But Whom Say Ye That I Am?

Matthew 16:13-17, “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? 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 Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

Jesus was testing His disciples in our text passage of Scripture. The Lord asked them whom the people say that He is. The disciples responded by saying that some of the people think he is Elijah the prophet. Others said that He is Jeremiah the prophet. Still other said He is John the Baptist. But the Lord asked them the $64,000 question: “BUT WHOM SAY YE THAT I AM?” I love how impetuous Peter was, speaking right up to say: “THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD”! Boy, I love that! And I 100% agree with Peter. Jesus is the promised Christ that should come, to save us from our sins. Jesus is the only begotten Son of the living God. Jesus “is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe” (1st Timothy 4:10).

Oh dear friend, do you believe? John 6:47, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” Carefully notice that Jesus didn't ask the disciples in Matthew 16:13-17 if they had “repented and turned away from their sins.” This is a popular damnable heresy which has crept into most Baptist churches today, called Calvinism (aka, Lordship Salvation). The Gospel set forth in the Scriptures is intentionally kept very easy, simple and free, so that even a small child can be saved, simply by believing upon the name of the Lord. Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins. He was buried. Three days later He physically resurrected from the dead. This is the Gospel (or Good News) according to John 19-20 and 1st Corinthians 15:1-4. Believe it oh sinner and you have eternal life!

The inspired Word of God is so simple. Men complicate everything, don't they? Yes, men make salvation hard. If you don't believe it, read what Pastor John MacArthur teaches, even using the word “HARD” concerning salvation. No my friend, getting saved is not hard at all, it is very simple according to the Bible. 2nd Corinthians 11:3-4, “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” 

So I ask you friend, whom do you say that Jesus is? If you think Jesus was a mere historical figure—a man who once existed, but died like any other man, then you are not saved. If you merely think that Jesus was a prophet, as did George Harrison of The Beatles, then you are not saved. If you think Jesus was a remarkable man, who spoke some great enlightening words, but was elevated by men to the status of deity, then you are not saved. Ah, but if you accept what the Holy Bible teaches—that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16), the crucified, buried and risen Christ (John 20:31), and you receive His sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins—you have eternal life. Whom say ye that Jesus is?