I don't mean to represent any church by this. This is an
alternative view of the passage.
Matthew 16 (NIV)
18 And I tell you that you are Peter (= rock), and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades (or hell) will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (NIV)
I later learned rock was a symbol for something that lasted a long time or endured the elements hence, it can be taken to mean
faith. Therefore, it is faith that builds the church (soul) that the gates of Hades (gates leading to death or sin, i.e. temptations) will not overcome.
Such a person will be given or granted the keys (has access or will find, i.e. insight, revelation, or will "know") of the kingdom of heaven (where God is, i.e. find Him in the heart and later perhaps, also a special place). The one who attains this is granted a certain authority from above (bind or loose in earth as in heaven). Also, a sincere person acts from the heart (heaven on earth).
In summary, the person who truly has faith is the one who incorporates it into his or her thoughts, feelings, and actions, i.e. practice in everyday life. It is love (verb, not noun) or practice of the teachings that nourishes and strengthens the soul and makes it overcome the tests which are part of life here on earth. A mature enough soul eventually choses the spirit over the body, and it will be fit for higher revelations or insight into the kingdom of heaven. The soul who has "arrived" has quite an authority similar to the prophets of apostles. I believe there are levels of attainment though.