LIFE OF CHRIST
Matthew 16:13-27 -
PAGE 1
THIS IS YOUR LIFE
LIFE OF CHRIST #31
This morning as we
return to our study of the Life of Christ, Jesus had been in the Gentile area
of
Eventually Jesus
came into an area known as Caesarea Philippi.
It is here where the Apostle Peter is again in the lime light, and we
also see what should be a typical This is
Your Life for any Christian. If you
are a born again Christian, the things we discuss this morning should be true
of you. So, we can ask the question “IS THIS YOUR LIFE?”
This morning we
will want you to think about your Christian life and answer these questions:
IS YOUR LIFE A
LIFE OF PROCLAMATION?
Vss. 13-17
Vs. 13 – I believe that Jesus knew the answer to this question. After all, He is God!
But He wanted the
Apostles to think. He wanted them to get
it straight in their own minds. He begins by asking them what is out on the
street. “What are people saying about me?”
Vs. 14 – The Apostles gave Jesus the answer.
· Some said that he was John the Baptist.
That’s what King Herod said. “That’s
John the Baptist, who I beheaded, who is risen from the dead.”
· Some thought that he was Elijah the Prophet who was to come before the
Messiah.
· Others thought that He was the prophet Jeremiah, or another Old Testament
prophet.
Is it important
what others say about the Lord Jesus? Of
course it is! One’s opinion of and
response to Jesus will determine whether one ends up in Heaven or in hell!
Vs. 15 - Jesus then asked the most important question of all. He asked “But who do you say that I am?”
It was important
for the Apostles that their mind was made up as to the identity of the Lord
Jesus! They couldn’t truly serve Jesus
or point others to Jesus, until they understood and proclaimed Jesus’ identity
themselves. The most important thing of all is that that you know who Jesus is
and that you say so!
Vs. 16 – Peter had the right answer.
“You are the Christ, or the Messiah. You are God’s anointed one!”
But Peter didn’t
stop there he added, “You are the Son of the living God.”
Peter had it
right! And I believe that Peter was
speaking for all the Apostles with the exception of Judas. This was their core belief.
You need to
believe and profess the same thing that Peter did. You need to believe that Jesus is the
Messiah, the very Son of God. You need to believe that He died to pay for your
sins, and that He did. You also need to believe that Christ raised Him from the
dead, and you need to say so! Romans 9-10
Vs. 17 – Jesus’ reaction teaches us just how much our salvation is a work of
God’s and not our own work.
Simon Peter was
blessed because flesh and blood had not convinced Him of the truth about
Jesus. God, through His Spirit had
revealed the truth.
And although you
and I are required to proclaim our faith to others, it is the Spirit of God
that makes the identity of Christ real in the hearts of others. Anytime a person truly believes in Jesus
Christ as Savior it is a work of the Spirit of God. John 3:5-7
IS YOUR LIFE A
LIFE OF PROMISES? - Vss. 18-19
Vs. 18 – The name “Peter” means “rock” or “stone”.
When Jesus said
“and upon this rock I will build my church, He uses a work that would refer to
bedrock or a massive stone. I think of
the Rock of
Peter was a rock
or a stone. He showed that by his profession of faith. But it is on the massive rock, bedrock,
Himself, that Jesus would build his church.
Peter gave
testimony that Jesus is the rock in 1 Peter 2:6-8.
Jesus says, “Upon
this rock (meaning Himself)”, I will build my church.
The word church
means “assembly”. It means a group that
is called out.
The church is a
group of people who have saved by Jesus Christ, and called out as His special
people.
Every person who
has truly trusted Christ as Savior is a part of Jesus’ church.
Jesus said, “I
will build my church”. Are you letting
Him build you? Are you letting Him
develop you as part of the universal church and the local church? 2 Peter 3:18
2 Peter 3:18 - But grow in grace, and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…
Jesus also
promised that …and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it.
The word hell here
is “Hades” is the Greek. It is the realm
of the dead. Jesus is saying that death
can not overcome the church.
Death can not
overcome the church because the rock on which the church is built has overcome
death! He rose from the dead and gives
us the promise of resurrection. John 11:25-16
If death can not
overcome the church, death can not overcome you! Are you resting in that
promise?
Vs. 19 – Peter, I
believe, received the “keys of the Kingdom” for the Apostles and all believers
to follow.
Keys open and
lock.
Based on the Word
of God Peter could say, “if you believe on Jesus Christ, you are saved, and if
you don’t believe on Jesus Christ you won’t be saved.”
He opened the door
to those who believed.
He shut the door
to those who didn’t believe.
Most notably he
did this on the Day of Pentecost before a Jewish audience, and later before a
man named Cornelius and a Gentile audience.
You and I have the
same keys.
We can say on the
authority of the Word of God to any person who trusts Christ as Savior that the
We can say on that
same authority to a person who has not trusted Christ as Savior, that the
John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son
hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life;
but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Are you using the
keys that Jesus has given you?
Are you sharing
the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
We have promises.
The promise that
Jesus will build his church
The promise that
death will not be victorious over us
The promise that
we have the keys to the Kingdom
Are you enjoying
your promises?
Are you resting in
them?
IS YOUR LIFE A
LIFE OF PRIORITIES? - Vss. 20-26
Vs. 20 – It was not yet time for public proclamation that Jesus is the
Christ. That came later for them, which
is now for us!
Vs. 21 – Jesus taught the disciples God’s plan.
The plan was that Jesus would die for sins, be buried and rise again.
Vs. 22 – Peter did not like God’s plan.
In fact Peter thought that the person he had just proclaimed to be God’s
Son was wrong!
How often do we do
this?
We see suffering,
inconvenience, and personal sacrifice ahead for us, and say “This has got to be
wrong! Why would God allow this?”
Vs. 23 – Jesus rebuked Peter, evidently didn’t even let him finish.
Peter was letting
Satan influence him.
Satan was tempting
Jesus to give up the cross through Peter.
Therefore Jesus
said to Peter, “Get thee behind me Satan.”
Peter was an
offense, a stumbling block.
At this moment
Peter wasn’t helping Jesus, He was hindering his work.
Peter’s problem
was that he was not seeking God’s interests but man’s.
Peter had his
priorities mixed up.
Man seeks
enjoyment and pleasure and self importance.
God seeks us to be
submissive to his will.
When we seek our
own enjoyment and pleasure we become a stumbling block to God’s plan.
When we are
submissive to God’s will we become part of God’s plan.
Vs. 24 – The person who has experienced forgiveness and eternal life, the
person who is part of Jesus’ church, the person who has the Keys to the
kingdom, is to make Jesus his priority.
Making the Lord
Jesus your priority is summed up in three words:
· DENIAL – …let him deny himself…
· DEATH - …and take up his cross
· DIRECTION - …and follow me
Vs. 25 – Do you want a worthless life?
Try and protect, preserve and keep your life. Hang on to it!
Do you want a
profitable life? Lose it for Jesus’
sake!
Vs. 26 – If you are not a Christian, you have lost your soul!
You will spend eternity in hell.
If you are a
Christian, you should prove your Christianity by being sold out to the one who
died for you.
Your discipleship
proves that you are truly saved. Galatians 2:20
Christian, are your
priorities in order?
IS YOUR LIFE A
LIFE OF PRIZES? - Vs. 27
We as Christians
will be rewarded according to our works.
Salvation is free.
Prizes or rewards
are earned. 1 Corinthians 3:11-15
IS YOUR LIFE A
LIFE OF PROCLAMATION? - Vss. 13-17
IS YOUR LIFE A
LIFE OF PROMISES? - Vss. 18-19
IS YOUR LIFE A
LIFE OF PRIORITIES? - Vss. 20-26
IS YOUR LIFE A
LIFE OF PRIZES? - Vs. 27
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