This message was preached on Wednesday evening, 19 August 2026, by Rev. Ivan Foster (Rtd) at Kilskeery Free Presbyterian Church.
“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,” Matthew 16:18.
I am sure I am correct in calling this verse a ‘keystone’ of Bible truth! It is central to the revelation that God has given us in His Word.
Here is revealed the indestructible foundation upon which all that God purposes to do is built and founded.
The devil
It is no wonder that the devil, through the lies of the Roman Catholic Church, attacks this verse and would pervert its meaning to the utter misleading of any who will listen to her deceits!
We need go no further than this verse for a refuting of that lie.
The Greek word for ‘Peter’ is Petros. It is a masculine Greek noun meaning a stone or small rock, a mere fragment of a rock.
The Greek word translated ‘rock’ is Petra. It is a feminine noun meaning a solid rock, cliff, or massive bedrock foundation. It is a reference to the confession of Peter a few moments before. “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” verse 16.
Effrontery
The devil’s effrontery is seen in that despite this clear distinction between Peter and the Rock upon which the Saviour would build His church, he dares to have his minions fly in the face of these truths and seek to promote a most damnable lie.
It can be seen how successful he is at blinding “the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them,” (2 Cor 4:4) in that millions upon millions have embraced this falsehood for centuries and die with their hope built upon Peter!
Again, if we but consider the Bible’s record of Peter, we see that nothing lasting could have been built upon him.
In this very chapter, but five verses further on, we find him addressed as “Satan”.
“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men,” verse 23.
The Saviour addressed him in this manner because he most sinfully and foolishly contradicted the Saviour’s declaration of how He would die at Calvary!
Peter was later to most shamefully to deny that he knew the Saviour and that in His very presence.
“And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly,” Luke 22:59-62.
We grieve with Peter at his sinful folly for we know we are no more courageous or faithful and have sinned in the same ‘spirit’ as did Peter here.
We rejoice, however, that he was granted repentance and he wept in sorrow and was restored.
Peter was but a man, with all the weaknesses of humanity and could not be the “ROCK’ upon which Christ would build His church.
Even later, when a man who had experienced the power of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, he manifested his human weakness.
Paul had to rebuke him for his improper actions in compromising before Judaisers!
“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?” Galatians 2:11-14.
Introduction
These comments, which need to be often repeated in these ecumenical days, are but a prologue to our study tonight.
I. CHRIST SETS DOWN HIS DIVINE PURPOSE
“I will build my church”.
The word build is one that commonly refers to the process undertaken in the construction of a house. The same word is used by the Saviour in the parable of that built upon a rock and that built upon sand, Matthew 7:24-27.
1. A foundation is laid. “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone,” Ephesians 2:20. The basis upon which the church is laid is the message of the apostles and prophets, ‘CHRIST’!
2. Then layer upon layer is constructed by the Saviour. “But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little,” Isaiah 28:13.
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ,” 1 Peter 2:5.
The process is also likened unto physical growth. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,” 2 Peter 3:18.
3. The building process is taking place at various levels. There is not merely the building of the edifice of the “Church”, but there is building process wrought out in the individual believer.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen,” 2 Peter 3:18.
Each stage of the construction is mentioned by Paul. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified,” Romans 8:28-30.
II. NOTHING SHALL HINDER CHRIST’S WORK!
“I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
1. Might I suggest that this indicates that the Saviour will build His church using material taken from the devil’s domain? To me the words imply the Saviour attacking the “gates of hell” and prevailing over them!
2. Christians are the labourers employed in this task. “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon,” 1 Corinthians 3:9-10. Fanny Crosby’s hymn touches on this truth.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.
As labourers we must dig out stones for the building of the church from the ranks of the deceived. This was Paul’s commission.
“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me,” Acts 26:18.
It was the experience of the apostles. “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen,” Mark 16:20.
3. There is a glorious future day of completion! “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness,” Psalm 17:15.
The ‘building work’ will cease in that day when all the saint bear the image of the glorified Christ!
“Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself,” Philippians 3:21.
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” 1 Corinthians 15:51-57.
VICTORY is what lies ahead! We must never forget this amidst the troubles we face.
Noah had to keep that truth before him and his family amidst the months of storm and tempest. Finally he and his family arrived in the new, purged world.
Such is our future though manifoldly more glorious!