Loving God and His Word

Psalm 119:33-48

Our psalm reading for this week from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer brings us back to Psalm 119, which we looked at a few weeks back.  As noted, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible.  It is divided into 22 sections, each eight verses long and beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.  And nearly every one of the 176 verses of this psalm refers to some aspect of God’s Word.  Today we look at two sections of the psalm, those beginning with the fifth and sixth letters of the Hebrew alphabet, He and Waw, and reveals the heart-cry of a believer who longs to walk in holiness, to cling to God’s Word, and stand boldly for truth.  The psalmist prays for divine instruction and empowerment to obey God’s Word, to separate himself from worthless and worldly vanity, and proclaim God’s truth without shame.

Our psalmist begins this segment of the psalm with a prayer to God for His help in understanding and obeying the Scriptures (vs. 33-35).  Obedience begins with God’s instruction.  No amount of our own effort will suffice.  We are dependent upon God’s help.  We need the illumination from the Holy Spirit to be able to understand the Bible, and then to obey it.  The Holy Spirit opens the believer’s understanding of Scripture (I Corinthians 2:12-14), and He will shape our Christian walk when we yield ourselves to Him (John 17:17).  That is why we should always pray for God to open His Word to us before we read from the Bible.

Next the psalmist prays that God will turn his desires towards His Word (vs. 36-38).  He does not want to be caught up in the empty worldly distractions that we encounter every day.  He does not want them to pull his heart away from holiness.  As Christians that should be our desire, as well.  Like the psalmist, we need to reject anything that pulls us from God, that could bring moral compromise, and cause spiritual apathy.  Instead, we must replace anything that steals our spiritual focus with meditating upon God’s Word.  All of our earthly possessions will prove to be worthless on Judgment Day.  We should rather see value from God’s perspective.

The psalmist does not want to be a reproach, to fail, or be a disappointment to God (vs. 39-40).  He has a holy fear, a reverence and awe of God, more so than any fear of man.  He longs for God’s Word, showing that he has developed a genuine spiritual hunger.  Having a hunger, a desire for spending time in the Bible is evidence of being a true child of God.  Like the psalmist, we should also cultivate a holy fear of displeasing God.  Seeking to live a holy life is not resorting to legalism.  Instead it is a longing to follow God’s way for one’s life.

As we continue on in the psalm, we see that genuine liberty comes through obedience to God’s Word (vs. 41-45).  Many people feel that obeying the Bible is like wearing shackles and is a life of oppression.  But following God’s ways produces true liberty, not bondage.  Liberty is freedom from sin, not a freedom to sin.  Obedience is not restrictive.  It liberates the believer from the tyranny of the flesh.  We should reject the modern idea that living a godly and holy life is oppressive, and instead embrace obedience to the Lord as the path to spiritual freedom.

Finally, the psalmist proclaims that he will boldly witness for the Lord without any shame (vs. 46-48).  He promises that he will speak God’s truth with courage and without fear, even before world leaders.  He refuses to be ashamed of the Bible.  Christians should not be afraid to proclaim the truth of God, even in a hostile world.  Likewise, we should not be ashamed to stand loyally for the Bible when today’s culture rejects it, nor yield to cultural pressure to soften or hide Scripture’s teachings.

As we look back over this portion of Psalm 119, we see a believer who wants to be taught by God, desiring to understand and obey the Bible.  He rejects all worldly allurements, and instead seeks to live a holy life while proclaiming God’s Word without shame.  When we look in the mirror, is that the type of Christian that we see?  Let’s invite God to build a guard for our mind through Bible reading and prayer, rather than passively hoping that the world won’t pollute our mind.  Following God’s wise instructions allows us to escape the consequences that come from choices we later wish we could undo.

The Watchman's Warnings

Ezekiel 33:1-11

The siren sounds out through the neighborhood.  Everyone who hears it knows that they need to seek shelter in a basement or an enclosed inner closet or other safe space because a tornado is heading towards the neighborhood.  In the part of the U.S. where I live we hear the tornado sirens a handful of times each spring and summer, and we know we had better heed the warning!  There are other warnings that are important to heed, such as the railroad crossing gate, the sign that says that the bridge is out ahead, the warnings on bottles of medication, etc.  Sometimes when we know of a danger, and see that someone else is oblivious to it, as a decent person it is our responsibility to warn that other person.  What kind of person would we be if we didn’t?!  In our Scripture today from the Book of Ezekiel we read of God calling the prophet, and us today as well, to be His watchmen to warn others of their actions, the consequences, and what is to come.

The prophet Ezekiel was one of God’s messengers at the time of the conquest of Babylon over the Kingdom of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the people going into captivity.  God sent His prophet Ezekiel to the people to warn them, not of Babylon, but of their own spiritual condition.  God holds His messengers accountable for faithfully delivering His warnings.  Ezekiel had a message from God at that time, and we have one to bring to people today.

God gave the example to Ezekiel of a city’s watchman (vs. 1-6).  It was the watchman’s responsibility to walk along the top of the city’s wall, looking out in all directions for any sign of an approaching enemy or any other type of danger.  If he saw something he would blow his trumpet to sound an alarm.  Then it was up to each individual to respond or not.  If the watchman was faithful in giving the warning, and someone didn’t respond, and they were hurt or worse, their life was in their own hands.  But if the watchman didn’t give a warning, then he had the blood of the people on his hands.

Ezekiel was responsible to proclaim God’s Word whether people listened or not.  The principle still applies today.  Believers have a duty to warn the lost of sin, judgment, and the need for repentance.  Failure to speak God’s truth is not just being neutral.  It is disobedience.  When we give the warning, those people are accountable for their response to God’s Word.  God requires faithfulness from His servants, not for them to try and be popular.

God then directly applied the watchman analogy to Ezekiel (vs. 7-9).  Ezekiel’s authority came from God, not from public approval.  His task was to hear the Word from God and then deliver it without alteration.  If he warned the wicked and they refused to repent, Ezekiel was innocent.  But if he failed to warn them, he was guilty.  The same holds true to us today.  Silence in the face of sin is sin itself.  God’s Word must be declared plainly, including truths about judgment, hell, and repentance.

God does not delight in bringing judgment upon people (vs. 10-11).  And as long as someone still has breath in them, then repentance is always possible.  Judgment in this life is meant to awaken the person to repentance.  The wicked must turn from their ways.  Repentance is a change of direction.  God’s mercy is extended to all, but salvation requires turning from sin.

As believers, we are the watchmen appointed by God.  We must speak the truth, His warnings, lovingly but boldly.  Silence is not compassion, it is negligence.  If we do not warn our families, friends, and neighbors, we will have their blood on our hands!  We have a duty to warn others!

However, everyone who has heard the warning is responsible before God.  No one can blame the watchman if they ignore the warning.  Just like that tornado siren - when I hear that and I decide to ignore it, then I have no one to blame but myself if I get blown away and die.  If I ignore the “bridge out ahead” sign, it is my own fault if my car goes down the cliff and into the river.  Don’t ignore the watchmen that God has sent your way to warn you of your eternal destiny.  Heed their warning, turn to Jesus in repentance, and call upon Him as your Savior before it is too late!

The Cost of Discipleship

Matthew 16:21-27

Do you have what it takes?  Are you willing to pay the price to obtain what you desire?  A young person may watch the Olympics on TV and wish they could get that gold medal, but are they willing to put in the many, many grueling hours of hard practice?  Sitting in the concert hall listening to a piano or violin recital, we may wish we could play like that, but are we also willing to put in the hours of practice for that?  Or the hard work at our job to earn the corner office?  In our Gospel Scripture passage for this week we read of something that Jesus said to His disciples, that if they wanted to follow Him there would be a price to pay.  Let’s look into what He said that would be.

Immediately prior to when our Scripture begins, Peter had just confessed in front of Jesus and the other disciples that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.  Now as they were headed towards Jerusalem, Jesus began to speak plainly about His coming suffering and death, resurrection, and the cost of true discipleship (vs. 21).  However, this was not what the disciples wanted to hear.  If Jesus was the Messiah like Peter said, wouldn’t He lead the people of Israel to throw off the yoke of bondage to the Roman Empire and bring Israel freedom?  What was this talk of His being killed?  That didn’t fit into their plan!

Peter had just confessed that Jesus was the promised Messiah and Son of God.  How could He then be put to death?  Peter went up to Jesus and told Him that this couldn’t happen (vs. 22).  Peter was looking at the situation through carnal, worldly eyes.  He wanted a crown without a cross.  He desired a political Messiah, not a suffering Savior.  How quickly human thinking can oppose God’s purposes, even if it has good intentions.  Even sincere believers can oppose God’s will when they are thinking carnally.

Jesus then immediately rebuked Peter (vs. 23)  His response was severe because Peter’s words echoed Satan’s temptation in the wilderness - a kingdom without suffering.  Satanic opposition often comes through human voices.  Anything that diverts Christ from the cross, along with today anything that removes the cross and Jesus’ shed Blood from the salvation message is demonic in origin.  Peter was not possessed here, however he was thinking not of “the things of God, but the things of men.”  The cross is central to God’s plan and cannot be negotiated.  Christ’s death was not accidental or tragic - it was the ordained plan of God.

Jesus then gave His call to discipleship (vs. 24).  This call has three parts - deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him.  To be a true disciple one must renounce any self-will and self-centeredness.  One must embrace death to self and accept suffering for Jesus, and also walk in obedience, loyalty, and submission.  These three commands are not optional.  It is the definition of Christianity.

If we want to follow Jesus we must willingly do the things God calls us to do without resentment.  We must desire to carry the cross He gives us to bear.  Rather than focusing on self-esteem we are commanded to deny ourselves and treat others better than ourselves.  Jesus doesn’t ask everyone to leave home and family, but following Him means denying our selfish goals in life.  To give God top priority in life, we must love Him whole-heartedly, deny ourselves, and follow Him.

Trying to save your life with comforts and self-preservation leads to spiritual ruin (vs. 25).  Losing your life for Jesus Christ will lead to eternal life.  Discipleship is costly, but the cost of rejecting Jesus is infinitely greater.  Your eternal soul is worth more than wealth, fame, power, pleasure, really the entire world (vs. 26).  It is eternal and priceless.  However, once it is lost, it cannot be bought back.

Jesus concluded this Scripture with the promise that He will return in glory with His angels to reward everyone according to their works (vs. 27).  This is a clear affirmation of His deity, and also of future judgment.  When we stand before God, He won’t consult man-made rules and standards.  He will have the final word when He judges our lives.

Many believers often want a comfortable Christianity.  Most of us will happily follow Jesus as long as He’s going where we want.  But what happens if He leads us down a road of sacrifice, self-denial, suffering, or death?  Will we still trust Him and keep going?  Jesus calls us to embrace His plan, even when it includes suffering.  Are we following Jesus on His terms or our own?  The world only offers temporary gain.  Jesus offers eternal rewards.

This Scripture passage is a call to abandon ourselves and embrace Jesus as a true disciple of His.  Jesus did not merely teach self-denial, He embodied it.  He did not merely command cross-bearing, He carried His own.  And He did not merely warn of judgment, He will personally execute it as the returning King.  Remember - the cross comes before the crown.  Obedience comes before reward.  Suffering comes before glory, and faithfulness comes before vindication.  This was the pattern of Jesus’ life, and therefore should be the pattern of every true disciple.

A Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1-8

After spending time in training for a career or some skill, your teacher or instructor then wants you to go out and practice that skill, to put it to use.  The medical student is sent out to be an intern and then a medical resident.  The young attorney goes out to practice under a more experienced one.  The cook heads into the kitchen to begin baking.  None of them just take their diploma and go home and sit on it!  That is the same idea that St. Paul gives us today in our Scripture.

In Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, the first eleven chapters were focused on teaching doctrine.  Now as we begin chapter 12, Paul will start focusing on practical Christian living.  The word “therefore” in verse 1 points back to everything that has been said before in the previous chapters, the doctrines of human sin, justification by faith, union with Jesus Christ, life in the Spirit, and God’s mercy.  Now Paul will instruct his readers to respond, and to put all that into practice in their lives.

The first thing that the Apostle tells us to do is to present ourselves to the Lord as a living sacrifice (vs. 1).  This pictures in our mind the sheep and oxen that God’s people would bring to the altars, where the priests would then sacrifice them to God.  However, unlike the Old Testament sacrifices, this is not for atonement, as Jesus has already accomplished that with His death on the cross.  Instead, we present ourselves completely to the Lord as an act of grateful devotion.

Paul then gives us an important instruction, that we must not be conformed to this world, but instead be transformed by renewing our mind in the Lord (vs. 2).  Our lives are to be set apart for God.  We set ourselves apart by renewing our minds with God’s Word and cleansing our minds from the filth of this world.  To follow God’s plan we need to surrender our rights to Him, and embrace His way.  Our minds can be changed from being worldly to godly only with a steady application of Scripture.  We can find ourselves out of God’s will when we put other things or people ahead of Him.

It is a lie that we have to be like the world in order to win them to Christ.  Jesus never compromised His beliefs or moral standards in order to win people to the Father.  When Christians compromise, everyone loses.  Stop allowing the world to shape you into its mold.  Stop giving the outward appearance and lifestyle that is inconsistent with your inner being.  Replace old erroneous thought patterns with the truth of God’s Word.

Paul continued by instructing that as we put the faith that we learned into practice, we must not think of ourselves more highly than we ought (vs. 3).  Pride destroys unity and usefulness in the church.  When people think more highly of themselves than they should, they stop relying upon divine guidance in making decisions.  Terrible consequences can often result from such wrong thinking.  Pride always drives a person away from God’s path.

The Apostle Paul then, in verses 4-5, used the human body as a metaphor of Christians being part of the body of Christ, something that he did several times in his other Epistles, particularly in I Corinthians 12:12-27.  Just as a human body has many different parts, each with its own specific function, the Church has many different members making up the body of Christ, and we each have our God-assigned function of service in the Church.

Paul then concluded this segment of Scripture with listing some of the different gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to believers (vs. 6-8).  One is that of prophecy, which is speaking God’s truth with clarity and boldness.  This Spirit-empowered proclamation is consistent with Scripture, not any new revelation.  Another gift is ministry or service, which meets the needs within the church.  A third gift is teaching, which in this instance would be explaining the Scriptures accurately and systematically.  Then there is exhortation, which is encouraging, admonishing, and urging believers towards obedience.  Paul mentions the gift of giving, which is sharing one’s resources with simplicity and sincerely, without an ulterior motive.  There is the gift of leadership, leading the flock with diligence, responsibility, and faithfulness.  The last one he mentions is showing mercy, demonstrating compassion with cheerfulness, reflecting Jesus’ heart.

In closing, this Scripture from Romans shows that genuine salvation will lead to a transformed life.  Renewing our mind requires the Bible as the final authority for faith and for practice.  Surrendering ourselves to God is the most reasonable response to His mercy.  As believers, we need to present ourselves to God each day in prayer and obedience, rejecting worldly thinking by saturating our mind with Scripture, and then identifying our spiritual gift and using it for the Lord.

Doing Right When We've Been Done Wrong

Psalm 26

Have you ever had someone tell a really nasty lie about you, and the aftermath and consequences were really bad?  You had to struggle to do damage control, and you may have even wished you could take some sort of revenge on that person.  Many people may have believed that lie, and you wanted some sort of vindication.  Our psalm today, Psalm 26, is a prayer that David prayed when he was faced with people making false accusations against him.  Let’s see how he handled this situation.

We don’t know the specific instance that David was praying about, but rather than take things into his own hands, he appealed to the Lord for vindication based on his integrity, his separation from evil, and his love for God’s house.  He appealed to God to judge him righteously and vindicate him from false accusations.  In spite of the painful mistreatment David determined to trust in God and not slip or slide under the load.  He had done nothing to deserve the mistreatment, and he would walk with integrity.

As we begin our psalm, David asked God to judge him (vs. 1-3).  He knew that God knew his heart, so he appealed to Him in the middle of the false accusations that were brought against him.   David had integrity, as he sought to always live a life consistent with God’s truth.  He had faith in the Lord as his Savior, and also faith that God could help him no matter what his needs were.  David asked the Lord to examine his heart, with a willingness to have his inner life tested.

As Christians, we need to always walk with integrity.  None of us will have sinless perfection, but our lives should strive to have sincerity and consistency with God’s Word.  A genuine believer will welcome God’s examination through His Word (Hebrews 4:12).

One way that David showed his integrity was by refusing to fellowship with evildoers and the wicked (vs. 4-5).  As believers and followers of the Lord Jesus, we need to separate ourselves from sinful lifestyles, and keep deceit and hypocrisy from our  life.  We also need to be spiritually strong and keep ourselves and our churches free from associating with false teachers and corrupt assemblies.  Evildoers, the wicked, and false religious leaders are enemies of the Lord.  Paul also taught this in his epistles when he said not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers and to come out from among them (II Corinthians 6:14-18), and to have no fellowship with the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).  The Bible teaches that we must reject associating with those who would compromise our holiness.

David also had a deep love for God’s house and worship (vs. 6-8).  At this time the Temple had not yet been built, and the people worshiped in the Tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant still was.  The Temple would be built during the days of David’s son, Solomon.  However, David loved to go and worship.  He preferred God's house over the meeting places of the wicked.  We too should love to gather with other believers where there is Biblically sound preaching and godly worship.

The psalm continues with David praying that his soul will not be gathered with sinners and those full of mischief and bribes (vs. 9-12).  He is determined to show integrity and be dependent upon God and His mercy, while they live a life of wickedness.  David knew that there is coming a time when God will separate the righteous from the wicked at the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

David strived to live a life of integrity and righteousness, but like us, was not perfect.  However our psalm points forward to the sinless Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who did walk in perfect integrity.  He too was falsely accused.  Jesus had a deep love for the sanctuary, and was also separated from sinners in that He never sinned (Hebrews 7:26).

Though he was not sinless, David sincerely desired to follow the Lord.  We must also strive for holiness (I Peter 1:15-16).  David trusted God to vindicate him from the attacks of the wicked.  Likewise we must rest in God’s justice rather than fighting others to defend ourselves.  Let’s examine our heart regularly through the Scriptures and guard our associations, avoiding worldly influences and false doctrines.  We must strive to walk in integrity, even when falsely accused, and trust that God will vindicate us in His time.

Standing Alone Against the World

Jeremiah 15:15-21

Have you ever worked on some project, something that was very good and would help a lot of people, only to have others turn against you, verbally tearing you to shreds?  Some of us have had that experience.  It leaves you very disillusioned.  If what you were doing was for the Lord, then you might even question your faith a bit.  This is where we find the prophet Jeremiah in today’s Scripture.  As we study this passage, we will see the Lord’s encouragement to one of His most faithful servants.

Jeremiah lived from around 650 - 570 BC, and had one of the most difficult ministries possible, preaching to the apostate people of the southern Kingdom of Judah, right prior and during when the Babylonian Empire overran the country.  He faced harsh opposition from both the political and religious leaders of the country.  Jeremiah was overwhelmed by the hostility from the people he was trying to save, and as we read in our Scripture and throughout his whole book, he poured out his inner turmoil before God.  All of the words of his preaching to the people, urging them to return to faith in Yahweh, and the consequences if they didn’t, made him a target of hatred and persecution.  Similarly, when we seek to follow what the Lord has told us to do, especially if it is bringing His message of repentance and salvation through Jesus to others, we face hostility from the unsaved.

Faced with this treatment, Jeremiah prayed to the Lord, and he asked Him four things (vs. 15).  The first was for God to remember him.  Jeremiah wanted God to take note of his suffering and his faithfulness to Him.  He also asked God to “visit” him.  This was requesting comfort, strength, and assurance of God’s nearness.  Next, he asked God to take vengeance on his enemies.  This was not a sinful vengeance, but a righteous vindication.  Finally, Jeremiah asked that God not “take me away”.  He was pleading for the preservation of his life in the middle of threats.  He reminded God that the persecutions he suffered were the direct result of faithfully proclaiming God’s Word.

Jeremiah continued by stating how important God’s Word was to him (vs. 16).  God's Word was as important to him as food.  The prophet internalized them deeply.  He devoured God's Word, and it was the joy and heart’s delight for him.  It was like a fire within him (Jeremiah 20:8-9).  We should be like the prophet, and have such a devotion to the Bible, letting it shape our life.

Yet the same Word that delighted Jeremiah, also isolated him socially.  He sat alone because of God’s hand upon him (vs. 17).  His separation from worldly attitudes was costly.  Jeremiah felt abandoned (vs. 18).  He even compared God to an “unreliable stream”, something that should always bring refreshing, but sometimes fails to.  That is how deep his anguish was.

God then gave His response to Jeremiah.  The prophet had begun to falter under the immense pressure and persecution he faced, so God called him to return and renew his wholehearted devotion (vs. 19).  He was to separate the precious from the vile - to reject discouragement, doubt, and any sinful attitudes, and to continue to speak what is pure and true, proclaiming God’s Word without compromise.  God wasn’t rebuking Jeremiah, just encouraging him to stand firm.

God promised Jeremiah that he would stand like a fortified wall of bronze, unbreakable under pressure (vs. 20-21).  He promised that his enemies may fight him, but will not prevail, and that He Himself would deliver him.  God is faithful to those who remain faithful to Him, even in seasons of intense opposition.

As we see through the life of Jeremiah, sometimes suffering is not due to personal failure, but because we stand for the Lord’s truth in a time of rebellion against God.  Faithful ministry often brings reproach.  But like Jeremiah, we may need to be spiritually renewed.  Holiness is essential for effective ministry.  We need to be “eating” God’s Word.  It will sustain us even when outward circumstances collapse.  There are times when we may feel abandoned, but remember, God never forsakes His own!

Who Do You Think Jesus Is?

Matthew 16:13-19

Sometimes in life we are faced with very important questions that we have to answer.  It might be while we are in school or college.  Perhaps we are called as a witness in a court case, and the prosecuting attorney questions us.  In our Scripture today from St. Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus asked His disciples a very important question, which Peter quickly answered.  That question is of vital importance to us today, as well.  Let’s take a look.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus has taken his disciples to the city of Caesarea Philippi, which was about 25 miles north of the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, at the far northern edge of Israel.  Caesarea Philippi was a very Greek influenced city, filled with pagan idols, shrines, and worship.  It was also a very important site of worship to the Greek god Pan, a pagan nature god, and god of sheep and shepherds.  In this spiritually dark setting, Jesus asked the most important question that we all must one day answer.

First, Jesus asked the disciples who the people are saying He is? (vs. 13-14).  They respond by saying that some said He was John the Baptist.  Others said He was Elijah, or Jeremiah, or some other great prophet.  These answers showed that though the people admired Jesus, and thought He spoke a message from God, they did not see Him as the divine Messiah.

Today we see that is the case with so many people.  If you were to take a survey of people’s thoughts on Jesus, many would say that they admire Him as a great teacher or moral example.  However, having respect for Jesus is not saving faith. Unless they acknowledge and confess Jesus as Lord and Christ, they will remain lost, as lost as the pagan or atheist.

Then Jesus turned the question on His disciples there with Him.  He asked them who they thought He was (vs. 15-16).  This is the dividing line of eternity.  Every soul who has or will ever live must answer this question.  Peter was the first to respond, saying that he believed Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah, and that he believed He was the Son of the living God.

Peter’s confession contained two important doctrines, beliefs that are essential for genuine salvation.  First, Peter believed that Jesus is the Christ, the Greek word meaning “Anointed One”.  It means the same as the Hebrew word Messiah.  This meant that Peter believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecies.  Peter also believed that Jesus is the Son of the living God, that He was not merely a prophet, but that He was divine. The apostle didn’t believe that Jesus was merely a good teacher, but that He was God in the flesh.  This confession is the foundation of saving faith.  Genuine salvation begins with recognizing who Jesus truly is.

Jesus followed up by saying that this spiritual truth was revealed to Peter by God the Father (vs. 17).  Human intellect cannot produce saving faith.  God must open the heart (John 6:44; I Corinthians 2:14).  True conversion is supernatural.  It is not emotionalism or human persuasion.  It is the work of God.  Peter’s confession showed that he had been born again.

In verse 18 Jesus made a serious statement, but also used a play on words.  He spoke to Peter, using his name, which in Greek is “Petros”, which means a rock or stone, something that a person can pick up with their hand.  Then Jesus said that upon this rock He would build His church.  The word “rock” He used here was the Greek word “Petra”, which means a large rock, crag, or large boulder, much bigger than a “petros”.  The rock upon which Jesus would build His church was the confession of faith that Peter had given, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.  Jesus promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church.  Hell cannot stop the advance of the Gospel, and Jesus guaranteed the church’s ultimate victory.

Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven (vs. 19).  Keys symbolize authority, and He gave the authority of the Gospel message.  When believers preach the Gospel, they open the door of heaven to those who believe.  When unbelievers reject the Gospel, the door remains shut.  When a believer speaks the Word of God in the Name of Jesus, Satan and his minions know that they have to obey.

Accepting that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God, is Himself divine, is central to saving faith.  Peter’s statement is the foundation of the Church, and the Gospel message is the key that opens or closes the Kingdom.  Hell cannot stop the advance of Christ’s Church, so stand firm on the identity of Jesus and proclaim the Gospel to others.  Trust in Christ’s promise that the Church will prevail.

One final statement to all who read.  Jesus still asks the question to everyone - Who do you say that I am?  Your answer will determine where you spend eternity.