Matthew 16:13-17 "Who do you say that I am?"

Matthew 16:13-17 "Who do you say that I am?" Marc Transparenti / General The King's Road of Preparation / Confession; Salvation; Revelation; Messiah; God; Cults and Non-Christian Religions / Matthew 16:13-17 Jesus takes His disciple to Caesarea Philippi Good Morning Calvary Chapel Lake City! • Parents...you may dismiss your kids. • If you don't have a Bible... • If you are new to Calvary Chapel...I'm Pastor Marc. Thanks for joining us today. Announcements: • Starting this Friday at 7pm, we will have a prayer gathering at my house to pray corporately for all kinds of things. It will be a sweet time. If you don't have my address, just see Amanda or I afterwards. • Also, next Sunday is 4th of July and our monthly fellowship lunch, so bring a dish or just come hungry! Please turn in your Bibles to Matthew 16, picking up in verse 13, where we enter into a new theme...which we will observe from Matt 16:13 through Chapter 20...leading up to The Triumphal Entry in Chapter 21. Since we are starting a new theme today, let's take a moment to reflect back on what we have read thus far in Matthew...a quick re-cap. Matthew's Gospel is the account of Jesus written to the Jews proving that Jesus is their Messiah and King...the long awaited Son of David. And, Matthew established Jesus is the King in various ways: In Chapters 1-10 the overarching theme is "The King Revealed" as Matthew unveils... • Jesus' Davidic lineage... Fulfilled prophecy in birth... Kingly gifts from Wise Men. • Jesus is announced by the forerunner John the Baptist...as it was typical for a forerunner to announce a King. • Jesus was divinely approved by the Father and the Holy Spirit at His baptism. • He was victorious over Satan during the wilderness temptations. • Jesus taught the Sermon of the King / The Sermon on the Mount...which laid out principals for the King's citizens. • Jesus then demonstrated His Kingly Authority through various miracles, teachings, and power over man and nature. Starting in Chapter 11, the theme shifted to "The King Rejected." • In Chapters 11-12, the theme was "Opposition to the King" and that opposition came from both friend and foe alike. • In Chapter 13, in response to the opposition, Jesus spoke in parables...8 parables...and depending on the soil of one's heart...good or bad...the truth of the parable was either concealed or revealed. • From Matthew 13:54 to Matt 16:12 we observed "The Grace of the King" where despite rising hostility and opposition to the Jesus, the King of kings...Jesus continued to have compassion on both Jews and Gentiles alike (healing, feeding, and ministering to them). • Now, beginning today...from Matt 16:13 to Matt 20, we will observe Jesus turning His eyes inward...focusing on His disciples. • We are in Jesus' third and final year of ministry. He has been demonstrating, to the multitudes, through teaching, preaching and healing that He is their Messiah and King. Jesus' focus had been on the multitudes... • He went first to the Jews, and then the Gentiles, and all along the disciples were there, and they had break through moments where they seemed to understand who Jesus is, but more times than not...they were a little dull...a little doubting...they had little faith. • But now...the Cross awaits. Jesus knows His appointed time is coming to redeem mankind from their sin...that time is closing in. • And, Jesus knows He is about to pass the keys of the kingdom to the Twelve Apostles...twelve stooges...foolish things of the world...uneducated and untrained men...the same men that would be used by God to turn the World upside down...not because of their own merit, but because of what the Jewish High Council observed of them in Acts 4 "...they realized that they had been with Jesus." • And, as Jesus is on the road to the cross with His disciples, the time has come for intense discipleship. • From Matt 16:13 to Chapter 20, we will see King Jesus preparing and instructing His disciples of His impending rejection and the principles they will need to know... that they will need to live... as Jesus builds His church through them. Thus, our general theme for the weeks ahead is "The King's Road of Preparation." • And, this begins with a very significant scene today...and Jesus takes His disciples to a center of Pagan worship...Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus will ask the most significant question in all of life and eternity, and this question will be the title of our sermon today "...Who do you say that I am?" Let's Pray! Matt 16:13 "When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 1. Our setting, chronologically, took us from the region of Magdala on the Northwest coast of the Sea of Galilee, then they sailed to the other side, and in Mark's account we read they went to Bethsaida, which is on the Northeast coast of the Sea of Galilee. And, now Jesus takes His disciples about 30 miles north (which you can see on the map behind me), about a 9 hour walk to Caesarea Philippi which has had several names historically. a. This area was renamed several times as new rulers took over the land. The area had historical ties to Baal, but was settled in the 3rd century B.C. and called "Paneas," giving a nod to the Greek god "Pan" (the flute playing 1/2 man, 1/2 goat false deity). This area became a Greek cult center to Pan, Zeus, and other false gods, and the worship practices in this area were demented and twisted. i. From 20 B.C. to A.D. 34 the area was called "Caesarea Paneas" according to Josephus... or "Caesarea Philippi," as listed in the Bible, recognizing Roman Caesar Tiberius and Herod Philipp who ruled this area during Jesus time. ii. In AD 61-68, the area was know as "Neronias," after Caesar Nero (that title didn't last long), and today, iii. In 635 AD, the area rapidly fell into decline with Muslim conquest and inhabitants fleeing. Today, the area is known as "Banias," which is an Arabic form of Paneas. 2. Now in this area, stood the Grotto of Pan...I have a picture of this area which you can tour if you visit Israel. I have two slides I want to share with you of this place. a. The first slide is taken from above and you get a good picture of the ruins of the ancient temples that stood side by side here. And, the second slide you see up close the various niches carved into the rock where idols were placed, such at Echo the mountain nymph said to be a consort to Pan. To the left the large cave was dedicated to Pan and was said to be one of the gates of hades. i. Water formerly flowed out of this cave...it was one of the 3 sources of the Jordan river, and animal sacrifices were thrown into the water...if they sank they were said to have been accepted by the gods. ii. But, the water flowing out of this cave was re-routed by from seismic activity. b. When you visit this place you think about all the people who were deceived and the horrible forms of worship committed here. And, then you see the ruins, and the large cave linked with Pan worship. And, the area feels heavy...you can imagine the spiritual stronghold this place once was. i. But, today there are only ruins, and a dried up cave...which is a testimony of God's judgment...this place did not stand the test of time. God dried it up, and broke it down in very natural ways. Time revealed the truth, and in this place there was no truth. ii. At one time, this place was a loud and deceptive voice to the culture of that day. And, this reminds me of the the voices...the loud deceptive voices of movements today that are deceiving many. Movements that claim they stand for social justice, but are just causing trouble and dividing our nation and world...they too will not stand the test of time. BLM, Woke...God will dry them up too. 1. Movements that are not of God will collapse. These organizations are not pure...they promote equality and justice, but they have a hidden agenda. 2. You want a picture of equality? In Rev 5 the Twenty Four Elders, a picture of the church, sing a song to Jesus... listen to their song in this future heavenly scene...Rev 5:9 "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." a. That's equality...God calls His church out of every nation tribe and tongue and people and nation. b. Movements that are not of God will collapse. 3. In Acts 5, Gamaliel, to the Jewish High Council who wanted to stop the early church...Gamaliel illustrated historically that false movements come to nothing, but a true movement of God is unstoppable. He said to His colleagues, Acts 5:35-39 "Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. 36 For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing. 37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed. 38 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it-lest you even be found to fight against God." 4. Historically, there have been many movements that do not stand the test of time. But, the early church was of God...it could not be overthrown then, nor will it be today. c. Going back to this Grotto..you may have heard...I have...that this was the backdrop to this scene of Jesus and His disciples at Caesarea Philippi. i. There is some logic in this thought...the Grotto of Pan in the background would have made quite the visual...the imposing rock face contrasted to Jesus' statement "on this rock I will build my church." And, the grotto being called the gate of hades, and Jesus said, the "gates of hades shall not prevail." ii. So, this setting is a possibility, BUT we are not sure exactly where in Caesarea Philippi Jesus was when He asked His disciples this stirring question. 1. Matthew says they were in "the region of Caesarea Philippi." 2. Mark says, "Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples saying to them, "Who do men say that I am?" 3. And, Luke doesn't supply any geography. He just states, "as He [Jesus] was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?" 4. So, feel free to imagine this setting, but don't set your heart on this setting. iii. But, what's interesting about the possibility of the Grotto of Pan as the backdrop for this conversation is Jesus is contrasting Himself...truth...the Son of Man, a messianic title...with man's opinions on who He was...they thought Him just another prophet. And, standing at this Grotto, would have placed Jesus...truth amidst many false gods... the Grotto of Pan...a fountain of lies...contrasted to Jesus...truth. d. Jesus' question to His disciples is, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" i. As we read on, we will see that people had all kinds of ideas of who Jesus was...and they were all false. Jesus correctly identifies who He is... the Son of Man. Jesus declares He is Messiah...He is not John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets...all wrong ideas of who Jesus was. ii. When Jesus poses this question to His disciples, notice... Jesus gives the answer in the question. Who is Jesus? He is the Son of Man...which looks back to OT messianic verses such as, Dan 7:13-14 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed." iii. The title Messiah, is of Hebrew mâshîyach- meaning "anointed." Kings were anointed with oil. In Gk. mâshîyach is often translated Christos- the Christ also meaning "the Anointed One, Messiah." 1. Christ is not Jesus' last name...it's His title. Jesus means "Jehovah is salvation" or "Jehovah, my salvation" or simply "Savior" and that's His mission. iv. Jesus tells the disciples...He is the Son of Man...the Messiah. When Jesus asks in V15, "But who do you say that I am?"... 1. This is like an open book test. Jesus gave them the answer! I remember in college...I had this professor who would post the answers to the test questions around the room. He said, "In life, you have to be street smart." I'm not sure about the method, but it was an easy A...He was a cool professor. 3. Continuing to V14, the disciples response to Jesus... Matt 16:14 So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 1. The disciples share the thoughts...the speculations of the people on who Jesus was...they likened Jesus to one of several prophets...John, Elijah, Jeremiah...they were all prophets...men that God used as 'inspired spokesmen'...that's the definition of a prophet, an "inspired spokesmen." a. Still, all of these responses were wrong because they reduced Christ to a common man...even as awesome as the ministries of these Prophet's were...they were men used by God, but salvation was not in their name. They pointed to Messiah...Jesus is Messiah. b. The Book of Hebrews opens with, Heb 1:1-2 "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds..." i. A prophet cannot put on their resume "heir of all things" or "maker of the worlds." Jesus is more than a prophet indeed. 2. But, why did they say John the Baptist? I don't think it was the looks...we never read Jesus having honey dripping from His beard, eating locusts, and wearing camel hair, but the message "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Both John and Jesus began their ministries with this message...John in Matt 3:2; Jesus in Matt 4:17. And, both had an effect on the nation...masses of people were turning to God. a. Herod Antipas, Matt 14:2, also thought Jesus was John, but that was out of his on demented paranoia for killing John. b. Jesus was not John...John said, "Behold the Lamb of God..." John said, "He must increase, but I...decrease." John was the forerunner to the King, Jesus is the King. 3. Why Elijah? If you compare their ministries, the miraculous works are similar. Both raised the dead, both multiplied food, both stood for truth. But, to compare Jesus to Elijah...is to take away His Messiahship. a. Mal 4:5 prophecies, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD." b. If Jesus were Elijah, again He would have simply have been a forerunner to the Lord. Elijah is very likely one of the Two Witnesses in Rev 11, but he is not the LORD. 4. Why Jeremiah? Known as the "Weeping Prophet," especially for his broken heart for the nation of Israel as you read Jeremiah's writing "Lamentations." a. Jesus too lamented over Israel, Matt 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!" b. Jeremiah was also known as a 'prophet of doom' for his negative prophecies over the nation, and Jesus too pronounced, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!...and you Capernaum..." in Matt 11... not to mention the numerous Woes He pronounced over the scribes and Pharisees in Matt 23. c. There was also Jewish tradition that tied Jeremiah to significant events. i. The historical, but not inspired, writing 2 Maccabees 2 speaks about Jeremiah hiding the tent, the ark and the altar of incense in a cave which would be revealed by the Lord when He gathers His people together. ii. In 2 Maccabees 15 Judas Maccabees spoke of a vision of Jeremiah giving him a golden sword, a gift from God, to strike his enemies. This would have fallen in the 400 silent years...and somewhat contradicts the idea of God's silence from Malachi to John, but shows the Jews had a high regard for Jeremiah. iii. In 2 Esdras 2:18, another non-inspired writing, Jewish tradition... it reads "I will send you help, my servants Isaiah and Jeremiah." There was an expectation that Jeremiah would come before the End, and this tradition may have been why the Jews mistook Jesus for Jeremiah. d. Why "one of the prophets?" i. This is just a catch all. This group esteemed Jesus in high regard...as a prophet, but thought of Him as lower then Messiah. e. The people had many thoughts on who Jesus was, but they were all wrong. 5. And, when you survey the masses today...it's not so different. People still have a lot of wrong ideas about who Jesus is. a. There are many people today that believe Jesus was a good teacher, an example of love, a great humanitarian, an excellent leader, a miracle worker...but, unless you confess Him as Lord...you reduce Him to less than who He is. He is Lord...the King...He is God. i. 1 Jn 2:22 states "Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son." ii. The enemy has inspired many people to have respect for Jesus, but to deny His deity. And, if you deny His deity, whether intentional or not...you have aligned yourself with antichrist...who is aligned with Satan. 6. Listen to some of these wrong teachings on Jesus...and this just scratches the surface: a. Muslims respect and even venerate Jesus who they think of as a prophet...one of God's greatest messengers to humankind. They believe in His virgin birth, miraculous ministry and that He is Messiah, but they deny that He is God. In fact inside the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, an inscription reads "There is no God but God; Muhammad is his Prophet. Jesus is also his Prophet, but God has no son; He neither Begets nor is Begotten." i. That's not what I read in my Bible (which predates Islam)...my Bible states, Jn 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God." Jn 1:14 "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." ii. Jesus is the Word who was with God in the beginning... and who is God...and was with God... and became flesh and dwelt among us...THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER! That's what my Bible says! Jesus is the Son of the Father and He was begotten. iii. Begotten, Gk. mŏnŏgĕnēs meaning "only offspring" or "only born." iv. Jn 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." v. Jn 3:18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." vi. 1 Jn 4:9 "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." b. Mormons believe in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...three in...three. They deny the Trinity. They believe Jesus is their saviour, but deny that He is God. They say He is a created being, the first spirit to be born of the Father...one of God's many sons...one of many Gods...a spiritual brother of Lucifer. i. My Bible says Jesus is the only begotten...He has no siblings...He's not the spiritual brother of Lucifer...nor of one of God's many sons. c. Jehovah Witnesses reject the deity of Christ, the trinity, the Holy Spirit...they say Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. They claim our Bible has been corrupted over the ages, and only THEIR bible translation is accurate. i. My Bible says Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and that He is God...Jesus is not an angel. ii. GotQuestions.org says this of the JW Bible version, "The New World Translation is unique in one thing - it is the first intentional, systematic effort at producing a complete version of the Bible that is edited and revised for the specific purpose of agreeing with a group's doctrine. The Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Society realized that their beliefs contradicted Scripture. So, rather than conforming their beliefs to Scripture, they altered Scripture to agree with their beliefs." In other words, buyer beware. d. Last one...Unitarians deny the Trinity teaching instead that God is simply one. They believe Jesus was a great teacher, inspired by God, and a wonderful example, but they deny that He is God. i. I seem to remember a scene at Jesus' baptism where Jesus was getting baptized, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and rested on Him, and the Father spoke from heaven, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Mt 3:17 I was never really good at math, but I count 3...God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. ii. And, I recall Jesus saying, "I and My Father are one." Jn 10:30 e. Did you hear the theme in all those false teachings? If you are ever confused where a person stands. Just ask them if they believe Jesus is God, and ask if they believe in the Trinity. That's all you need to remember. Cults, world religions and so forth deny these doctrines. i. In 2015, I found myself in an intense conversation with a Mormon. He kept telling me, "Jesus is my savior...we believe in the same Jesus." I kept telling him, "You're preaching another Jesus," as Paul spoke about in 2 Cor 11:4. We went back and forth for an hour, until I threw down the gauntlet...."my Jesus is a monotheistic [one God], trinitarian [referring to the doctrine of the trinity] God [Jesus is God]." He replied, "That's not my Jesus!" I wanted to say, "That's what I've been saying to you for an hour!" 1. God gave me those words in that moment "my Jesus is a monotheistic, trinitarian, God." ii. So, once we agreed that he was preaching another Jesus...then I warned him about His eternal fate, and he warned me...ended in a stalemate. Save yourself an hour...just go straight to... "Jesus is God...I believe in the Trinity." The conversation will be over quick...they will wipe the dust off their feet at you...and move on to the next sucker. f. Listen, there is nothing new under the sun...in every generation there have been wrong teachings about Jesus. You need to know and understand the truth about Jesus. i. I like how Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addressed the Jewish High Council in Acts 4:11-12 and spoke this about Jesus, "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." 7. So, Jesus asked who do people say that I am? Now, he asks His disciples what they believe...V15... Matt 16:15-16 "He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered [of course it was Peter...vocal Peter] and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 1. "But who do you say that I am?" Jesus begins His question with the word "But..." Note that word. It's a contrast. People may have false impressions about Jesus, but where do you stand? Forget what people say... But who who do you say Jesus is? a. In Matt 7:13-14 Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." b. Many people in the world answer this question inaccurately. There is one correct answer about who Jesus is and that answer determines which gate you walk through eternally. i. Peter answers correctly... "You are the Christ [Gk. Christŏs, the Anointed One, the Messiah], the Son of the living God." In Jewish reasoning, to be the Son of the living God was to be God. 1. He is the living God...He is not dead. The Grotto of Pan is full of dead Gods. Mohammed is dead, Joseph Smith is dead, Charles Taze Russel is dead, and Theophilus Lindsey is dead. In Jerusalem there is an empty tomb...Jesus is alive...He is the Son of the living God. ii. Peter professes, You are Messiah and You are God. If you profess anything else about Jesus...wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. 1. All roads lead to eternity, and all roads lead to God, but only one road leads to life, to heaven, and to eternity. a. Eternity in heaven is described where God will dwell with His people (Rev 21:3) ...in His eternal city where the streets are paved with gold, twelve pearl gates, foundations of precious stones,... b. ...where there is "no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light." (Rev 21:23) c. And, where "there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (Rev 21:4) d. God gives us a great picture of heaven, and to get there one must enter by the narrow gate...and walk the difficult way which leads to life. e. That journey begins with an honest confession to the question, "But who do you say that I am? i. Peter's confession was true. Rom 10:9-10 is also true... "...if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead [an believe in the hope of the resurrection], you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." ii. If there is anyone here today that has not made that public confession, you have not yet entered through the narrow gate that leads to life. You are on the broad way that leads to destruction...where the worm dieth not. iii. But, you can and you should profess Jesus today. See me afterwards...I'll pray with you. Just tell me...I want to have a relationship with God...I believe Jesus is Lord God and want to confess Him today. "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart." 2. Jesus responds to Peter V17... Matt 16:17 "Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah [Bar- "son of"...Simon son of Jonah...not the whale guy...that was a different age...], for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." 1. If you are confused who Simon is...it's Peter. When Jesus first met Peter, He gave Him a new name...Jn 1:42 "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone)." a. Cephas is Aramaic. The Greek form is Pĕtrŏs- Peter. Both mean "a rock or stone." 2. Peter was blessed... "Oh how happy." Same as the beatitudes...the blessings. Why was Peter blessed? a. Because of personal merit? No. b. Because of accurately regurgitating a teaching by man? No. c. But, because of spiritual revelation directly from the Father in heaven. His confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." was a direct revelation from God. d. By your own merit and by repeating a teaching from other people, you will not be saved. Salvation is not an intellectual exercise, but a spiritual revelation. i. In Gal 1:11-12, Paul said, "But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1. On the road to Damascus, Paul was struck blind and Jesus spoke to him...truth and his true purpose was revealed....Jesus would make him a minister and a witness of the Gospel. ii. In 1 Cor 2:9-10, Paul wrote, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit." 1. Salvation is prepared by God, accomplished by Jesus Christ and revealed by the Holy Spirit. a. Revealed Gk. apŏkaluptō - root word for "Revelation"- to uncover, to unveil. b. 2 Cor 4:3-4 Paul wrote, "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." i. Satan...the "god of this age" is blinding people to think of Jesus as other than who He is...LORD...Messiah...God. Jesus is the LORD of lords, and KING of kings. ii. Listen, I've read Revelation...we win in the end, but in the meantime, there are people perishing...there are eternal causalities of war. iii. Listen to me...we are in a spiritual battle. And, if you are saved, you are an Ambassador of Jesus and His Gospel...His Good News...that Salvation is a free gift...no longer do we need to be bound in our sins...there is freedom, now and eternally, in Christ Jesus. That is good news indeed! Let's Pray! Next week, we will pick up in V18...read ahead. "Who do you say that I am?" "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." If you have not made that confession...do it today...right after service. Time is not a promise...eternity could be right out those doors. Go take our gospel to a world that is perishing! Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 11:16 PM June 26, 2021.