R sbc
Date: Oct 3rd 2004
Series: Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible
Sermon # 17
Subject: “ The Identity of Jesus Christ”
Text: Matt 16:13-28
Intro: I realize as I preach this morning that many of you know who Christ is, but likewise many of you know who he is historically, many of you know who he is mentally. But when I look at this congregation, when I realize that I am preaching to who know’s on these tapes and on this telecast that many know not who Christ is.
This question that Jesus ask to his church, brought about a response that he was looking for out of them. They were the ones that needed to really know who he was so they could properly do his will.
The various opinions quickly come to life... Some believe you Lord to be John the Baptist risen from the dead: Herod said: Matthew 14:2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
None of the above mention Elias, Jeremias, or some other prophet could ever do what Jesus Christ came to do. If you are wrong on Jesus Christ, and you die that way you will pay the supreme price and that is die in your sins and go to hell.
In this text today there are four things about Christ that I wish to share with you this morning. In these things we see the real identity of who Jesus Christ is. I trust that the Holy Spirit of GOD will really reveal him to you this morning.
I... “ THAT CHRIST IS THE MESSIAH AND THE SON OF GOD”...VS 16-20
What a revelation Peter had, it was absolutely correct. Jesus Christ was the true messiah and the true Son of God. When the disciples saw Christ come to them walking on the water, Peter ask if he may come to him. The Lord permits him to walk to him. Peter loses his faith in Christ to sustain him he sinks and Christ saves him. The reaction from those in the ship was clear...
Matt 14:33 “Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying of a truth thou art the son of God. John 6: 68-Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
When Saul who became Paul was converted to Jesus Christ the bible says the following about him: Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Forty four times he is called or designated are referred to as the Son of God, one of those is in the book of Daniel in the fiery furnace Christ appears with the three Hebrew children.
No question that he is the Son of GOD.
Clearly to understand this really, it must be revealed to you. Note what he said to Peter in verse 17. It takes divine revelation. Not humanism, not free will, not human choice but the Father which is heaven reveals Christ to whom he will.
II.. “THAT HE WAS THE ONE THAT WAS TO DIE”... VS 21-23
While it is true that Peter made his public acknowledgment of Christ, it is clear that he did not yet understand what it meant for the Messiah to come. He like all others in their Jewish heritage and Jewish knowledge of the Messiah was totally different than what the Messiah was going to do.
1st. That Christ taught them: vs 21
The great teacher showing his students his disciples what the full intent of God was for him. The Lord taught his death in many ways. For instance he uses parabolical teaches to reveal what he came for.
A. The Temple of his body:
Mark 14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
B. A corn of wheat:
John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
2nd. That Christ taught them clearly: vs 21
He taught them where this was going to happen: (Jerusalem)
He taught them what was going to take place: ( suffer many things)
He taught them who he would suffer from ( the elders & religious leaders)
He taught them the fruit of it: ( raised from the dead the third day)
Once again we see Peter not really understanding the teachings of the LORD. Look at what he said to the LORD...verse 22
3RD. He taught them that they were not yet filled with the clear understanding: vs 23
Look at the explanation of Christ to Peter. You just don’t get it Peter. Look at how clear his words were to Peter. The word “savourest” means not to be able to judge between spiritual things and those things that be of men.
The LORD told Nicodemus in John 3:10-12 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have sen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell thee heavenly things?
The natural man understandeth not the things that be of God neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned. Some times we get frustrated with people who don’t believe and we fail to remember that if God does not open their ears and their eyes they will not and cannot attain unto what we are saying.
III... “ THERE IS YET A THIRD IDENTITY OF CHRIST IN THIS TEXT: VS 24-26
The great truth that Christ came to have a following, to establish his church, to begin his Kingdom. Once one understands who he is and what he demands of us then we follow him and his teachings.
1st. The fundamental teaching of discipleship: vs 24
It is “self-denial” the great enemy that we face at all times as a child of God. We must be willing to forsake all to follow Christ. Christ himself does not mince words, he does not talk around the issue, he clearly states it. The condition: “if any man comes after me” to be a true disciple of Jesus Christ you must come after him.
What is meant by coming after him?
(1.) It means that you will forsake yourself and it’s dominating force...
How this flesh takes control of us most of the time and we lose out. It wants to be pleased rather than pleasing him who died for us. We seen this in the life of the Apostles Peter denies him three times just like Christ told him he would. It is easy to say I will never do it, and then in the same breath we deny Christ.
(2.) It means that you will bear the price what ever it is:
Taking up your cross is bearing the price. Not looking back. Jesus said and I have quoted many time... “ Remember Lots wife” again he said “he that puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not fit for the kingdom of heaven.” What is it in your hands this morning that you love more than Christ. What was it that these men loved more than the work that Christ had called them too.
Luke 9:57-62
(3.) The great lose and the great gain: vs 25-26
You are really losing as a Christian when you fell to follow Christ and forsake all others. It is clear in this text what Christ is teaching these men. It is clear to me that we must be willing and we must carey out that willingness to be a true disciple of Christ.
If you are self centered, self pleasing, self justifying all the time, thinking in your mind that you are saving your life, in reality Jesus said you are losing it. Not your salvation but your Christian walk with the LORD.
But if you lose your life in Christ you will find great life. The life of the LORD the life of doing his will and not ours. Christ done his Father’s will and look at the great benefit we have because of it.
Solomon said: Proverbs 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
It is so obvious in this text that Christ is talking about the true discipleship and not salvation of the soul, I thought that for many years. Look at the next verse and your will see the context of the subject.
The word “soul” is not the same as the spirit of man, it is his life. When God created Adam he created him a living soul. So Christ is talking about man’s life. That is what he said in the previous verse, he uses the word life. In verse 25 they translate it life and in verse 26 they translate it soul. It comes from the Greek word which means the breathe of life.
The example of a righteous man who lost his life really but not his spirit was Lot. Look Abraham chose the life that was not tainted by the world and Lot chose the world and look what it cost him.
Peter wrote of Lot: 2 Peter 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:2 Peter 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
IV... “ THE CONCLUDING REMARKS OF CHRIST CONCERNING TWO APPEARANCES..VS 27-28
Note with me the two mentioned in these verse:
1st. The coming of Christ in glory: vs 26
Here I believe based upon what he has just taught them, we shall give an account of our Christian life. We shall stand before the judgement seat of Christ not for our sins, for for our works.
1 Corinthians 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Now if there is still doubt as to what Christ is talking about, then he moves to show them that they would see him come into that eternal glory before they died:
2nd. The coming of that glory: vs 27
This is not to be confused with the previous coming. This happened in some of them’s life time. The next chapter says so: Six days after this message Christ takes Peter James and John up into a high mountain....
Matt 17:2 and then Peter explains that in his epistle: 2 Peter 1:16-18