SIMON PETER


A. "AND SIMON PETER ANSWERED AND SAID, THOU ART THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD" - MATTHEW 16:16
  1. With this testimony Peter stepped on the gallery of the men and women of the Bible:
    1. That made his witness to Christ memorable in the great crusade for Jesus Christ
    2. One could only wish that his witness in the high priest's yard had been the same - Mark 14:66-72
  2. Let us not be too severe in our judgment against Peter's mistake:
    1. He was human as we all are, and we are ever in danger of doing the wrong thing
    2. The complete story of Peter's life shows conclusively that he repented of his son and reaffirmed his testimony of our opening text
B. THE LIFE STORY OF SIMON PETER IS SO INCLUSIVE THAT BOTH OUR SPACE AND TIME CANNOT BEGIN TO GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF THAT MAN OF GOD
  1. Let us note, briefly, a few of the high points in Peter's useful life:
    1. Peter was the brother of Andrew and the son of Jona or Johanan - Matt. 4:18; John 1:40; I Cor. 1:12
    2. He was a fisherman by occupation and at times he was not successful - Luke 5:1-5
    3. He and his brother Andrew met Christ beyond Jordan where John the Baptist labored. Both Peter and Andrew were disciples of John the Baptist
  2. Peter was a man of many facets of character. His life can be approached from many angles:
    1. He was naturally impulsive - Matt. 14:28; 17:4; John 21:7
    2. He was tender-hearted and affectionate - Matt. 26:75; John 13:9; 21:15-17
    3. He was courageous, and at times cowardly - Matt. 16:16; John 6:69; Mark 14:27
  3. By the grace of God, Peter became the leader among the disciples of Christ:
    1. His brethern were ready to follow him - John 21:3
    2. All was the fruit of grace only
  4. He became a member of the council at Jerusalem:
    1. Even Paul acknowledged the place of honor by Peter, "I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter" - Gal. 1:18
    2. He was the spokesman on the Day of Pentecost - Acts 1:15; and he preached a mighty sermon that brought a rich harvest of souls - Acts 2:14-41
    3. He willingly died on a cross to reaffirm that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God - John 21:18-19
C. TIMELY LESSON FROM THE LIFE OF PETER
  1. What Christ did for the man Peter:
    1. He is willing and ready to do for anyone who is as penitent and plient as Peter was - Examples: God's grace turned Saul into Paul - Acts 9:5-6; I Tim. 1:15; He transformed John another hot-head to become the symbol of love - I John 4:4-8
    2. The Bible exposes the weakness of Peter so that we may be encouraged that God will do for us what he did for Peter - bring about a transformation of nature - 2 Peter 1:2-11
    3. When I study the life of Peter, I take courage that God will finish His work in my life also
  2. The story of the life of Peter indicates further:
    1. His God inspired testimony about Jesus Christ became the very foundation of our Christian faith
    2. And all the attacks of Satan against that testimony have utterly failed - Matt. 16:16-18
    3. He was honored by the Lord to witness His transfiguration - granted only to two other disciples - Matt. 15:1-17
    4. Too, Christ honored him to give to the church two Epistles which are a part of our divinely inspired guide to a holier life and a readiness for the coming of our Lord


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