Jesus is the Rock of our Salvation.
“13) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14) And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15) He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17) And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18) I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”” Matthew 16:13-19
What was the rock upon which Jesus promised to build His church? The Catholic Church uses this phrase of obscurity to say it was Peter.
But the context is not about Peter, it is about the identity of Jesus Christ! Jesus was asking; “who do people say that I am?” The disciples sighted many theories, but only one answer was correct; “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The church is based squarely on the identity and deity of Jesus Christ. That was the subject matter of the questions Jesus asked in the context.
The rest of the New Testament is devoted to defending the identity, deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ. The gospel is about Jesus Christ and not Peter.
In 1 Peter 2:4-8, Peter himself taught that Jesus is the living stone, the chief corner stone. Never does the Bible put any man as the corner stone of the gospel or the church.
This is settled in Colossians 1:13-23. Jesus is the highest authority and head of the church. He alone is the basis of our salvation.
Philippians 2:5-11 makes it clear Jesus alone is the highest name. “9) For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11) and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
No obscure text can be interpreted is such a way as to counter the clear teaching of the rest of the Bible. This is especially true when there is an interpretation of the context that is in harmony with the rest of the Bible.
What is that interpretation? It is clear and obvious! The statement that Peter made that “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”, is the rock upon which Jesus was going to build His Church. Jesus was going to build His church and not Peter’s church.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“13) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14) And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15) He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17) And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18) I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”” Matthew 16:13-19
What was the rock upon which Jesus promised to build His church? The Catholic Church uses this phrase of obscurity to say it was Peter.
But the context is not about Peter, it is about the identity of Jesus Christ! Jesus was asking; “who do people say that I am?” The disciples sighted many theories, but only one answer was correct; “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
The church is based squarely on the identity and deity of Jesus Christ. That was the subject matter of the questions Jesus asked in the context.
The rest of the New Testament is devoted to defending the identity, deity and Lordship of Jesus Christ. The gospel is about Jesus Christ and not Peter.
In 1 Peter 2:4-8, Peter himself taught that Jesus is the living stone, the chief corner stone. Never does the Bible put any man as the corner stone of the gospel or the church.
This is settled in Colossians 1:13-23. Jesus is the highest authority and head of the church. He alone is the basis of our salvation.
Philippians 2:5-11 makes it clear Jesus alone is the highest name. “9) For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10) so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11) and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
No obscure text can be interpreted is such a way as to counter the clear teaching of the rest of the Bible. This is especially true when there is an interpretation of the context that is in harmony with the rest of the Bible.
What is that interpretation? It is clear and obvious! The statement that Peter made that “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”, is the rock upon which Jesus was going to build His Church. Jesus was going to build His church and not Peter’s church.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
