Matthew 16:13-20. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
Scripture makes it clear that the consequence of spiritual ignorance is severe—destruction both in this life and in the life to come (Hosea 4:6). If we fail to understand the spiritual realm and our own spiritual condition, we cannot truly grasp the necessity of Jesus and His gospel.
As a result, we tend to seek assurance in our own thoughts and standards. We look to the world for a sense of security. But any assurance that is not rooted in the One who gives true and eternal assurance leads only to confusion and instability. Spiritual ignorance leads us into foolish paths like religion, legalism, and moral living without Christ.
Living under the devil’s power and bound by sin, people often turn to religion as a means of salvation. Because many churches today promote various religious methods, emotional fervor, and sacrificial lifestyles, people end up pretending to be devoted to God—yet their lives remain unchanged at the core (2 Timothy 3:5).
Members of Christ’s church are increasingly taking on the outward form of religion. The very church entrusted with the life-giving gospel to save the world is now seen as just another religious institution, proclaiming lifeless rituals instead of true life.
Religious living may seem right at first, but in the end, it leads to death. Why? Because every religion originates from man. Its standard is human effort. Its way of salvation is based on good works, which can only bring superficial change.
Religious people attempt to cover themselves, but like garments made of fig leaves (Genesis 3:7), their religious works do not endure. Their condition ultimately becomes worse than before (Matthew 12:45). Without knowing God’s perfect love, believers are plagued by fear of judgment (1 John 4:18–19). Tragically, many Christians fail to continue in the grace and blessing of God.
This is why so many grow weary, burdened by spiritual weight, yet unable to find rest in Christ. They do not experience the gospel as easy and light (Matthew 11:28–30). Consequently, they become easy targets for the devil (1 Peter 5:7–8). Many believers are leaving the church in great numbers, and unbelievers have lost hope in what the church represents.
Yet Jesus declared, “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). The foundation of the church is not religion—it is the confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ.
Jesus was not merely one of the religious leaders like John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
As the True King, He came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). As the True Priest, He offered His own blood on the cross to set us free from the curse of sin (Mark 10:45). As the True Prophet, He opened the only way to God for those lost in the background of hell (John 14:6). Christians, therefore, are those who know, experience, and proclaim the one true gospel: that Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the work of the Christ.
If you have received and believed that Jesus is the Christ, then God has given you the right to become His child (John 1:12). Through the Holy Spirit, He will be with you forever. Nothing can stand against you. There is no longer any reason to be enslaved by your past. Jesus has promised to make you like an unshakable rock.
God has also given you authority over the forces of darkness. Not even the power of hell can overcome you. He has given you the keys of the kingdom of heaven so that through prayer, you may release God’s power and carry out His will. You have been granted the privilege to approach His throne with boldness.
So, walk in the blessing of fellowship with Christ each day. Listen to His voice. Do all things in His presence. Live for what matters most: to know, enjoy, and proclaim Christ. And live in the blessing of the early church: “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ” (Acts 5:42).
With this blessing, awaken the world that slumbers in spiritual ignorance.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for the knowledge that led me to salvation. It was Your grace alone that made it possible. Help me to continually know, enjoy, and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.