Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in the heavens. (18) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church,
Peter's confession did not come through a revelation of flesh and blood; he made this confession based on the revelation he received from God. This shows that Peter did not receive a Christianity that was handed down by others. He did not confess the Lord as the Christ just because others told him the Lord is the Christ. He did not confess the Lord as the Son of the living God just because others said he was the Son of the living God. This was not something that Peter thought of by himself, or something others told him. The Father in the heavens revealed this to him and gave him this knowledge. Peter's confession was not based on man's conjecture or teaching of others. It was based on God's revelation of His Son in his spirit. This was the basis of his knowledge of Him as the Son of God and as the Christ of God. The church is built upon this confession. This confession is based on God's revelation, and this revelation reveals Christ's person and work to man. When the Father who is in the heavens revealed this to Peter, He showed Peter that this One is the Son of God and the Christ of God. The Lord said, "Upon this rock I will build My church." What is this rock? It is Peter's confession: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." This work is man's confession, and it is also God's revelation. It is Christ Himself. This is the rock. The Lord is building His church upon this rock.
Bible verses are taken from the Recovery Version of the Bible and Words of Ministry from Watchman Nee, Central Messages, pp. 111. Both are published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. Please visit us at www.emanna.com. Send comments to: [email protected].
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