Matthew 16.13-17 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. 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.
According to the religious and secular opinions of the day, everybody believes in Jesus. The unsaved world cannot understand why bible-believing Christians just can’t accept that fact. Well, there’s a problem. In our passages this morning, Jesus asks His disciples who people say that He is. They give a number of answers, but they are all wrong. Just like the vast majority of people on this planet, they have an unbiblical, wrong view of Jesus Christ.
Though every world religion has some view or aspect of who Jesus is, none of them line up with the truth of Scripture. Jesus is The Christ, The Son of God. Jesus is not just some great moral teacher. Jesus is not just another one in the line of the prophets. Jesus is The Christ, The Anointed One, The Son of God. Thus, any description of Jesus other than one that acknowledges Him as deity and Messiah is identity fraud. Any other Jesus is powerless to save you from the debt of sin.
But here is the beautiful mystery of God sovereign gift of salvation. Does anybody “arrive” at that understanding of who Jesus is on their own? No. Flesh and blood cannot teach you this. The correct understanding and belief that Jesus is The Christ, my Savior and Lord of all is the gift of God. The saving knowledge of Christ is a gift of God’s grace.
Dear reader, who do you say Jesus Christ is? The very salvation of your eternal soul depends upon your answer. Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. Jesus Christ is Lord of All!
