2023 - A Year of Apostolic Expansion Part 4

The foundation of the Ecclesia (Church) is not a person but the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. When Jesus told Peter, 'On this rock I will build my church,' He was using wordplay that's clearer in Greek: 'Peter' (Petros) means a small stone, while 'rock' (Petra) refers to massive bedrock—the truth of Jesus' identity. This foundation determines everything about who we are and what we're called to do.As believers, we receive the keys of the kingdom—authority to bind and loose on earth with heaven's backing—through the gospel message. These keys, first used by Peter at Pentecost and later to open the kingdom to Samaritans and Gentiles, continue to work through us today. The gates of Hades—representing all forms of darkness and false worship—cannot prevail against Christ's Church. We are living stones being built on Christ the cornerstone, forming a spiritual house where God dwells. Together, we constitute a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God's special people called to proclaim His praises. This understanding transforms how we see ourselves and our purpose: building on Christ alone, embracing our identity as living stones, using the keys of the kingdom, standing against darkness, and connecting with other believers.