Jesus asked...
But a few minutes later Jesus said to Peter...
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me." (Matthew 16:15-23)
What happened? In just a few minutes Peter went from the blessed Saint to the offensive Satan, the enemy of the cross. Why?
What happened? In just a few minutes Peter went from the blessed Saint to the offensive Satan, the enemy of the cross. Why?
He stopped believing Jesus. He knew who Jesus "was", but did not believe what he "SAID".
Christians are not immune from what happened to Peter. Even faithful Christians can have a personal relationship with Jesus and yet deny the truth he gives in the Scripture...especially the truth given to Paul.
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1 Timothy 1:15)
"God was n Christ reconciling the world to Himself, and is not counting their sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19)
"...trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach..." (1 Timothy 4:7-16)
Here is something I have noticed about Christians over the years. We grow spiritually only as far as we are willing to believe the truth that God shows us along the way. When we are unwilling to believe the truth Christians stop growing spiritually. Eventually the living waters that gave us so much joy flow into the dead sea of bondage to manmade religious ritual from which Christ came to set us free.
"You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? ...it was for freedom that Christ set us free." (Galatians 3:1; 5:1:)
Christians are not immune from what happened to Peter. Even faithful Christians can have a personal relationship with Jesus and yet deny the truth he gives in the Scripture...especially the truth given to Paul.
"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (1 Timothy 1:15)
"God was n Christ reconciling the world to Himself, and is not counting their sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19)
"...trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach..." (1 Timothy 4:7-16)
Here is something I have noticed about Christians over the years. We grow spiritually only as far as we are willing to believe the truth that God shows us along the way. When we are unwilling to believe the truth Christians stop growing spiritually. Eventually the living waters that gave us so much joy flow into the dead sea of bondage to manmade religious ritual from which Christ came to set us free.
"You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you? ...it was for freedom that Christ set us free." (Galatians 3:1; 5:1:)