ ascended, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
If I see this again before it is “resolved” I will give you specific bible references so that you can agree that Jesus is talking about Himself being the rock/foundation of our faith and not Peter.
Even without scriptural reference, it galls me whenever any religion suggests that theirs is the way the truth and the life when we all know that that honor belongs to Jesus alone.
You may find historical documentation that the catholic church has been using this line of thinking since it’s inception but history just records, but does not provide any sense of accuracy. Pope the First, said this, and every pontiff since then has repeated this line without scriptural evidence.