Bulletin Insert (5/09/21): "Who do Y-O-U say that I am?" (Introduction to the Doctrine of Christ)

 

“Who do Y-O-U say that I am?”

(Pastor Terry Reese, Valley GBC, Armagh, PA; 5/9/21)

 

TEXT: Matt. 16:13-23 (cf., Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-22)

 

Intro: Studies in Christology (i.e., the Doctrine of Christ).

Christology is primarily concerned with the identity of Jesus. Who is He? What is His Nature? How do the Human & the Divine Natures of Christ relate? What are the doctrinal & devotional implications of all of this?

 

The matter of Jesus’ Identity is a fundamental and watershed doctrine, dividing orthodoxy from heterodoxy, opening and closing the gates of Paradise.

 

The historic Grace Brethren Statement of Faith, Article III:

 

“WE BELIEVE in the Lord Jesus Christ in His pre-existence and deity (John 1:1-3), incarnation by virgin birth (John 1:14; Matt. 1:18-23), sinless life (Heb. 4:15), substitutionary death (2 Cor. 5:21), bodily resurrection (Luke 24:36-43), ascension into heaven and present ministry (Heb. 4:14-16), and coming again (Acts 1:11).”

 

I. The Context & Setting of Matt. 16.

A. Rising opposition; the shadow of the Cross falls upon Him.

B. Near mostly gentile Caesarea Philippi (25 mi. n. of Galilee, near Mt. Hermon); an area associated with dead idolatry & paganism.

 

II. The 1^st query (v.13): Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

The Disciples response (v.14):

"Some say John the Baptist… or one of the prophets."

 

Respectful views—but no Messianic confession amongst them!

 

III. The Question of Questions (v. 15).

He said to them, "But who do YOU say that I am?"

 

It was not yet time for public proclamation (v. 20), but it was essential that His Own understand who He was, and what He was about to do (v. 21).  

 

IV. Enormous, emphatic stress is placed upon “YOU!”

Salvation is a personal matter; regardless of the opinions of others about us as to the identity of Jesus, in the end, the only question is: “Who do YOU think about Him?”

V. The Good Confession of Peter (v. 16).

"You are the Christ [i.e., Messiah], the Son of the living God."

 

Jesus’ question is put in the plural, and bold Peter, as a natural leader, acts in a sense as a group spokesman (while not negating the personal element). Peter confesses Jesus as…

 

A. The Christ: the Messiah of OT expectations; the awaited

Mediator, ordained of the Father & anointed of the Spirit as…

 

i. Prophet (Deut. 18:15);

ii. Priest (Ps. 110:4);  

iii. King (Ps. 2:6, Zech. 9:9).  

 

B. The Son of the Living God: no less than an affirmation of Jesus’ Divine nature. He is the Son of God in a unique sense that is not applicable to any mortal being or creature.

 

John 5:18: This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

 

He is identified with the “Living God,” who is real & living, in contrast with the dead idols of the world, and who is also the source of life & vitality.

 

VI. The Lord’s response (v. 17).

A. Warm, personal, immediate, definite, commendatory.

B. Simon son of Jonah: a mere man, the son of a man.

C. His condition: “blessed” (cf., Matt. 5:3-12).

D. Flesh and blood is not the source of this revelation. Human wisdom, study, cognition, intuition, tradition, calculation, etc., could not have produced such insight. It was a matter of Divine, electing, efficacious grace (John 6:44).

 

VII. The Good—and essential—Confession; a mark of both

Biblical Fundamentalism & personal regeneration. In Christology, we are dealing with a matter of Heaven & Hell!

 

The Deity of Christ:  John 8:24: “That is why I told you that you will die in your sins, for unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins."

 

The Humanity of Christ: 2 John 7: For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.

 

What concerns could be weightier than this?