Mat 16:13-15, When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I, THE SON OF MAN, AM?” (14) So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (15) He said to them, “BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”
Everyone has an opinion of who JESUS is! Some say HE was a good teacher, a moral teacher, others say that HE was a lunatic or maybe just a fairytale! In the time of Christ, people believe HIM to be a Prophet, and the religious people thought of HIM as a problem! BUT THE MAIN QUESTION HERE IS “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM”?
Mat 16:16, Simon Peter answered and said, “YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”
Peter boldly stated the truth, a truth that a lot of people may not believe in, but it is the truth! JESUS is the SON OF THE LIVING GOD, the creator of heaven and earth. There are some that say they believe HIM to be the SON of GOD, yet they don’t follow HIM; just like demons believe yet they don’t follow!
Jas 2:14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone SAYS HE HAS FAITH but does not have works? Can faith save him?
People say all kinds of things, but it doesn’t mean anything without any works! It is the work, the fruit, that proves your faith is genuine.
Jas 2:17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Mat 16:17-18, 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. (18) 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.
A lot of people get confused with JESUS’s statement, ‘YOU ARE PETER, AND ON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH’. Peter is not the first pope as many believe. His ministry was for the Jewish nation, not for the gentiles. Paul said in..
Gal 2:7, But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, AS THE GOSPEL FOR THE CIRCUMCISED WAS TO PETER
The Rock that HE will build HIS church on is HIMSELF JESUS; it’s not peter but what he said, “YOU ARE THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD “. The church HE is building is us, true believers, not a physical building but a holy temple!
Eph 2:19-22 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE, (21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, (22) IN WHOM YOU ALSO ARE BEING BUILT TOGETHER FOR A DWELLING PLACE OF GOD IN THE SPIRIT.
JESUS continues!
Mat 16:19 AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, AND WHATEVER YOU BIND ON EARTH WILL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN, AND WHATEVER YOU LOOSE ON EARTH WILL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.”
Keys are designed to open or lock doors, but in this case it’s the keys to HIS church!
Isa 22:22 The key of the house of David I will lay on HIS SHOULDER; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.
JESUS is the door, but also the foundation of HIS church. HIS door is open to all but in actuality only few enter HIS church. One day this door will close and no one will be able to open HIS doors.
JESUS said to the church of Philadelphia..
Rev 3:7, “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “HE WHO HAS THE KEY OF DAVID, HE WHO OPENS AND NO ONE SHUTS, AND SHUTS AND NO ONE OPENS”:
The door of HIS church is open, but the day is coming that HE will shut the door of HIS church. Remember HE is not willing that any should perish (2Peter 3:9), but the day of HIS wrath is surely on it’s way! Choose life rather than death!
Job 12:14, IF HE BREAKS A THING DOWN, IT CANNOT BE REBUILT; IF HE IMPRISONS A MAN, THERE CAN BE NO RELEASE.