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MATTHEW - Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Matthew
PART 2 - Christ teaches and Ministers in Galilee (Matthew 5:1 - 18:35)
D - The Unbelieving Jews and Their Enmity to Jesus (Matthew 11:2 - 18:35)
3. Jesus' Ministry and Traveling (Matthew 14:1 - 17:27)

k) True Faith is a Gift of the Father’s Revelation (Matthew 16:17-20)


MATTHEW 16:17-20
17 Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.” 20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.
(Matthew 11:27; 18:11; 17:9, John 1:42, Ephesians 2:20, Galatians 1:15-16)

Jesus did not deny that He was the true Christ but confirmed Peter’s confession and officially blessed him. He obtained this knowledge neither from his mind nor from his own experience, but by a direct revelation of the Holy Spirit. All true knowledge is a work of God’s Spirit that glorifies Christ, and all true faith is a gift of God, and not out of logical analysis or fantasy. By accepting the title, “the Son of God,” Jesus called the Creator His Father, but not a father through a physical relationship as some people think. Christ is the spiritual Son of God before all the ages. Christ is the Son from eternity. His birth from Virgin Mary was not the beginning of His existence, He became incarnate to reconcile us to His Father.

Do you believe that Christ is the Son of God, that you may live forever? Do you sometimes confess this title publicly, that you may live in joy? It is through this confession, inspired by the Father and through the work of the Holy Spirit, that the church grows at all times. It is not built on a weak, unstable person like Peter, but on his courageous confession that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the Holy God.

This testimony is stronger than hell, and more powerful than sin. No spirit and no devil can contend with this divine fact. This name, “the Son of God,” unties the bonds of sin and delivers sinners forever. He that believes in the name of Christ shall enter into the living church. He that testifies for Him shall save prisoners from hell. He that rejects this unique name shall be under the wrath of God forever.

Confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the key to the door leading to heaven. He that believes in these words and confess them shall be saved. He that rejects them shall perish. It is to be noted that no man, not even Peter, can open the door of heaven on his own accord. But these two testimonies that Jesus is the promised Christ, and that in Him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, unify us with the Unity of the Holy Trinity. He that follows Him shall be justified, and he that proclaims His name shall save many.

PRAYER: Holy Father, We thank You because You lead Peter to confess Christ through inspiration of Your Holy Spirit. You guided him to the supernatural confession of Christ’s sonship to God. Please open our hearts and understanding that we may hear Your voice, recognize the oneness of the Father and the Son, and dare to testify for Your truth that many may be delivered from their sin.

QUESTION:

  1. What is the foundation of the church and the key to heaven?

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