Peter's Declaration of Faith

Matthew 16:13 (NLT)
Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

Only one was willing to offer an answer, Peter.  "John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the other prophets," he responded.

"Great answer!"  Jesus responded (paraphrased).  "But who do YOU say that I am?" 

His answer changed his destiny and set ours.  His declaration of faith, (Matthew 16:16 NLT) "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!"  was recognized by Jesus as the answer of answers.  His response had not been revealed to him by a friend, fellow disciple, preacher, priest, minister or teacher.  Peter had come this realization in his spirit.  He knew the answer, having been revealed to him by God deep down inside his being.  His opinion was not swayed by the opinion of others.  He had seen the miracles.  He had witnessed the teaching and instruction of this great man.  God revealed himself to Peter through this man, Jesus.

This passage of Scripture contains the same power for us as it did for Peter and those gathered around him that day.  It is a question we must ask ourselves.  Everything hinges on OUR answer to the question, "Who is Jesus to YOU?"  Every ethereal philosophy.  Every religious belief.  Every  sacred notion.  Every divine inquiry.  

There are many things about which we, as believers, can disagree.  There are areas of scripture left open to debate.  What day of the week do we worship?  What about baptism?  Is healing for today?  How many times a week do we go to church?  Which translation of the Bible is the "right" one?  Can I do this or this?  Can I go here or here?  But there is one question on which we must agree:  Who is Jesus?  

HE is the crux of the equation.  HE is the fulcrum on which everything balances.

Few would disagree that He was a good man.  Others would acknowledge that he was a spiritual leader or teacher.  Many would concur that He was even a prophet.   But the answer He was looking for and for which he recognized Peter was, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!"

It was upon that statement of faith, Jesus is the Messiah (chosen one, deliverer, conqueror, holy One), the Son of the living God, that Jesus said he would build His church.  He even went on to proclaim that, "the powers of Hell would not conquer [the church that was founded on that declaration]."

What an awesome declaration!   What a statement of faith!

Who is Jesus to you?  Is he a teacher?  A good man?  A prophet from thousands of years ago?  Can you say that He is the Messiah, the Son of the living God?  Has God revealed this to you?  If so, praise God you got it!  If not...if you cannot declare that Jesus is your savior...if your eyes have not been opened to Jesus as more than a good man, a prophet, a teacher I encourage you to pray.  Ask God to show you Jesus as Savior and accept Him as such and be born again!

It's all that matters!  Start a walk with Him today.  Enjoy the blessings of following the Messiah!

Prayer:
God, show me Jesus as my savior.  Let me see that He is more than a good man and a prophet from thousands of years ago.  He's more than a story we read about at Easter and Christmas.  He's a right-now savior.  He's present with me now, today, right where I am.  Like Peter I accept Him as Messiah.  I believe He died for my sins; paid the penalty that I could not pay.  I confess Him as Lord now and accept His finished work and what He accomplished on the cross.  Thank you Jesus that upon this confession I am born again.  Amen!

What A Deal!!

Isaiah 1:18  “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool."

What a deal!  Thanks to Jesus Christ, we bring all of our junk to God and in exchange He gives us eternal life.  I bring my rusted out bucket of bolts and in exchange I get gold.  I bring my sickness and pain and He gives me health and relief.

Galatians 5 says that Christ has set us free.  Paul goes on in the chapter to write that since our freedom is based on Christ and what He did for us and it is not based on us or what we can do for ourselves it is up to Him to KEEP us free!  Further, he writes that when we try to add our own works or other men's regulations to what Christ already did we only muck it up...even saying in verse 4 that when we try to make ourselves right with God by keeping the law, we fall from God's grace!

What's more, the apostle goes on to right in verse 6 that when we place our faith in Christ, the rite of circumcision (which represents the Law and other regulations) are of NO BENEFIT.

Read Galatians 5 and tell me it can be read any other way!  It's so plain...right there in black and white...the words of the great Apostle Paul there for us to see.  No interpretation needed.  To see it any other way is to spin it into something that was not intended.

It's all about Him.  Not about us!  What a relief!  My encouragement for you is to stop trying to please God by the acts of your own righteousness which are as filthy rags in his sight (Isaiah 64:6).  Live out your freedom in Christ, without fear that He is out to get you.  You cannot EARN His love by doing good.  He cannot love you more than He does right now.  He loved you enough to die for you while you were in sin (Romans 5:8).  Let your works flow out of your love for Him rather than an effort to gain his forgiveness.

Thank you Jesus for loving me.  Thank you for taking my badness and exchanging it for YOUR goodness.  Thank you for giving me LIFE for the death I deserved.  Thank you for demolishing the death grip that slavery to sin and the law that held me in bondage.  Thank you for freedom in Christ!!