Beloved of God,
One of such verses that we can read religiously for decades is Matt. 16:16-18. In fact, It Is Hard not to Read Matt. 16:16-18 Religiously! The following article is an attempt to shed light on this weighty and blessed verse.
Matt. 16:16-18 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art THE CHRIST, THE SON of the LIVING GOD. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not REVEALED it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and UPON THIS ROCK I will BUILD MY CHURCH; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it
It’s interesting to note that reference to “this Rock” in Matt. 16:18 had to do with the revelation of Jesus THE CHRIST, the revelation of THE SON -the Manifestation of God (Acts 9:20), and this revelation is the foundation of the true church that would OVERCOME the enemy of the true Church (Ps. 110/1 Cor. 3:11)
Romans chapter 1 therefore permits us to know that THE GOSPEL is the storehouse of the Revelational materials meant for the building of the true Church (1Cor. 3:10-12). By the Gospel, Apostle Paul does not mean what we call “a good sermon” or what we easily caress from the book of Matthew to John when we want a solution to our earthly needs, because what we can carnally touch is only an INTRODUCTORY ASPECT OF THE GOSPEL which is different from THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST! The Lord could only declare his gospel in parables until The Spirit of Truth was given after his resurrection.
Apostle Paul KNEW CHRIST IN THE SPIRIT (2Cor. 5:16) and was instrumental to introducing all other disciples that once knew JESUS OF NAZARETH (Acts 10:39) to JESUS THE CHRIST (Acts 2:36). The former, though divinity in humanity, had to firstly attain a stature called Son of Man and was later MADE (Heb. 1:4) the Son of God.
The church has carried out vast exploits for generations with knowledge of, and by the anointing which JESUS once offered during his earthly walk, but we have hardly discerned the Spiritual Technology called Obedience that produced JESUS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, and this is a transition that takes place when the Lord can take us through the process that a grain of Seed embarks on when cast unto the earth and dies (Acts 9:4)
Acts 2:36 … God hath made the same JESUS, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and CHRIST.
It may also interest you to note that Peter didn’t understand the revelation he caught in Matt. 16:16! HE ONLY BELIEVED IT. Many revelations have come our way but we can hardly divide the word of truth rightly to the point of appropriating to our lives! As an apostle of the milky aspect of God’s word in the early book of Acts, Peter still manifested conversations that fell short of the standard of the gospel (Gal. 2:11/14). His conversation in Acts 10 where he religiously argued with the Lord confirmed that he had neither been CONVERTED nor STRENGTHENED (Lk. 22:32). So Peter had BELIEVED IN THE CHRIST (BELIEVED IN TRUTH) but had not KNOWN THE CHRIST (KNOWN TRUTH) like many believers and not a few ministers today.
Lk. 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and WHEN thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
In like manner, believers who OBEY CHRIST (Heb. 5:9) like the Son completely obeyed the Father are simply those who would finish their faith course (1Pet. 1:9), engage the rest programme called The Love of God. They would become a certified temple that can house the Son and the Father (Jn. 14:21/23). Such are those that would become a part of the company called THE BRIDE OF CHRIST (BELIEVING OVERCOMERS), who would wear God’s very glory in the world to come (Rev. 21:10-11)
Interestingly, believers can never Pray or Fast or Study their way into the Knowledge of Jesus THE CHRIST. We can use that to access the carnal aspect of THE FOUNDATIONAL FAITH (Heb. 6:1), but in addition, to that, we must BE PROCESSED (Jn. 8:32b) by THE BUILDING ASPECT OF FAITH (Acts 20:32/Gal. 2:20) by fellowshipping with the personalities of the Holy Spirit who has been sent into all the earth (Rev. 5:6) to introduce us to the knowledge and person of Christ (Eph. 1:17-18/Isa. 11:2)!
Acts 20:32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
Ps. 110:1 The LORD (i.e. Elohim) said unto my Lord (i.e. Adonai/Christ), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Summarily, JESUS was the name or authority by which He was commissioned in Matt. 1:21 to save his people from their sins. While journeying to fulfill the commission upon that name, he attained the first Adam called SON OF MAN. He later obeyed and pleased the father fully and attained The New Creation, World To Come Stature of the last Adam (that of a kingly prophet) wherein he would PERFECT heirs of salvation. He inherited the stature of The SON OF GOD (THE CHRIST) and he will continue to reproduce many sons after this order! 1 Cor. 15:45/Heb. 10:1/14
At our current pace, we would most likely repeat the history of “MAKING IT TO HEAVEN”, a calling not found in the New Testament, because we are called to MAKING IT TO THE FATHER (Jn. 13:3/14:2-3)
A key aspect of the Christian faith is about to begin! Worthy seekers and loving inquirers are being raised and we must seek the Christ until we are counted worthy of being his fellows that would be anointed with the oil of gladness (Ps. 45:7/Heb. 1:9).
Bless You!
Tayo Fasan