Notes taken during sermon today. Preached by Pastor Michael.
Centred on Jesus
A church without Jesus as the head will have other things as the head (e.g. the devil.) This church may grow but the growth is due to human ability. There is no God in the church. There are many deceptions in this church. This church will not be strong. The members came to listen to man’s words instead of God’s words.
If a man doesn’t bear his own cross and doesn’t not let the cross change his life, then is the old man. His life is not renewed. The message of the Cross is vital in a Christian life.
Focus on the Unique Identity of Jesus
Mat 16:13-16 耶稣到了该撒利亚腓立比的境内，就问门徒说：「人说我（有古卷没有我字），人子是谁？」 (14) 他们说：「有人说是施洗的约翰；有人说是以利亚；又有人说是耶利米或是先知里的一位。」 (15) 耶稣说：「你们说我是谁？」 (16) 西门彼得回答说：「你是基督，是永生神的儿子。」
Mat 16:13-16 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" (14) And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." (15) He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" (16) Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Jesus has 12 disciples. They were with him for more than three years. Jesus wanted to know what the others say he was. The answers included John the Baptist, the prophet in the NT as well as other prophets from the OT. They did not know who he was. They saw the miracles he performed and took him to be a prophet. They knew John the Baptist was already decapitated. He was a well respected prophet. They speculated Jesus was one of the prophets who came back.
Then Jesus wanted to know what his disciples thought. Of the twelve disciples present, Peter gave the correct answer. Even John who was the closest disciple or James the brother of Jesus didn’t give this answer. We believe Jesus told John a lot of things him being his closest disciple. Why wasn’t John inspired?
How did Peter know?
Focus on the church of Jesus
Mat 16:17-20 耶稣对他说：「西门巴约拿，你是有福的！因为这不是属血肉的指示你的，乃是我在天上的父指示的。 (18) 我还告诉你，你是彼得，我要把我的教会建造在这磐石上；阴间的权柄（权柄：原文作门），不能胜过他。 (19) 我要把天国的钥匙给你，凡你在地上所捆绑的，在天上也要捆绑；凡你在地上所释放的，在天上也要释放。」(20) 当下，耶稣嘱咐门徒，不可对人说他是基督。
Mat 16:17-20 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. (18) And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (19) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (20) Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
This is a revelation from God.
Joh 3:27-28, 31-34 约翰说：「若不是从天上赐的，人就不能得什麽。 (28) 我曾说：『我不是基督，是奉差遣在他前面的』，你们自己可以给我作见证。 … 「从天上来的是在万有之上；从地上来的是属乎地，他所说的也是属乎地。从天上来的是在万有之上。 (32) 他将所见所闻的见证出来，只是没有人领受他的见证。 (33) 那领受他见证的，就印上印，证明神是真的。 (34) 神所差来的就说神的话，因为神赐圣灵给他是没有限量的。
Joh 3:27-28, 31-34 John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. (28) You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. … ' He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. (32) He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. (33) Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. (34) For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.
The rock refers to Jesus himself, not Cephas.
1Pe 2:4-9 主乃活石，固然是被人所弃的，却是被神所拣选、所宝贵的。 (5) 你们来到主面前，也就像活石，被建造成为灵宫，作圣洁的祭司，藉著耶稣基督奉献神所悦纳的灵祭。 (6) 因为经上说：看哪，我把所拣选、所宝贵的房角石安放在锡安；信靠他的人必不至於羞愧。 (7) 所以，他在你们信的人就为宝贵，在那不信的人有话说：匠人所弃的石头已作了房角的头块石头。 (8) 又说：作了绊脚的石头，跌人的磐石。他们既不顺从，就在道理上绊跌；（或作：他们绊跌都因不顺从道理）他们这样绊跌也是预定的。(9)惟有你们是被拣选的族类，是有君尊的祭司，是圣洁的国度，是属神的子民，要叫你们宣扬那召你们出黑暗入奇妙光明者的美德。
1Pe 2:4-9 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, (5) you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." (7) So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," (8) and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. (9) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1Pe 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (KJV)
Jesus is the rock (Petros) while those in the church are the stones (petra.) Jesus is the cornerstone of the church. The church is built according to the cornerstone. A church without this cornerstone will be built wrongly. There are churches in US that don’t preach about Jesus. In contract, there are churches in Chins that love God. The members are willing to suffer together with Jesus. Many Christians today refuse to suffer.
Rom 1:16-17 我不以福音为耻；这福音本是神的大能，要救一切相信的，先是犹太人，後是希利尼人。 (17) 因为神的义正在这福音上显明出来；这义是本於信，以致於信。如经上所记：「义人必因信得生。」
Rom 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
A church that belongs to Jesus and centre on Jesus will preach gospel of Jesus Christ. If we are shamed to share the gospel, we are belittling the power of the gospel.
Focus on the will of Jesus
Mat 16:21-23 从此，耶稣才指示门徒，他必须上耶路撒冷去，受长老、祭司长、文士许多的苦，并且被杀，第三日复活。 (22) 彼得就拉著他，劝他说：「主啊，万不可如此！这事必不临到你身上。」 (23) 耶稣转过来，对彼得说：「撒但，退我後边去吧！你是绊我脚的；因为你不体贴神的意思，只体贴人的意思。」
Mat 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (22) And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." (23) But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."
Jesus just commended Peter moments ago for recognizing his identify as Christ, the Son of God.
“No one has the complete revelation from God.” – Pastor Michael
Loong’s observation: Jesus is clear in what’s right and what’s wrong. He is objective. His praises what was done right and points out what was done wrong. Each is not influenced by the other. (赏罚分明)
If Jesus didn’t die on the Cross, there is no salvation for us. If we cannot accept the death of Jesus on the Cross and the subsequent resurrection, we are not of God.
Focus on the Cross of Jesus
Mat 16:24-28 於是耶稣对门徒说：「若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，背起他的十字架来跟从我。 (25) 因为，凡要救自己生命（生命：译灵魂；下同）的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必得著生命。 (26) 人若赚得全世界，赔上自己的生命，有什麽益处呢？人还能拿什麽换生命呢？ (27) 人子要在他父的荣耀里同著众使者降临；那时候，他要照各人的行为报应各人。 (28) 我实在告诉你们，站在这里的，有人在没尝死味以前必看见人子降临在他的国里。」
Mat 16:24-28 Then Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (25) For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (26) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (27) For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. (28) Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
A Christian must carry his own cross.
Gal 2:20 我已经与基督同钉十字架，现在活著的不再是我，乃是基督在我里面活著；并且我如今在肉身活著，是因信神的儿子而活；他是爱我，为我舍己。
Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
We identify ourselves with Jesus by the cross. No one can save himself. If we lose our lives because of God, we shall have life.
Do not be afraid to suffer for God.
