Quote:
Originally Posted by Sabby
Mt..16:16
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.Mt..16:17
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.
|
I believe it of significant importance to also note that which Christ Jesus stated concerning the revelation of His identity as being the "rock" (that is to say, the very foundation) upon which His church would exist. In other words, unless, and until one has been granted this revelation then they have no basis upon which they might gain entrance into and become an adopted citizen of the kingdom of heaven (IMO, of course).
I base this personal belief upon the words of
Acts 8:36-37, for there we find that, in response to the eunuch's inquiry concerning what might prevent him from obeying the commandment to be immersed in the waters of baptism "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ," Phillip informed him that there was something which he MUST believe with his whole heart. And what was it that the eunuch was required to believe? None other than Christ Jesus was the Son of God (or, in other words, the human being "in" whom the eternal invisible Spirit of God dwelled).
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sabby
And anyone that preaches (with inspiration) Christ and Him crucified/the gospel-is according to the definition, a NT prophet.
Anyone willing to expand on this?
|
We find it written in
Luke 16:16 that Christ Jesus said:
"The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."
I've heard it often stated that this statement of our Lord implies/infers that He was saying that one must "press" themselves into the kingdom of God (that is to say, exert some effort... I think the common phrase is "to pray through"). I do not subscribe to such an interpretation, and here is why.....
Through the writings of the OT we find that God's dealings with mankind was restricted to the teachings of the law through the inspired words of His chosen prophets. This relationship continued until the appearance of John the Baptist, whose teachings which served, in effect, as the introduction of God's "new" covenant relationship with mankind (see the words of Peter, as written in
Acts 10:34-37)
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all
That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
Therefore, IMO, I believe that whenever Peter said that beginning with the preaching/teachings of John the Baptist, that "peace" (literal meaning "salvation") began "after" baptism "for the remission of sins," then
"every man" that has heeded and obeyed the gospel, and therein become an "adopted" citizen of the kingdom of heaven, is "pressed" into the business of propagating that gospel. In effect, Peter's statement serves as a witness to our Lord's words of
Luke 16:16.
Accordingly, each person who takes the writings of the sacred Scriptures and employs its contents in an effort to persuade another to embrace a particular belief, or through its use to influence the fundamental beliefs of another, is serving as a "prophet" of God (that is to say, they are acting as God's "mouthpiece").
Just some personal thoughts on what a "prophet" is today, and which by this understanding causes me, by publication of these words, to also be such a "prophet."