"Jesus: To Believe or Not to Believe"

13) When Jesus and his disciples were near the town of Caesarea Philippi, he asked them, "What do people say about the Son of Man?" 14) The disciples answered, "Some people say you are John the Baptist or maybe Elijah [a] or Jeremiah or some other prophet." 15) Then Jesus asked them, "But who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter spoke up, "You are the Messiah (Christ), the Son of the living God." 17) Jesus told him:  " Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn't discover this on your own. It was shown to you by my Father in heaven. 18) So I will call you Peter, which means "a rock." On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it. 19) I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and God in heaven will allow whatever you allow on earth. But he will not allow anything that you don't allow.
20) Jesus told his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah (Christ).  Matthew 16:13-20 (CEV)

When Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:15-16). The Lord asks us the same question, though not with audible words. Let’s check Scripture for answers.

First, Jesus is God the Son—a member of the Trinity. After Christ’s baptism, the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove, and the Father Himself announced, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matt. 3:17).

Next, Christ is the Savior of mankind. When Adam and Eve chose to sin against Jehovah, there was a separation between God and man. In Old Testament times, an animal sacrifice was necessary to atone for the wrong in one’s life. But that was a temporary solution, until Jesus—the perfect sacrifice—atoned once for all sin. He was the only One who could satisfy God’s requirement for a Savior, because He had no sin (2 Cor. 5:21).

Finally, He is our High Priest (Heb. 4:15; 7:26). In Old Testament times, a mediator—often a temple priest—interceded between God and man, offering an animal’s blood as atonement for sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection took away the need for such sacrifice. Christ now stands as our intercessor, the bridge between Holy God and sinful man.

Who do you believe Jesus is? These characteristics of Christ are taken directly from the Bible. Do they align with your understanding? Check your view of Him against the standard of Scripture. Then ask the Lord to reveal Himself so that you can know Him accurately and personally.
 
BE BLESSED!
 
DAWN