hi De:
The ROCK upon which the CHURCH is built is NOT Peter,
It is CHRIST Himself. The same one who took away the first that HE may establish the Second (covenant).
WHAT HE took away is the need to sacrifice animals and make blood offerings for atonement of the people's sin (individually). He ESTABLISHED THE SECOND: That is cleansing of your sins THRU the BLOOD ATONEMENT that Christ made on that cross. THAT sacrifice was made for the cleansing and forgiveness of all the sins of all people of all time. THAT is how powerful the divine blood offering of Christ on that cross was...
So the blood of bulls and goats was no longer required nor sufficient.. The NEW covenant of salvation by GRACE through FAITH in HIM , NOT OF WORKS, is what the second covenant is all about. It is THE POWER of the DIVINE BLOOD offered once for ALL as an offering to GOD for their sins..
Of the Apostles who were the HEADS of the CHURCH in Jerusalem, JAMES was the HEAD of THAT CHURCH. Not Peter.
So what does Christ mean by "upon THIS Rock" I will build my Church?
THIS ROCK is none other than Jesus Christ, the ONLY ONE who has the power to forgive sins, to raise the dead, GIVE ETERNAL LIFE .
HE is the HEAD of THE CHURCH.
Peter ran and hid when CHRIST was being unmercifully beaten by a Roman cat of nine tails. He did not want to be identified or associated with Christ out of fear.
He later was remorseful and felt unworthy and Christ FORGAVE him. Peter had great faith as did JOHN.
YES.. THAT is where their error comes from.. The ROCK spoken of is none other than GOD the SON, NOT Peter a mere mortal man.
I am glad you did a little reading though.. YES. It is error on a large scale.
WHY did Catholic LEADERS HIDE the SCRIPTURES from the people for all those years that Martin Luther finally had enough of? Just another question ROME does not want to answer...... Its sad when you think about it....
Oh well, That is what I suspected but I am glad you studied a little and did find one of the most often mis-interpreted pieces of scripture of all time..
There is NO SALVATION in Peter, so why would GOD build a CHURCH for people to come to salvation UPON a sinful man?
CHRIST is THE SOLID ROCK. He is also called THE CORNERSTONE in scripture.. He is The ROCK upon whom God the FATHER BUILT HIS CHURCH and did away with the OLD COVENANT and established the Second one built upon the GRACE of CHRIST... THIS is what we live under TODAY..
Salvation is by grace Thru faith, not of ourselves. It is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS we have done, lest any man should boast.... CHRIST alone is HEAD of THE CHURCH.. NOT POOPY PANTS Francis...
I'll stop there because I do not want to go into a discourse on The Dark Ages and what that meant and entailed...
Thanks for the research though De! Good work...