Dear Fellow Believers in Christ, (Christ in Us as Us is the Genuine Rock of Revelation from Our Father) 

The Body of Christ is being built upon the revelation of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. Why is the truth of that message so essential to the foundation and establishing of the church? Why does revelation deal more with the soul than the Spirit? What does revelation have to do with mind renewal and transformation? What is the purpose of revelation and how does revelation from the Father transform us? What is the revelation of the mystery and why is it called the mystery? Let us hear the Holy Spirit today speak a word of Christ to us. The Holy Spirit is faithful to confirm the Christ in us as us from the scriptures.

THE PURPOSE OF REVELATION

First, The Revelation of Christ the Son of the Living God from the Father
Jesus of Nazareth one day asked His disciples, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" (Matt. 16:13). They answered him and said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets" (Matt. 16:14). Jesus then said to his disciples, "But who do you say that I am?" (Matt. 16:15). Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16). 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" (Matt. 16:17). Notice that Jesus clearly told Peter that he received revelation from the Father. This is the true source for genuine revelation.

Second, Who or What is The Rock that Christ is Building His Church Upon?
Jesus of Nazareth goes on to say, "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" (Matt. 16:18). Certainly, Jesus is not saying that Peter will be the first pope. The word use in the Greek text for this rock is the word Petra, which means a mass of living stone. This term often is used and referenced to Christ, Himself. Another Greek word petros, which means a small stone and is often used and referenced to Peter's name. These distinction of these Greek terms are sometimes used to prove that Peter could not be the one discussed as the rock, but the rock must be Christ. There is no question that Christ, Himself is the head and the foundation of the Church in every respect. Let us look carefully at what is actually being said in Matthew 16:18. Who is the I building the Church discussed in this verse? It can be no other than Christ, Himself. Is Jesus really discussing building the Church upon Himself? While beyond question, we know the Church is founded on Christ. Looking a little deeper, it appears that Christ is focusing us on the source and the way He plans to build His Church.

Third, Christ is Building His Church on the Father's Rock of Revelation
The "And" of Matt. 16:18 follows Christ's answer to Peter that his confession did not come from man but from revelation from the Father. Christ was clearly declaring, that He was going to build His church on the rock of revelation from the Father. The person and substance of the revelation from the Father is of the Son. Divine revelation is the basis or foundation of Christ building His church. Jesus is not really discussing the foundation or birthing of Christ in us and us in Christ in this passage, but is primarily focused on the building or the growing-up of the Church. Certainly, Peter was not born-again until Pentecost.

Fourth, The Church Built Upon Revelation Is Not Bound By Time or Death
Also, Jesus is not discussing some great Divine battle between the Church and Hades, when he said, "and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18). Gates are never used offensively in the Word of God, only defensively. There is an Old Testament example of Samson in Judges 16:1-3. Samson went into the town of Gaza to see Delilah. The Gazites locked the city gates to keep Samson within Gaza so they could kill him in the morning. About midnight Samson arose, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, and carried them to the top of hill and left them there. Samson then went home. Just as those gates did not hold back, imprison, or hinder Samson. . .neither will the gates of Hades, death, and the grave hinder the Church being built on the Revelation from the Father. Divine revelation is not bound by time or death.

Fifth, The Apostle Paul's Gospel Came Through Revelation From the Father
Peter's revelation was just a glimpse of things that were to come. Jesus called Saul to be the apostle of this revelation message to the Gentiles (Acts 9:3-15). Saul later changed his name to Paul. The Father revealed Christ in Paul. The Father’s revelation would become the heart of the foundation and final gospel to and for the church. The Apostle Paul declares that the gospel that he preached was not according to man but through the revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:11-12). Paul shares that the revelation came from God the Father who was pleased to reveal His Son in Him (Gal. 1:15-16). Is this not what Christ promised Peter that His Church would be built upon? The apostle Paul established the foundation of the Church according to his gospel "and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery" (Eph. 2:20; Rom. 16:25).

Sixth, Revelation Prepares His Saints for Mind Renewal of the Holy Spirit
Paul said this mystery is now being revealed to His saints, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:26-27). Is this new revelation? No, it is the same revelation that was once then fully revealed to the Apostle Paul. Is revelation for the unsaved? No, it is revelation for saints that love God. Paul tells us that the natural eye has not seen, nor the natural ear heard, nor even entered in the heart of man the things which God the Father has prepared for those who love Him, but the Father has revealed them to us through His Spirit (I Cor. 2:9,10). The Father's revelation is for His saints and prepares us for the Holy Spirit to teach us of Christ who lives in us. The Holy Spirit renews the mind which gives Christ full ability to express Himself in and through us (I Cor. 2:12-16).

Seventh, Revelation is to Let Us Know Christ is In Us & We Are In Him
The other part the revelation of the mystery is the truth that we are in Christ and in the Father's eternal plan, and that He chose us to be "in Christ" before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). As you read Paul's epistles you will find at least 142 references to the fact that we are in Christ. With this weight of Scripture alone, you find the Father's purpose is to reveal to His birthed sons of His Son placed in them and them in Christ by the Holy Spirit at their birthing (I Cor. 12:13). Also, the Father wants us to know that we have our full fellowship with Him through Christ in us, and because we are in Christ (I John 1:1-5).

Eighth, The Purpose of Revelation is to Edify the Body in Christ's Fullness
Paul prays for the Ephesians that the Father might give to the entire body of Christ the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. Again, revelation has nothing to do with salvation. When we are birthed by the Holy Spirit and placed into Christ we received everything there was to be received of Christ in the Spirit. However the soul – the mind, will, and emotions, is being renewed day by day. Revelation is for the mind and heart and so that His Body can be built up in "the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Eph. 1: 17-18, 23). V