“13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His Disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?
14 And they said, Some say that You are John the Baptist: some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the Prophets.
15 He said unto them, But whom say you that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it unto you, but My Father which is in Heaven.
18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:13-18
This passage of Scripture has been greatly misunderstood through the ages, mainly due to the Roman Catholic’s teaching Peter being “the rock” of which the Lord built His Church. Not so. In verse 17 Peter Jesus calls Peter “Simon Barjona”, while in verse 18 Jesus refers to Peter as “Peter” which in the Greek means a “fragment of rock” and not “the rock”. Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone is “The Rock”. He is the head of His Church, not man (and that includes the pope).
The world does not know God through wisdom but by revelation alone. When God revealed to “Simon Barjona” Who Jesus Christ is, the Son of the Living God, Simon Barjona became a living fragment of rock (Peter) of whom Jesus would use to build His Church. Jesus Christ is the Chief Corner Stone which holds the Church (the Foundation) together.
“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done to pay the penalty of sin for the sinner and break the power of sin for the Believer, can only come from God. Intellectual knowledge of the Word of God does not reveal Jesus. The natural man cannot receive the things of God.
“But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14
This revelation knowledge of Jesus Christ given by God to Peter, the same revelation given to every born again Believer, is that which Jesus builds His Church. As living fragments of the Body of Christ, the gates of hell will not prevail. Jesus; The Christ…The Son of the Living God, has nailed to His Cross the ordinances which were against us. The principalities and powers of darkness against us have been made a show of by the Cross of Christ and utterly defeated.
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the Children of God:” Romans 8:16
Being born of the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit bears witness to our spirit. This is the revelation knowledge of which the Church is built. It’s not gold dust and angel feathers; nor is it sanctimonious ceremonies. The revelation know of the Jesus Christ results in a new creature in Christ Jesus; not a rehabilitated creature.
“17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, Who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and has committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17-19.
The born again Believer has been given a ministry of reconciliation. This reconciliation was afforded by the Cross of Christ…the Power of God to us who are saved. The world cannot receive this revelation until they hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and choose to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
Preach the Gospel Preacher. No matter the amount of intellectual knowledge and charisma one may have, unless a man be born again; born of the Spirit of God, they will not see the Kingdom of God. Redeem the time.
“17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 