Jesus asked His disciples, “Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am?” Some said one thing, some another. (You can expect different answers and opinions when the Holy Spirit is not guiding.)
Jesus asked again, “But whom say ye that I am?”
Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The Father had revealed this to Peter. And Jesus declares,
“I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter [a little stone], and upon this rock [Christ] I will build My church; and the gates of hell [Hades] shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:1818And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18).
As man Christ builds His Church. In Matthew 16 it is seen as a future temple built on earth — built upon Christ after His death and resurrection. It will be complete when He comes.
The Church on earth, being the “habitation of God,” is where God, by the Spirit, dwells at present. How holy and solemn this truth is for us. We are the household of God.