GOD’S WORD FOR DECEMBER 2

Our  book this month  is a continuation of “Chiseled by the Master’s Hand ~ Lessons From the Life of Peter,” by Erwin  Lutzer.  Dr. Lutzer is  Canadian-born and served as Senior Pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years, until his retirement in 2016.   He now serves as Pastor Emeritus of Moody Church.  He’s written many books and has radio and internet teaching programs.

PETER’S PERSONAL PROMISE (cont’d)

Matthew 6:13-20

The third possible interpretation of Matthew 6:16-17 (of the “rock”) goes like this:  that Christ indeed did refer to Peter.  Since he had confessed Christ in the presence of the other apostles, Christ was now conferring upon him a special place in the coming  Church.    Peter was, as it were, the first stone in the new building.  He was closest to the foundation stone, namely Christ Himself. 

Years later the Apostle Paul spoke of the apostles and prophets as being a part of the foundation of the church, “Having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Cornerstone.”  (Ephesians 2:20).

Peter is one important stone among many in the building of this spiritual edifice.  This interpretation would also agree with Peter himself, who spoke of Christ as the Cornerstone and all of us as “living stones” in the building (1 Peter 2:4-8).  Peter and the other apostles are next to the Chief cornerstone, then follows the entire redeemed host.  As we shall see, Peter preached both to Jews and Gentiles, playing a crucial role in the establishment of the Church.  The rest of us are also there, a part of the structure, living stones in Christ’s building.

This text, however, cannot be used to justify the papacy as it has been known throughout history.  Even if the church was built on Peter alone…..

1.  Nowhere do we read that Peter’s authority is transferable; and
2. We have no warrant to suppose that this authority has been transferred to the popes of Rome; and, finally,
3. Although Peter may have come to Rome near the end of his life, there is no historical evidence whatever that he was the bishop of Rome.

A second crucial question:   What are the keys which were given to Peter? 

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you shall bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you shall loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”  (Matthew 16:19). 

Though the words were spoken to Peter, we know that all of the disciples shared the responsibility as keepers of the keys.  In Matthew 18:18,  Christ gave the responsibility of binding and loosing to all the disciples.

A key is used to open a door or to close it.  Thus the apostles and especially Peter will open the kingdom of heaven to new groups of people.  On the Day of Pentecost, Peter opened the door of the Church to the Jews when 3,000 responded to his message of repentance.  Later he opened the door to the Gentiles when in obedience to Christ he went to Joppa and shared the Gospel with Cornelius and his household in Acts 10.

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1Peter 2:1-8 ~ ~ Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.  Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,  you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture:“Behold, I lay in Zion

A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”    Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient:    “The stone which the builders rejected   has become the chief cornerstone,” and:   “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”   They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

Romans 11:16-18 ~ ~  For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.  And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

Isaiah 22:22 ~ ~ The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Revelation 1:18 ~ ~ I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

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