He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 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.” Matthew 16:15-17 ESV1
Read Matthew 16:13-23, Mark 8:27-33 & Luke 9:18-22
What do you believe about yourself? Who told you that? What do you feel about others? Why do you feel that? What do you think about right and wrong? How did you come to that conclusion? What do you believe about God? Why do you believe that? Who do you say Jesus is? Why do you say that?
“What do Americans believe about Jesus? Who do they say he is? Here are five popular American perceptions of Jesus, based on recent Barna Group research.
The Vast Majority of Americans Believe Jesus Was a Real Person. More than nine out of 10 adults say Jesus Christ was a real person who actually lived (92%). While the percentages dip slightly among younger generations—only 87 percent of Millennials agree Jesus actually lived—Americans are still very likely to believe the man, Jesus Christ, once walked the earth …
Younger Generations Are Increasingly Less Likely to Believe Jesus Was God. The historicity of Jesus may not be in question for most Americans, but people are much less confident in the divinity of Jesus. Most adults—not quite six in 10—believe Jesus was God (56%), while about one-quarter say he was only a religious or spiritual leader like Mohammed or the Buddha (26%). The remaining one in six say they aren’t sure whether Jesus was divine (18%) … Millennials are the only generation among whom fewer than half believe Jesus was God (48%). About one-third of young adults (35%) say instead that Jesus was merely a religious or spiritual leader, while 17 percent aren’t sure what he was …
Americans Are Divided on Whether Jesus Was Sinless. Perhaps reflective of their questions about Jesus’ divinity, Americans are conflicted on whether Jesus committed sins during his earthly life. About half of Americans agree, either strongly or somewhat, that while he lived on earth, Jesus Christ was human and committed sins like other people (52%). Just less than half disagree, either strongly or somewhat, that Jesus committed sins while on earth (46%), and 2 percent aren’t sure …
Most Americans Say They Have Made a Commitment to Jesus Christ … The act of making a personal commitment to Jesus—often seen as the “first step” in becoming a Christian—is a step that more than six in 10 Americans say they have taken and, moreover, that commitment is still important in their life today …
People Are Conflicted between “Jesus” and “Good Deeds” as the Way to Heaven. Among adults who have made a personal commitment to Jesus, most also believe that Jesus is the way to heaven. When given several beliefs about the afterlife to choose from, nearly two-thirds of those who have made a personal commitment to Jesus say they believe that after they die, they will go to heaven because they have confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their savior (63%). Only 2 percent of adults who report a personal commitment to Jesus say they will not go to heaven. About one in seven admit they don’t know what will happen after they die (15%) … Many adults believe, however, that they will go to heaven as a result of their good works. Broadly speaking, this is the most common perception among Americans who have never made a commitment to Jesus—and it is also quite common among self-identified Christians. In this category, people believe they will go to heaven because they have tried to obey the Ten Commandments (5%), as a result of being basically a good person (8%), or on the grounds that God loves all people and will not let them perish (7%).”2
Though Americans are very likely to believe Jesus existed, and many are sure they have made a commitment to Him, they seem to be much less confident about who Jesus is and why they need Him.
Confusion over the true identity of Jesus is nothing new.
Once, while Jesus walked this Earth, He asked His disciples, “‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And [His disciples] said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ 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’” (Matthew 16:13b-17).
In our human logic, it is impossible for us to correctly believe the truth about Jesus and our need for Him without His guidance. This fact is evidenced by what Jesus told Peter: “‘Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father, who is in Heaven’” (Matthew 16:17b).
Those who have not yet learned to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit will search for human spiritual leaders—flesh and blood—to guide them in their faith. But humans are fallible. Even the godliest of men and women can fall and lead many astray. That is why each person needs to know God’s Word and personally spend time with Him in prayer. We need to hear from the Spirit for ourselves, so we will not fall for plausible distortions and outright lies. Like Peter, we all need the Father to reveal to us, through the Holy Spirit, who the Son is.
Once one has heard from God, it is essential to consider the correct way to deal with that which God has revealed.
Just because God told you something, it doesn’t mean it is the right time or place for you to tell others. Sometimes God tells one of His Children something which is only for that person. Other times He wants His Children to share what they have learned. Sometimes we are called upon to share immediately. Other times, we are to wait. That is why, in this case, Jesus “strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ” (Matthew 16:20).
Obviously, there would be a day when Jesus wanted His disciples to tell the world that He was the Christ. Otherwise, Jesus would not have shared with Peter that he would have a foundational role in the building of the Church. (If the disciples were never to share the truth about Jesus, there would be no future Believers to make up the Church). Nor would Jesus have told Peter that he was going to help show others the way to Heaven, that he would be instrumental in aiding in the eternal release from the bondage of sin those who believed, or that he would have a hand in forever sealing the destiny of those who did not choose faith in Christ (see Matthew 16:18-19). And Jesus would never have instructed His disciples, “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you’” (Matthew 28:19-20a). And, today, we would not be being compelled to share Christ with the Lost.
But at the time of this account, it was then that Jesus didn’t want His disciples to share what they knew about His identity as the Christ. We can only know when and what to say if we continue to abide in Jesus responding to His leading and by being filled with His power (see John 15:4-11). It is only then that we will be in the right place, at the right time, to share the right words, with the right attitude.
Just because one has listened to and obeyed the voice of God in the past, it doesn’t mean he/she always will.
The very same day that Jesus put Peter in charge of the Keys of the Kingdom for the binding and loosing of many, “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. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to You.’ But [Jesus] 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’” (Matthew 16:21-23).
Jesus corrected Peter with, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me” (Matthew 16:23a), not because Peter was evil or, in the course of that day, had fallen from grace. Jesus called Peter Satan because he was “’not setting [his] mind on the things of God, but on the things of man’” (Matthew 16:23b).
Peter was thinking the thoughts of a man. He could only continue to set His mind on the things of God if he stayed connected to God. As soon as he started thinking from a human perspective, he got off track. We do the same thing. And those who are unclear about the truths of Jesus or their need for Him are not terrible people; they are just thinking the thoughts of men. They are reacting out of what makes sense from a human perspective.
Not all who think they have heard from God actually have.
According to the survey results mentioned earlier, somewhere along the line, six out of ten Americans have responded to someone’s sincere plea that they make a personal commitment to Christ. But many of them probably were not responding to God’s personal appeal to them, because they have been left with more questions than answers. Though they know Jesus is essential, they do not know that He is the Son of God. Because they do not realize their own depravity, they have missed the fact that Jesus had to live a sinless life here on Earth or His sacrifice would mean nothing for their forgiveness. They may call Jesus Savior, but they do not understand from what they need saving. Because of all this confusion, they have not experienced the true freedom that is found in making Jesus Lord of one’s life. Many who identify themselves as Christian don’t even know what that means, because they have not yet heard and understood the truths the Father is attempting to reveal to them.
Not all who think they are going to Heaven actually will.
Unfortunately, many who are counting on entering Heaven based on their good deeds, or because of a commitment they think they made, will find the doors locked to them. Jesus said, “‘Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many mighty works in Your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23).
No one can know the will of God without Him revealing it. And no one can do the will of God without His help. Fortunately, God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Because of His great love, God is making sure that the grace that brings salvation will, in one way or another, appear to all people (see Titus 2:11). God is calling. It is up to humans to listen and respond.
The revelations of God should transform the hearers.
What you believe about Jesus is displayed by how you live even more than what you speak. How do you act in difficult circumstances? Do you worry, or do you trust God? How do you react when offended? Do you retaliate or turn the other cheek? What do you do when people fail you? Do you chastise them, or do you extend them grace? How do you treat those who disagree with you? Do you argue with them or pray for them? How do you respond when you fall short? Do you blame others and shame yourself, or do you take responsibility, forgive yourself, and move on with God’s help?
How do you feel about Bible study and prayer? Are they chores you must complete out of obligation, or do you know that they are weapons to fight lies and help set people free? What do you do when others come to you for advice? Do you share your own wisdom or something you have gleaned from another human, or do you point those seeking direction to God? Yes, what you do says far more about Jesus than what you say about Him. Whether or not your words and actions agree, once you claim Christ, you are saying a lot about Jesus.
So, who do you say Jesus is?
I ask you again: What do you believe about yourself? Who told you that? What do you feel about others? Why do you feel that? What do you think about right and wrong? How did you come to that conclusion? What do you believe about God? Why do you believe that? Who do you say Jesus is? Why do you say that?
Can you confidently answer, “God told me!” to all these questions about yourself and others and about faith and Jesus? If you can, you know who you are in Christ, and you will be able to answer many of the questions others are asking about Jesus.
If you have already settled things in your mind because God told you so, then you will likely answer, “Yes,” to the following questions as well: Do you love God because He first loved you? Do you love His Word because in it He reveals Himself? Do you love other Christians and want them to know what they believe and act accordingly? And do you love the Lost and want them to know the Truth that brings them ultimate freedom? Love is the telltale sign that one is actively hearing from the Father.
When we are asked, “Who do you say that Jesus is?” may we confidently reply, “He is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And may we expectantly listen for, “Blessed are you! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but the Father, who is in Heaven.”
1 Scripture quotations marked with ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All Scriptures are taken from the ESV unless otherwise noted.
2 https://www.barna.com/research/what-do-americans-believe-about-jesus-5-popular-beliefs/