When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?  And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (Mat 16:13-15)

• Mat_16:16  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 
• Mat_16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood (human wisdom) hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

It is for this reason that St. Peter is believed to be the “first Pope” when Jesus Christ said:

• Mat_16:19  And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Jesus Christ further called Peter “rock” as foundation of the Church:

• Mat_16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

We read in the Old Testament actually “blueprint” for the New Testament. God is the Rock.   

• Deut_32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deu_32:18, 31)

Other Apostles and Disciples were likewise blessed identifying Jesus Christ. Today why do we hear “His different identities”? Could it be the result of human wisdom, the use of the “intellect and feeling” that is condemned in spiritual matters?

1. Jesus Christ is only a man and not God
2. Jesus Christ is only a “mighty God” for the Father is the “Almighty God”
3. Jesus Christ is just the name of God
4. Jesus Christ is the 2^nd person of the Blessed Trinity

Who is JESUS CHRIST?

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph fiancée of Virgin Mary, telling him before they came together, she was found with a child of the Holy Ghost. (Mat_1:18):

• Mat_1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

The shepherds worshiped the “child Jesus” (Luk_2:8-20), also the “wise men from the East” (Mat_2:9-11). Very clear this proved JESUS is God who alone deserves worship.

Jesus the “Son of God”

From the foregoing, therefore, very clear “Jesus is God” at the same time “Jesus is son of God”. How could these dual roles of Jesus be reconciled or resolved. Going back to the Old Testament, a “blueprint for the New”,  people were sinful and corrupt. Therefore, God had to make a “covenant or testament” to save them from eternal damnation.

• Gen_17:7  And I will establish my covenant between me and thee (Abraham) and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

Very clear, therefore, God in His human body had to take two roles as “Father and Son” to complete His plan for salvation. Jesus as Son of God took this role model in “spiritual humility” (Mat 5:3) as clearly demonstrated in the following:

• Joh_14:28  Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
• Joh_5:19  …Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do…

Apostle Paul by “divine revelation” wrote:

• Rom_8:29  For whom he (God) did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Identifying the “True CHRIST” in His dual roles as “Father and Son must be a “miracle”. This is endowed to all who humble themselves as “little children” (Mat_18:3).Who would believe this?   

• Heb_8:11  And they shall not teach every man his neighbour (not fellowmen), and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. 
• Mat_5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Therefore, Simon Peter recognized “JESUS as Son of God” revealed by “JESUS as Father God”. This is  a “miracle” beyond human competence or capability endowed to the “poor spirit” (Mat_5:3). 

Let us now listen to GOD introducing Himself:

• Deu_6:4  Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 
• Isa_43:10  Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Very clear there is only “one God” as He introduces Himself further, saying:

• Isa _43:11  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.

From the foregoing, very clear the Father of Jesus is the only GOD and saviour. Indeed, the greatest mystery is GOD performing two roles as Father and Son in one body. Simon Peter on clearly recognizing JESUS CHRIST:

• Mat_16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Very clear now identifying God and Peter:

• Deut_32:4 He (God) is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deu 32:18, 31)
• Joh_1:42  And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon (Peter) the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone (or rock).

By virtue of the foregoing, Peter was given the “keys of heaven”. Therefore, recognizing the True CHRIST is endowed this spiritual competence:

• Mat_16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 

Likewise, Jesus Christ as Father bestowed this to His other Disciples at Pentecost. He is then in His form as Holy Spirit:

• Joh_20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
• Joh_20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Very clear now it is truth in the word endowed to the Disciples; and today whoever humble themselves like “little children” are given this power to bind and/or loose on earth or in heaven is likewise endowed to them. This is exclusive to our Lord:

• Joh_14:6  Jesus in His dual roles saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Now let us note, more prominent apostle/disciple of Christ were Paul who wrote most of the Epistles. Also John the Beloved wrote the book of Revelation (Rev 1-21), and Stephen who offered his life by stoning in (Act 6:5-9, 7:54-70).

To conclude, it is TRUTH in the word of God that has the power to convict and to absolve sins.

END