Before kicking off, let us clear one confusing issue. That is, the disciples of Jesus Christ were not Christians until the day of Pentecost, when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. They were followers of Jesus, but were not legally (Spiritually) connected to the heavenly Kingdom not until they received the Holy Spirit. The main difference between Christians and non-Christians is the residence of the Holy Spirit in the believer. Anyone that got baptized with water by immersion 200 times without accepting Christ as his or her Lord and Savior by His Spirit now dwelling inside the individual is not a Christian. Anyone that believes the whole 10 commandments without Christ as Lord is not a Christian.
Therefore, going on this stretch, Peter was the foremost disciple of Christ Jesus because of his enthusiasm for the person and mission of Jesus Christ. He was greatly used in expounding the vision of the Christian faith after the bodily ascension of Christ Jesus to heaven. Hence, he was the first leader of the Christians assembly in Jerusalem. He was first used by the Holy Spirit to confirm the ministry of Christ Jesus (Christianity) is to all souls and not only to the Jews with the vision and conversion of Cornelius and family (Acts 10). His original name was Simon, but was changed to Cephas or Peter by Christ Jesus, meaning Petros “rock”, in Greek. That is, he was the firm or stable disciple mandated by Christ Jesus to lead the body of faithful (Church) after His bodily ascension. Therefore, his relevance in Church history is indisputable. Nevertheless, Peter was not the foundation or founder of the Church of Christ. Why is Peter not the rock or foundation of the Church? This is simple to explain, if we understand what the Church really means. The Church simply means the spiritual body of Christ through human vessels on earth. That is, every soul who is part of Christ’s divine life through faith in His redemptive work to humanity. The Church is not man made, but spiritual content of the living God in the lives of men and women by faith in Christ Jesus and expressed through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the foundation or Rock of the Church means the source and purpose of Christianity or the eternal life of believers, who is God the Father in Christ Jesus. Definitely not Peter, who was saved by Christ Jesus.
What is eternal life? This means, permanent, perfect or supreme and unending consciousness that functions in human bodies released by Christ Jesus to humanity from God Spirit. The source and perfection of salvation to humanity forever is by Christ Jesus. Therefore, Jesus changed the name of Simon or Shimon/Simeon in Hebrew to Cephas (Aramaic) or Petros meaning rock in Greek, a symbolic representation that the Church would stand the test of time despite all challenges. Jesus said to Peter on this Rock; I would build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail over it. The Lord was not referring to Peter as the rock of the Church, but to Himself, but that Peter’s strong zeal and relationship to the message of salvation has positioned Peter as a solid lieutenant to lead His (Christ) body of faithful after His glorification. Peter was mandated to lead what Christ Jesus had found by His Spirit. The Church is the body of Christ that rose from the dead after destroying the works of darkness. The Church is spiritual based on the resurrection of Christ Jesus bodily and not the physical most people assume it to be. Jesus Christ is that spiritual and physical foundation of the Church. There is no Church without the resurrection of Christ Jesus bodily from the dead. Again, for emphasis the Church simply means the spiritual body of Christ that reigns forever through those who believe He is the Messiah. We should not confuse the mandate to lead the disciples after Jesus ascended with the foundation or rock of the Church. They are two different things, though they appear to look like one especially with the parable of Jesus concerning the rock. However, the release of the Holy Spirit in the name of Christ Jesus on all who believe in the work of salvation, including Peter, makes up the Church. There is no Church without the sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ Jesus bodily from the dead. The Church is the life of the Holy Spirit released in the name of Christ Jesus to earthen vessels of God. The Church is not human characteristics, but spiritually that of God expressed through Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit here on earth.To reemphasize the issue, the Church began on the Jewish day of thanksgiving, called Pentecost. This was when the followers of Christ Jesus were baptized by the Holy Spirit, including Peter as Jesus promised them (Luke 24: 49). After that amazing experience, Peter assumed and displayed his leadership quality with boldness, even with response to the people around, who were questioning the disciples state of mind as they spoke in spiritual tongues. The Church is the pillar of truth and righteousness, who is Christ Jesus sustained by the Holy Spirit here on earth. The Church is the only source to receiving eternal life of God by Christ Jesus. The Church is the transmitter of love, peace, excellence, light and all godly virtues to the world. The Church is the connection between God the Father with humanity in Christ Jesus and effectively administered by the Holy Spirit. The Church is the domain of heaven here on earth to rule the resources of the Creator to His living glory in the name of Christ Jesus.
The Church will never fail, because is built absolutely on victory by the infinite power of God the Father through the everlasting blood covenant and the resurrection power of Christ Jesus bodily
from the dead, now alive forever in Glory. Peter was a significant part of the Church, but was neither the Rock nor Foundation of the Church. The whole essence of the birth, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus is the meaning of the Church and now evident in the lives of the faithful is the universal (Catholic) body of Christ Jesus on earth. When some believers conclude that Peter is the rock of the Church, meaning the foundation or beginning, they misinterpret spiritual revelation with mental understanding. The beginning of the Church did not start from any man made arrangement, but was given birth to in Christ Jesus and administered to believers by the Holy Spirit. That was the reason Jesus Christ said, many of His words and parables would be clear to our understanding by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Presently, true spiritual discernment of the Holy Spirit in the Church has been over burden by theological and traditional ordinances. These are the critical issues hindering the Christian faith and demonstration of the power of God in our society today. Hence, stifle the winning of souls into God’s good Kingdom. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide our utterances and work as vessels of Christ.
Message—The power of change is already in you. Change the pictures in your heart.