The Church is built upon "this rock''—-" Thou art Peter,"
Church D0 remembered this when he cautioned ministers not to "lord it over God's heritage". The Church is Christ peculiar, appropriated to Him. The world is God's and they that dwell therein. But the Church is a chosen remnant that stands in relation to God through Christ as Mediator. It "bears His image and superscription". 'The maker and builder of the Church is
Christ Himself. "I will build it."" The Church is a temple, of which Christ is the builder (Zech. vi. 11, 13). Herein Solomon was a type of Christ and Cyrus (Isa. xliv. 28). The materials and the workmanship are His. By the working of His Spirit with the preaching of His Word He adds souls to His Church, and so builds it up with living stones (1 Pet. ii. 5). ''Ye are
God's building," and building is a progressive work. The Church in this world is but "in the forming, like a house in the building''. It is comfort to all those who wish well to the Church that Christ, who has a divine wisdom and power, undertakes to build it.
The foundation on which the Church is built is 'this rock"'. Let the architect do his part never so well, if the foundation be rotten, the building will not stand. Let us therefore see what the foundation is. '"'This rock'? must be meant of Christ, for other foundation can no man lay (see Isa. xxviii. 16). The
Church is built upon '"'a rock''—a firm, strong, and lasting foundation, which time will not waste. Nor will it sink under the weight of the building. Christ would not build His house upon the sand, for He knew that storms would arise.
Now, a rock is high (Ps. vi. 2). Christ's Church does not stand upon a level with this world. A rock is large, and extends far, so does the Church's foundation. The more large, the more firm. They are not the Church's friends who narrow its foundations.
3. THE METAPHOR OF THE ROCK The Church is built upon "this rock''—-" Thou art Peter," which signifies 'a stone or rock". Christ gave him that name when He first called him (John i. 42). Here He confirms it. And from the mention of this significant name occasion is taken for the use of this metaphor of building upon a rock. Some by this rock understand Peter himself as an apostle, the chief, though not the prince of the twelve. He was senior among them, but not superior over them. The Church is built upon the foundation of apostles (Eph. ii. 20). The first storeys of that building were laid in and by their ministry. Hence their names are said to be written in the foundations of the new Jerusalem (Rev. xxi. 14).
Now Peter being that apostle by whose hand the first storeys of the Church were laid, both in Jewish converts (Acts 1i) and in the Gentile converts (Acts x), he might, in some sense, be said to be the rock on which it was built. Cephas was one who seemed to be a pillar (Gal. ii. 9). But it is very rash to call a man who only lays the first stone of a building—a transient act—the foundation on which it is built—an abiding thing. Yet if it were so, this would not serve to support the pretensions of the Bishop of Rome, for Peter had no such headship as he claims. Much less could he pass it on to his successors, and least of all to the Bishops of Rome. Whether they are so in place or no is a question; but that they are not so in the truth of Christianity is past all question.
Others, by ''this rock"', understand Christ—"''Thou art Peter." Thou hast the name of a stone, but upon this rock, pointing to Himself, "I will build my Church". He took the occasion from Peter to speak of Himself as the rock, and gave occasion to some to misunderstand Him of Peter. But this must be explained by the many Scriptures which speak of Christ as the only foundation of the Church (see 1 Cor. iii. 11; 1 Pet. ii. 6). Christ is both its founder and foundation. He draws souls, and He draws them to Himself. To Him they are united, and on Him they rest and have a constant dependence.
Others, by "this rock", understand this confession which Peter made of Christ. This comes to the same thing. It was a "good confession"? which Peter witnessed: '"'Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God."' The rest of the disciples concurred with him in it. Now, says Christ, this is that great truth upon which I will build my Church. Take away this truth itself, and the universal Church falls to the ground. If Christ be not the Son of God, Christianity is a cheat, and the Church is a mere chimera, our preaching is vain, your faith is vain, and you are yet in your sins (1 Cor. xv. 14, 17). If Jesus be not the Christ, those that own Him are not of the Church, but deceivers and deceived. Take away the faith and confession of this truth from any particular church, and it ceases to be a part of Christ's Church. With the admission or denial of this