16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
Matthew 16:16-18
While reading this passage of scripture in the Bible, many people come to the conclusion that Christ was talking about the gates of hell not prevailing against the church itself. Many believe this meant that no matter what would happen throughout history, the Church would always be alive and well.
But as we look through history, we can see that there were some very dark and disturbing periods where there seemed to be very little emphasis placed on faith. Especially when it came to religion as structured in the Bible.
Catholicism and other various man-made and man-influenced versions of religion would come to light and cast shadows on the truth found in the Bible. Many kinds of difficulties would face the church from persecution to false doctrine.
All of that to say, when Christ talks about the gates of hell not prevailing against “it”, what He was likely talking about is the actual building of the church, not the church itself.
“It” = building of the church.
Meaning that hell itself would not be able to stop the building of the church. Christ would build his church, and hell could not stop the building of that church. Once the church was established, hell would be a continual war with the church and everything it stands for throughout all of time.
The gates of hell are constantly trying to claim members of the church and dragged them back there. This is why every attempt at evangelism, every attempt to live in the truth and to resist evil and obey the commands of God is to lay Siege to Hell itself.
We are pulling Souls from the mouth of hell and helping them to see the care and concern of their creator.
The purpose of this brief article is to help you realize what is meant in this passage of Matthew 16:18. Nothing could stop the building of the church, it was coming whether the Gates of Hell liked it or not. And now that is here, you need to be a part of it. If you want salvation, you have to walk through God’s process of salvation.
You have to hear the word of God, knowing that Christ came to Earth and lived a sinless and perfect life, that he died on the cross for your sins and was raised from the dead after being buried in a tomb for three days.
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17
You must believe that this story is true. This can be the most difficult of all the steps. There are events and happenings in the scripture that are difficult to believe, but if you want salvation you must believe them.
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness,
Romans 10:10a
Then you need to change your actions, which is what we call repentance. This has almost nothing to do with emotions, and essentially everything to do with your personal actions and changing the way that you’re living your life. Repentance is a change of action not a change of emotion. You can change your emotions without changing your actions and change your actions without changing your emotions. Ideally, you change both, but if you can only pick one, change your actions.
You have to confess that you believe the Bible story, confessing that you believe Christ did what He said He did, and what the Bible work words him doing. And you have to confess this in the presence of witnesses.
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:10b
Then you must be baptized in water that symbolizes the blood of Christ. As long as you live Faithfully this Blood continues to cleanse you from all sins.
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the [k]remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:38
Being faithful is the final step in the process of Salvation. You must maintain your salvation through faithful living, the Bible is very clear on this teaching.
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10b
The gates of hell can never Prevail against the building of the church. But now it has been built, and you should be a part of it
