Introduction To The Gospel That Belongs To Christ – Part 6

Beloved of God,

I recall facing a frustration between 1995 and about 2005. I had passionately read the bible over and over but could only relate with the letters and hardly smelt life (the spirit) as I ought, so I resorted to waiting for a change in season until I sensed the Spirit of Truth gradually helping me out on occasions. One of such verses that we can read religiously for decades is Matt. 16:16-18. In fact, It Is Hard not to Read Matt. 16:16-18 religiously! The following article is an attempt to shed light on this weighty and blessed verse.

Matt. 16:16-18 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. 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

I once saw that reference to “this Rock” in Matt. 16:18 had to do with on the revelation of Jesus THE CHRIST, the revelation of THE SON and the Manifestation of God (Acts 9:20), and this revelation is the foundation of the true church that would OVERCOME the enemy of the true Church (Ps. 110/1 Cor. 3:11)

Romans chapter 1 therefore lets us to know that THE GOSPEL is the storehouse of the Revelational materials meant for the building of the true Church (1Cor. 3:10-12). By the Gospel, Apostle Paul does not mean what we call ‘a good sermon’ or what we easily caress from the book of Matthew to John when we want a solution to our earthly needs, because what we can carnally touch is only an INTRODUCTORY ASPECT OF THE GOSPEL which is different from THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST! The Lord could only declared his gospel in parables until The Spirit of Truth was given after his resurrection.

Apostle Paul KNEW CHRIST IN THE SPIRIT (2Cor. 5:16) and was instrumental to introducing all other disciples that once knew JESUS OF NAZARETH (Acts 10:39) to JESUS THE CHRIST (Acts 2:36). The former, though divinity in humanity, had to firstly attain a stature called Son of Man and was later was MADE the Son of God. (Heb. 1:4)

The church has carried out vast exploits for generations with knowledge of and the anointing upon the name JESUS OF NAZARETH, but we have hardly discerned the Spiritual Technology called Obedience that produced JESUS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, and this is a transition that takes place when the Lord can take us through the process that a grain of Seed embarks on when cast unto the earth and dies (Acts 9:4)

• Acts 2:36 … God hath made the same JESUS, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and CHRIST.
• Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son (of God’s Faith), yet learned he obedience (of God’s Love)by the things which he suffered;

It may also interest you to note that Peter didn’t understand the revelation he caught in Matt. 16:16! He only believed it wasn’t yet his. Many revelations have come our way but we can hardly rightly divide the word of truth to interpret or translate it into life! As an apostle of the milky aspect of God’s word in the early book of Acts, Peter still manifested conversations that fell short of the standard of the gospel in Gal. 2:11/14 and in Acts 10, confirming that he had neither been CONVERTED nor STRENGTHENED (Lk. 22:32). Peter BELIEVED IN THE CHRIST (i.e. HAD FAITH IN THE LORD JESUS) but hadn’t KNOWN THE CHRIST (i.e. hadn’t KNOWN TRUTH) like many believers/ministers today.

• 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and WHEN thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

In like manner, believers who OBEY CHRIST (Heb. 5:9) like the Son obeyed the Father up until Jordan, and later unto Gethsemane are simply those who would finish their faith and love courses, attain their New Testament calling unto PRIESTLY KINGS and become a part of the company called THE BRIDE OF CHRIST/OVERCOMERS, and such are they who would also wear GOD’S GLORY in the world to come in fulfillment of Rev. 21:10-11

Interestingly, believers can never Pray or Fast or Study their way into having the Knowledge of Jesus THE CHRIST. We can use that to access the  knowledge of Jesus of NAZARETH but in addition to such, we must BE PROCESSED (Jn. 8:32b) by receiving the personalities of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:17-18/Isa. 11:2) to come into knowing THE CHRIST!

• 110:1 The LORD (i.e. God the father/Elohim) said unto my Lord (i.e. God the son/Adonai – Christ), Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Summarily, the name JESUS was the first authority he was commissioned with in Matt. 1:21 to save his people from their sins. While journeying to fulfill the commission upon that name, he attained the prophetic and kingly stature of the first Adam called SON OF MAN. He later fully obeyed and pleased the father and attained The New Creation/World To Come Stature of the last Adam wherein he would PERFECT heirs of salvation, i.e. he inherited the stature of The SON OF GOD or THE CHRIST and he continues to reproduce many sons after this order! 1 Cor. 15:45/Heb. 10:1/14

At the current pace of many believers,  many would repeat the history of MAKING IT TO HEAVEN which is eternally different from MAKING IT TO THE FATHER (Jn. 13:3)

A key chapter of the Christian faith has begun! Worthy seekers and loving inquirers are being raised and we must seek the Christ until we are counted worthy of being his fellows that would be anointed with the same oil of gladness (Ps. 45:7/Heb. 1:9).

Blessings!

Tayo Fasan