Contrast of Names

We are "Peters"—each a stone in this wonderful edifice, mid built upon a rock or foundation of the same material. Now what is this rock? It is primarily Christ Himself. He becomes the foundation of a new thing. He says, "I will build." Not a single stone had been laid in position at that moment. The saints in the Old Testament, glorious us they are, do not form a part of this. The Lord does not say, "I have built," but "upon this rock [Himself! I will build.”
In Eph. 2:20 it says, "and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone." While the Lord is the foundation of all blessing, yet in responsibility and in administration of this wonderful thing, it is built practically on the confession by man of the Person of Christ.
It is unfortunate that the word "church" has, by usage, become associated with a material thing. a building erected by man. The word "assembly" conveys the thought here more accurately. The Lord was going to erect a spiritual building. "And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." While Dan was in ruins and Caesarea Philippi destined for a similar fate, yet nothing could prevail against this wonderful thing connected with the source of eternal fife and the Son of the living God.
In connection with the 19th verse of Matthew chapter 16, we know that there has been most unhappy confusion between the Lord's words "My Church" and His words here "the kingdom of heaven."