Jesus said he will build his church. So when people want to remove the word, what does that imply? Are we in danger of losing our identity?

One day, Jesus asked Peter who he was.  Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). The Lord’s reply is foundational to our faith, but needs unwrapping.

 Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter [Greek: petros], and on this rock [petra] I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it’ (vv 17-18).

Jesus is playing with words. First, he didn’t mean he would build his church on Peter. He would have just said, ‘You are Peter, and on you I will build…’ Also, petros is a masculine word, and petra is feminine. In their culture and language, Jesus wouldn’t have used a feminine word for Peter.

Now Peter just had a revelation of who Jesus really is. The word ‘revelation’ is feminine! So Jesus meant he would build his church on all who have that revelation. It cannot be worked out, thought out or puzzled out. The revelation is from him, so no one can boast.

When that drops into our spirit from the Father, everything changes. Our spirit becomes alive. The Bible suddenly makes sense (and becomes precious.) Our nature and purpose become clear (and exciting.) Our future is assured (and eternal!) We become the church.

The church is not a denomination, a theology, a congregation, or even a building. It’s just those with the revelation of who Jesus is. Our title doesn’t matter; our denomination is immaterial. What matters is, do you know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son, and alive?

There are atheist ‘churches’, secular ‘churches’ and even satanic ‘churches’! The Mormons call themselves a church. None of them are the real church.

Is your identity in Christ? Are you born again? Do you long for his return? Then you are the church, and the gates of hell will not overcome you.

If you don’t yet have that revelation, please, please ask the Father before it’s too late. The doorway is repentance.