Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

The church, which means the called out ones, is indeed the called, called from straying in the world with no vision or path to follow, but now they have heard His voice, "the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls."
(1 Peter 2:21-25)

They are joined together as members of His body (Ephesians 3:1-7) and work together just like an individual's body in unison so that one member does not think itself more important than the other bodily members (1 Corinthians 12:12-27) and are ready to gather together on the first day of the week holding fast the confession of our hope without wavering (Hebrews 10:19-25).

To Matthew chapter sixteen we go to find our answer to today's question. Jesus is talking to Simon Barjona, also known as Peter (John 1:42), and is pointing out to Peter, who will become one of the twelve Apostles of the New Testament work, that he is blessed because of the confession he made about Jesus as the Christ:

Matthew 16:15-20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are

the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said to him, "Blessed are you , Simon Barjona, because

flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are

Peter and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it."

After Peter makes the good confession about Jesus being the Christ, Jesus tells him that his name is Peter, coming from the root word petros which means small stone. And the He says, "…upon this rock" (speaking of Himself) "I will build My church;". The question then remains-was the church built upon the apostles or upon Jesus Himself? There is no doubt that the word was sent by the Holy Spirit to the apostles as we read in Acts chapter two. There is also no doubt that the apostles and prophets are called the foundation:

Ephesians 2:19-22 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the

saints, And are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,

Christ Jesus Himself being the chief corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is

growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God

in the spirit.

Ask yourself this question: "Did Peter die for the world?" When Cornelius falls down before Peter to worship him, Peter tells him, "Stand up; for I too am just a man." Acts 10:25-26. So we see that no man that walked this earth is to be worshipped but Jesus Christ Himself, because the church was built upon the true rock, the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, (not the physical bricks and timber sort of building, but the church-which is a building of people) joined together as living stones which is a spiritual house to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ Jesus:

1 Peter 2:4-6 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and

Precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy

Priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For this is contained

In scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a choice Stone, a precious Corner Stone, and he who believes in Him

will not be disappointed.

And so there we have our answer to today's question. The rock is the chief corner stone that the church is built upon, and the chief cornerstone is Jesus Christ Jesus has entered the veil as a forerunner to all of us as our high priest and hope is set upon Him because God cannot lie and this anchor of hope is both steadfast and sure (Hebrews 6:16-20).

We are God's building, but we are to be careful as how we build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ not to distort or change by adding to the word of God or taking away from the word that we may be gathered with Him in His kingdom

(Galatians 1:6-10; 1 Corinthians 3:1-13 & 2 John 9).