Who Is Christ-- Part 1

We are continuing our study of Matthew 16:13-19. The subject today is “Who Is Christ?” Not many people, not many religionists, know who Christ really is. As we saw in the last study, the Divine Being has timeless existence in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Son is of the Father, but the Father is never said to be of the Son. The Father operates through the Son, and the Father and the Son operate through the Spirit. The One who spoke to the disciples was the One “who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:18 NASB). It took Christ to explain the Father. Human creeds reveal how much one knows, but the Word of God reveals how little one knows. Therefore, the true understanding of Christ, the eternal Son of God, is obtained from the Holy Scriptures rather than from the creeds of men.

The religious human creed is like the sky painted on canvas. The sky on canvas is a ceiling beyond which the human eye does not wander. Outside the art gallery, there is a different sky which opens up to the same eye, a sky which seems to recede forever. The sky on canvas is something to be looked at, but the sky of nature is something to look through. Therefore, Christ in a human creed is like the sky painted on canvas. It is dry and limited. The Christ that is described by the Holy Spirit-inspired Scripture is captivating and unlimited.

When one seeks to understand Christ in the light of the restricted religious creeds of men, it leads to subjectivism and arrogance. Therefore, when one memorizes the limited creed of his denomination, he thinks he has arrived. On the other hand, when one recognizes that he is the servant of the limitless sky of Divine truth under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, he is humbled at the feet of his Savior who reveals Himself by degrees. We never stop learning, either in time or eternity. Look closely at what Paul said in Ephesians 2:5-7—“…even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (NASB).

According to Ephesians 2:5-7, God’s love for the elect is as eternal as His decree of election. In order to get the most out of verses 5-7, we must go back to verse 4 which is the turning point—“But God.” Spiritual death is the subject of Ephesians 2:1-3. It includes every person who comes into this world. “But God” brings light out of darkness, life out of death, and hope out of despair. This is the theme of I John. I John was written that we might know that we have passed out of death into life. The following are some verbs and their meanings in Ephesians 2:5-7—

1. Verse 5: “were being dead” or “were dead”—This is a present active participle accusative masculine plural of eimi, meaning to be, exist, happen, live, or belong to. 2. Verse 5: “made us alive together with”—This is an aorist active indicative third person singular of sudzoopoieo, meaning to make, do, cause, effect, or bring about. This once-for-all act of God the Father is through the Son and by the Spirit. 3. Verse 5: “You are the ones having been saved.”—This is a perfect passive participle nominative masculine plural of sodzo, meaning to save, rescue, deliver, keep safe, or preserve. This perfect passive participle is exclusively the work of God. By grace, you are the ones who have been saved with an existing state of salvation. In other words, it is by grace that you are the ones who have been “permanently” saved. 4. Verse 6: “Raised with”—aorist active indicative third person singular of sunegeiro—and “seated with”—aorist active indicative third person singular of sugkathidzo—Christ in the heavenlies in Him [“in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus”]. “In the heavenlies” is a metaphorical statement. There is a difference between the heavenly sphere (“flesh and bones”—Luke 24:39, denotes perfection) and the earthly sphere (“flesh and blood”—I Cor. 15:50, denotes imperfection). Historicists use Ephesians 2:5-7 to support their theory of no rapture in the future. They say believers are already in heavenly places, and that makes the idea of a rapture redundant. That is a perfect example of many religionists who think Scripture means what they want it to mean, not what it actually means when handled correctly.

There is a difference between observation and revelation. In Matthew 16:13, Christ’s question “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” is related to observation. The word “people” lifts the question above all national distinctions. The title “Son of Man” is representative of Christ in His mediatorial capacity. The observations of men are revealed in the disciples’ answer to Christ’s question. Notice the names of the persons mentioned in the observations of men!

John the Baptist was the first name mentioned. This brings before us the preaching of John the Baptist who paved the way for Christ (Matt. 3:1-12). Such preaching would be considered in this modern age as uncouth, rude, and untrained. However, it is God who gave the orders. He does the thinking, and we must work in the framework of His plan if our fruit is to remain. Observe the order and truths emphasized in Matthew 3! John called sinners by their rightful name, “You brood of vipers” (v. 7). He demanded fruit in keeping with their repentance. Every tree that does not bear fruit will be cut down. He baptized in water “for [eis—accusative of cause which means “because of your repentance”—not “unto” as the KJB translates and not “for” as the NASB translates—for the purpose of, or in order to] repentance” (v.11). Therefore, the correct translation of verse 11 would be “I baptize you in water because of your repentance.” Sin is viewed as disease today, and sinners are viewed as helpless and innocent victims. Cancer institutions do not advertise themselves as symbols of thoughtful hospitality like the liquor and beer industries. Heart disease spends millions of dollars advertising what obesity will do to one’s heart. What did John the Baptist’s preaching cost him? It cost him his life (Matthew 14:1-12).

John the Baptist could present the message of God, but he could not enable the people to receive it. God alone applies the message of God that has been proclaimed. John stood on the threshold of a new day, but Christ was the “door” through whom men enter. John the Baptist was the porter standing outside pointing to the “door,” and Christ is the Door (John 10:7-10).

Elijah was the second name mentioned. His name is referred to more than any other Old Testament prophet in the New Testament. The power of Elijah was known. His qualities of faith, courage, and zeal were well-known. He challenged the leaders of religion, went before Ahab, and said, “…As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (I Kings 17:1 NASB). He expressed His Master’s passion when he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Thy covenant, torn down Thine altars and killed Thy prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (I Kings 19:10 NASB).

The last reference to Elijah in the Old Testament is Malachi 4:5 and 6—“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. And he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse” (NASB). Following this statement, there were four hundred years of God’s silence before the first advent of Christ.

Since John the Baptist did not restore all things when he came, then one must come who will accomplish that very thing. Whatever Matthew 17:11-13 may mean, it cannot contradict John’s own statement. “And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you? And he confessed, and did not deny, and he confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No. They said then to him, Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself? He said, I am A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD, as Isaiah the prophet said” (John 1:19-23 NASB).

No one can deny that both John the Baptist and Elijah were in God’s purpose for Israel. Since the Jews did not receive “the Christ” sent by God as Savior, then God will send Elijah at God’s appointed time before the second coming of Christ as King.

Jeremiah was the last name mentioned before Peter’s confession. The compassion of Jeremiah comes next to that of Jesus Christ. It is a fact that the more one knows, the more he suffers. Thus he said, “OH that my head were waters, And my eyes a fountain of tears, That I might weep day and night For the slain of the daughter of my people!” (Jer. 9:1 NASB). “But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; And I did not know that they had devised plots against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, And let us cut him off from the land of the living, That his name be remembered no more” (Jer. 11:19 NASB). “For I have heard the whispering of many, “Terror on every side! Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him! All my trusted friends, Watching for my fall, say: Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail against him And take our revenge on him” (Jer. 20:10 NASB). Jeremiah was more like Christ than either John the Baptist or Elijah. Even though his life was more like Christ in patience and suffering, he could not be compared to the eternal Son of God. Although the prophet foretold the new covenant, Jesus the Christ alone could inaugurate it.

Subsequent to Christ’s first question, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”, He said to His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:13, 15 NASB). Peter said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16 NASB).

Who is Christ? The noun Christos means the Anointed One, and it is equivalent to the Hebrew Messiah. Peter’s confession affirms faith not only in Jesus the Christ, but also in the living God. This confession was in direct opposition to what the Pharisees called Christ. They called Him Beelzebub, which equals the Devil. It is a fact that most people misunderstand Jesus Christ. Although Peter’s faith in Christ arose to its highest achievement, it deserves no personal credit, because no one can call Jesus “Lord” apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul said, “Therefore I make known to you, that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, Jesus is accursed; and no one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit” (I Cor. 12:3 NASB). Therefore, every Christian, by the power of the indwelling Spirit of regeneration, says that Jesus is the Lord of his life. Beware of those who separate Christ as Savior and Christ as Lord!

Jesus Christ could commend Peter for His confession, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16 NASB), because it had been revealed to him by His Father in heaven. That is why Christ said, “…flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 16:17 NASB). Since there is no perfection in “flesh and blood” (I Cor. 15:50), God does not leave His chosen ones’ assurance of salvation to the imperfect saints on earth (I John 2:20-29). Therefore, assurance comes from God the Father who works through Jesus Christ to pay for our sins, and the indwelling Spirit of regeneration applies His message to His sheep. (See I Thess. 1:2-8.)