Art the Christ

Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
— Matthew 14:33

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
— 1 Thessalonians 1:9

And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
— Luke 10:23-24

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
— Galatians 1:11-12

And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
— Isaiah 54:13

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
— Ephesians 1:17-18

Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
— Ephesians 3:5

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
— Ephesians 3:18-19

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
— 1 John 4:15

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
— 1 John 5:20

Thou art the Christ, by Martin Luther.

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.
— Matthew 16:16-17

Christ asks all His disciples, whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? Peter answers for all the disciples. He proclaims, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

This is a short confession, and yet it captures the heart of the Holy Scriptures. The word, Christ, was known to the religious Jews to be the seed of the woman that would bruise the serpent, as was promised in Genesis 3:15. They knew that by this seed, all generations of the earth would be blessed. They also knew that Christ would commence an eternal kingdom here on earth, that he would deliver people from sin and death and would bring them into eternal life. This person, Peter says, of which Moses and all the prophets have have testified, art thou, and Thy grace will be known throughout the whole world by Thee.

We, Thy disciples, confess and believe this about Thee. It appears that the confession, Thou art the Christ, would be enough, but Peter adds something, very important. Something which few Jews knew, and which is still not believed by the world today. He adds, thou art the Son of the living God. Peter says that God has a Son. When God brings forth from His essence or nature then that must also be God, eternal and powerful.

Therefore, the Father and the Son are one true God, however still two distinct persons. The Jews and the Muslims still do not believe it, to this day. Peter understood Christ’s office that he would execute for us in this world, and believed that Christ is God, equally powerful with the Father. To conquer sin, death, and the devil, and to grant eternal life, are things that no man can do. Sin and death will hold a man captive.

When this man, of whom Peter speaks, is the true Christ who would deliver us from the curse, from sin, from death, and from the dominion of the devil, then he must also be the Son of God, who has life in himself, and who is as mighty as God is mighty. Human power will fill us. To truly know and confess Christ in truth, we not only say the words, Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, but we also hold that truth in our hearts and believe that this Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, is the Son of God. That He has come to this earth and became man to bruise the head of the devil, and to take away the curse under which all men are, on account of sin. Also, that he will bring grace unto us. When the heart has Christ, it will not fear for sin and death. This is true confession and true faith. Let us attentively listen to this confession and learn it in truth so that we may not simply repeat it with the mouth, but may confirm it in our hearts and believe that this Jesus is the true Christ, the Son of the living God. He has paid for sin, He has mortified death, has taken the devil captive, and has destroyed Hell. We receive comfort and help against sin and death. We are not afraid, but have hope on the grace of God and eternal life.

Now, the Lord speaks to Peter, blessed art thou. That is an excellent word, to show that he who has this confession and this faith has everything necessary unto salvation. Those, however, who lack it have nothing that is necessary unto salvation. The Pharisees will attack the truth that only faith in Christ will save us. They say, What?, will Moses, will the Ten Commandments, the service to God, and the sacrifices not help us? Well, here it says, blessed art thou, Simon Barjona. The dear Peter did not do anything, but make confession with his mouth of what he believed about Christ with his heart. Christ says that Peter is blessed for believing, not for doing this or that. Although God requires good works, only this faith will serve unto salvation.

Lastly, faith is as powerful as God Himself. For that reason, God will test and try it. The devil will attack it. Christ says that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. The gates are the places where judgment takes place. So, these gates are the power of the devil and his dominion, such as kings and princes, along with the wise of this world, who will attack this Rock and this faith. However, the Rock is in the water. The waves will crash on it. Thunder and lightning will flash around it as to overturn the Rock. But it is firm and founded well. The devil will use all his power to try and destroy the Rock. However, the waves will roll back after they break. The devil is powerless. Our merciless government and high lords of this world may rage. What then? Do not take heed. They are but the gates of Hell and the waves that will charge at a Rock.

Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

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