06/15/2026
THE ROCK WAS CHRIST — NOT PETER
Understanding Matthew 16 and the Difference Between the Kingdom Church and the Body of Christ
When Jesus said…
“Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church…”
Matthew 16:18 KJV
many assume Jesus was saying that Peter himself was the foundation of the Church. But when we read the passage carefully — and compare Scripture with Scripture — we see that Jesus was not building His church on a sinful man. He was building it upon the truth Peter had just confessed…
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16 KJV
The confession Peter had just declared that Jesus was…
• the Christ (the Messiah),
• the Son of the living God,
• the One Israel had been waiting for according to prophecy.
…was the rock!! That is the foundation of the Kingdom Church Jesus was building during His earthly ministry.
Jesus even said this truth was revealed by the Father…
“Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 16:17 KJV
The focus of the passage is not Peter’s greatness — it is Christ’s identity.
Scripture repeatedly shows that Christ Himself is the true foundation stone.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 3:11 KJV
“And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”
1 Corinthians 10:4 KJV
“Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”
Ephesians 2:20 KJV
Even Peter himself later wrote…
“To whom coming, as unto a living stone…”
1 Peter 2:4 KJV
Peter never taught that he was the foundation of the Church. He pointed people to Christ.
THE KINGDOM CHURCH JESUS WAS BUILDING
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He came to Israel as her promised Messiah.
“I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 15:24 KJV
The “church” Jesus spoke of in Matthew 16 was connected to Israel’s prophetic Kingdom program.
The disciples preached…
• the Kingdom,
• the coming reign of Christ,
• repentance,
• and that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
Peter preached this very message in early Acts.
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Acts 2:36 KJV
This Kingdom Church was built upon the revelation that Jesus was Israel’s Christ.
“but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
John 20:31 KJV
But Israel as a nation rejected…
• her Messiah,
• the Kingdom offer,
• and the witness of the Holy Ghost.
Acts records this growing rejection, climaxing especially in Acts 7 with the stoning of Stephen.
THE DISPENSATION OF GRACE
After Israel’s fall, God revealed something previously hidden…
“According to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.”
Romans 16:25 KJV
God raised up Saul of Tarsus — later called Paul — and revealed the Dispensation of Grace.
This was not prophecy fulfilled.
This was a mystery revealed.
Paul explains…
“How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery.”
Ephesians 3:3 KJV
Today, God is not building the Kingdom Church of Israel’s prophetic program.
Today, God is building…THE BODY OF CHRIST
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV
This Body is made up of believing Jews and Gentiles in ONE NEW MAN…
“To make in himself of twain one new man.”
Ephesians 2:15 KJV
This was never prophesied in the Old Testament.
It was part of the mystery hidden in God until revealed through Paul.
OUR GOSPEL TODAY
The Gospel preached today is not “the gospel of the kingdom.”
Our Gospel is the Gospel of the Grace of God.
“But none of these things move me… so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
Acts 20:24 KJV
The saving Gospel today is clearly defined in…
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel… how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
Today, salvation is received…
• by grace,
• through faith,
• apart from works,
• apart from the Law,
• apart from Israel’s covenant system.
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”
Ephesians 1:7 KJV
“For by grace are ye saved through faith… not of works.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV
The moment a person believes this Gospel, they are…
• sealed with the Holy Spirit,
• baptized spiritually into Christ,
• and made part of the Body of Christ.
TWO DISTINCT PROGRAMS
The confusion comes when people combine…
• Israel’s Kingdom program
with
• the Mystery Body of Christ program.
Jesus was building His Kingdom Church upon the truth that He was Israel’s Messiah.
Today, during the Dispensation of Grace, God is building the Body of Christ through faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Both programs center on the same Saviour — the Lord Jesus Christ —
but they are not the same church, the same message, or the same program.
Right division allows us to see the difference clearly.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God… rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
Study the Word…Stand in Grace ♥️😊
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