The Vital Question

“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?

And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)

John the Baptist had been killed by Herod, and some people thought he might have come back as Jesus.  Others thought he might be Elijah because of the prophecies about him coming to prepare the way of the Lord.  Still others thought he might be Jeremiah or some great prophet.   Literally, their response was the same as a great many people today, that Jesus was very important religious figure and a great moral teacher, comparable to Mohamed or Moses or Buddha. 

When Jesus asked who the disciples thought he was, Peter said that they believed he was the Messiah  that God had promised.  Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Messiah or promised one.  He went on to describe him as the son of the living God.  The wording here implies a physical son, not just a spiritual relationship.  John 3:16-18 refers to Jesus as the only begotten son.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  The Phrase “only begotten son” means that Jesus is the only son physically born to God, in the same way a human child is born to a human father through the natural birthing process.    While humans or angels may be referred to as children of God because they were created by him, they were not born to God by the natural process.   

 Literally Peter was saying Jesus is God born in a natural human manner.   He is not just another great prophet or teacher.  I John 4 gives a series of tests for determining whether a religious teacher or movement is from God or not.  The very first test is what they believe about who Jesus is, according to I John 4:2-3.  “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”  If they do not believe Jesus is God come in the form of a natural human being, they are inspired by a Satanic spirit, rather than the Holy Spirit. 

“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.  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:17-19)

Peter’s belief was not based on human logic or claims, but on what God had taught him.  He then went on to refer to Peter by his Greek name of Petros, or a small stone, in a play on words, saying he would built his church on Petra, the bedrock or mother stone, of which Peter would be just a small piece.  Time after time, we are told that that Rock is Jesus, the chief cornerstone and foundation of God’s church.  The church will never be destroyed by Satanic forces. 

Jesus disciples (Christians) would be given the keys, or means of access into heaven, so that others could go in as well.   I Corinthians 1:21 tells us, “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”  Christians were given the responsibility for telling others about Christ so that those who would believe could be saved.  Those who believed on earth would be saved for eternity, and those who did not would be condemned for eternity.  There would be no Purgatory, no changing their mind after death.

The Jews knew what the scriptures said about the Messiah, and would have to make their own decision whether they believed Jesus was him or not.  Matthew 16:20 tells us, “Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.” Salvation requires sincere belief.  Simply giving mental assent to his being the Messiah will not save anyone.