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. 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. Then charged He his disciples that they should tell no man that He was Jesus the Christ. (Mat 16:15-20)
The great proclamation of faith, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son. Peter spoke up, loudly and boldly answering for them all, of the faith and knowledge the disciples had come to know of our Lord. Jesus acknowledges their faith, what it would mean to them all, and its place in the Kingdom, and then tells them to keep it quiet until the proper time to proclaim Him to the whole world. Their faith led them to turn the world upside down with their doctrine. Each a lively stone in the living building GOD has placed us in, standing on the foundation of Jesus.
Jesus Christ, and our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, is the bedrock of His Church. We observe to do all that He has commanded because of our faith in Him and His Word. We go where He tells us to go, because of our faith in His power and presence with us. Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of GOD, and is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; but without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to GOD must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. We walk by faith and not by sight.
Those of us who know Him, and have a relationship with GOD through the Spirit of GOD, because of our repentance of sIn, and our faith in Him, are His Church. We are here to do His work, and accomplish His will, until He takes us Home to be with Him. We are His ambassadors, living here, but residents of another country. We are ministers of reconciliation, lifting Him up so that He will draw other to Himself, that they might be saved.
We believe, and so we minister to those around us in His Name, that they might see Jesus in us, the hope of glory. We study His Word and learn of Him, that we might be His disciples indeed, and know the Truth of GOD, and exercise our faith unto GODliness. We share our faith with those around us, proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will hear and believe. As we go, we tell all of faith in Christ, and forgiveness of sIn, that can remove the condemnation and judgement that GOD has declared against sIn, that those who believe the Good News may have life in His Name.
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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