Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1939-01-05

GOLDEN TEXT-Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living God.-Matthew 1915.
''What think We of Christi"
This question, which was asked by
Jesus Himself (Matt. %: 42), is the
touchstone that tries men, and
churches, organizations, and move
ments. The answer to it determines
character, condition, and destiny.
As we study the life Of Peter and
see how he responded to the ques-
ton Of Jesus. let US not fail to apply
the truth to ourselves and to those
to whom we minister. This Is indeed
I. A Crucial Question (vv. 13-16).
With His crucifxion now only six
months away our Lord in prepara-l
ton for it is about to make a more
definite claim to Messiahship, and
thus to establish the truth in the
minds of His disciples. He there
fore asks this all-important ques-
ton about Himself.
First, it is a general query,
Whom do men say that / am?"I
The answer ". 14) indicates that
the common opinion concerning
Christ was very high one. He
had made an impression on the
people of His time, and this has
been true down through the ages.
Even those who do not believe on
Him admit that He was "the ideal
representative and guide to hui
manity." or the person before whom
everyone would kneel" But beau
tiful tributes to His character and
leadership are worse than mean
ingless unless they lead to a per-
sonal confession of Him as Lord
and Saviour.
The question becomes personal as
He asks, Whom do We say that I.
ann" That question no one can es-
cape. We cannot refuse to answer.
Neutrality is impossible. Whatever
we do or say, or do not do or say,
is decision.
Peters answer is really the sum
and substance of Christian doctrine.
He recognized Him as the Messiah,
the fulfillment of all Hebrew prophe-
cy, and as the Son of the Living
God, the Redeemer and Savior Of
men, the One in whom centers all
Christian faith.
III. A Divine Revelation (vv. III
2O).
Peter had been ready to be taught
by the Holy Spirit, and therefore,
made confession of Christ which,
was not conceived in the mind of al
man but was conviction born of
the Spirit of God (cf. I Cor. 1881.
Upon Peters confession, which
was thus really divine revelation
Of the person and work of Christ,
the Church is established, Christ
Himself being the chief cornerstone
Il Pet. 2:O with Peter himself AS
one Of the apostles built into its verN
foundation (Eph. 2:20).
Note that Christ calls it "mI
church" 1t is His Body, and He al
the Head rules over it. The gated
of Hades, that is, the wicked pow
ers Of the unseen world, while the1
now seemingly have great powell
against the Church, shall not ulti
mately prevail. We have victorI
GUS Christ. IL
The giving of the keys, and thl
authority to bind or loose have beef
variously interpreted. It woulI
seem to be clear, however, that thil
was not intended to be any persona
power to be used by Peter, AMI
quite evidently not to be transferred
by him to others. It was rather TIL
authority to admit men into TIL
kingdom of God as they fulfill Hi
provisions for entrance, and to dd
clare that those who do not entd
by way of Christ must be forevd
barred from its sacred precincts
iii. The Shadow Of the Cross wi
21-25).
The cross of Christ casts its shat
ow over the little group as jest
begins to show to His discipld
". 21) what He is to suffer as I'll
Saviour Of the world. The city I
Jerusalem exalted to heaven by
opportunities and privileges is
be the place where He is to d
nailed to the tree. "Where rosd
ought to bloom, sin has often planl
ed thorns." Peter in an outburst d
affectionate folly tries to hindd
Christ from going to the cross, AM
becomes for the moment the serJ
ant Of Satan. He "meant WE'LL
but it is not enough to have cool
intentions.
The cross Of Christ calls for TIL
cross of the Christian ". 24). Mott
well that this does not refer to it'll
acts of so-called "self-denial," but
rather to the denial of self. It mean
that self-will is set aside and Cod
will becomes paramount in the III
v. 24). 1t means the abandon
ment OF selfish motives and desireS
the losing of life for Christ's sakeI
Thus only do we find the real full
fillment Of life ". 25).