Faith is a blessing and a virtue, that we have received from the Lord. As it is written; “For there is no respect of persons with God.”
We see many divisions among the church concerning the interpretation of many passages in scripture. But if we all just read and understand that the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, has no respect to the individual, but treats all the same, then the scriptures come alive for all of us equally.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Mat 16:18)
“and upon this rock.” Jesus was not speaking of Peter, John, nor any other disciple, but rather of Himself. We see this as He states that; “I will build.” “My Church.”
Mat 16:18 -
There is the Greek a play upon the words, “thou art Peter (Greek, “petros” — literally ‘a little rock)’, and upon this rock (Greek, “Petra”) I will build my church.” He does not promise to build His church upon Peter, but upon Himself, as Peter is careful to tell us. (1Pe. 2:4-9). (Scofield.)
Where does our faith lie, where does our salvation come from, where do we place our hope? Its all upon Jesus, and not on any man born of the flesh. Jesus was born of the spirit, and of the spirit was resurrected. We being reborn unto the Most High, go to Him in spirit. We believe in spirit, we live in spirit, and we die in the flesh, being not dead to the Lord, but rather dead to sin. For The Lord is the God of the living and not the God of the dead.
“and upon this rock”, is further exampled in these verses. (Mat.26:61, Mat.27:40; Mar.14:58,.)
Jesus uses many words as an allegory of the spiritual, for many at that day, as is today, could not understand the difference between the spiritual(Heavenly.) and the flesh,(Earthly.)
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? (Joh 3:11-12) (Joh.3:3, Joh.3:5, Joh.3:8; 1Co.3:1-2; Heb.5:11; 1Pe.2:1-3)
An allegory is; The distinction in scripture between a parable and an allegory, is said to be that a parable is a supposed history, and an allegory, a figurative description of real facts. An allegory is called a continued metaphor.(Webster.)
We see this many times when the words, trees, field,vine and other words are used to mean something spiritual or different. Upon this foundation, corner stone, the new Jerusalem, are other examples.
We speak that we do know; We speak of faith, trust and of hope. If we believe upon this rock, all things are opened up unto us. “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1Jn 5:14-15)
Even in the days of sadness we are still upon the rock. Being in the lowest valley of this life we are again still standing upon the rock of our salvation.
Now if we know that he hears us, then why do we doubt every time there is a problem in our lives?
Do you not know that this rock, that we are to build upon, is ever present, ever loving, and ever knowing? We have the petitions; In a general sense, a request, supplication or prayer; but chiefly and appropriately, a solemn or formal supplication; a prayer addressed by a person to the Supreme Being, for something needed or desired, or a branch or particular article of prayer.(Webster.)
Has not this rock been ever present with us? Have we not always been able to make a solemn prayer to the Lord, for our needs?
There have been, and still are, many Christians in need, under persecution and under testing of their faith.
Then said Jesus to them again, “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” (Joh 20:21-23)
Have we not power over the flesh and the spirit? Have we not the power to remit or retain sins among the people, as Christ gave power unto the Disciples? There is so much doubt in the church today, that the power of the end days church is almost gone. We are to hold onto this rock, who is never changing, never varying nor never leaving.
We being reborn unto the Most High must retain our faith. There are prayers that we can pray, but after all is said and done, it is the will of this rock that will prevail. We pray always in the will of God. We are witnesses to the strength of this rock.
When we doubt we are saying that this rock is faltering. Jesus never falters, as many believe. This life has taken its toll on the faith of many. It has brought forth pain, persecution, and fear.
No matter what happens to us today, another Christian in another time, in another place, has also suffered what we are, and will continue, to suffer.
You say, “I do this or that thing in the name of the Lord.” and it fails. Why? For the Lord sends those out to do a work at His will, and not upon the will of the individual. If the thing you stated, was the will of the Lord, and it fails, it was not the Lords will. The rock never changes, what He does for one, He will do for another.
These divisions among the church, have been brought about by man made doctrine, and mans imagination into the will of God.
For as it is written; “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”
(Eph 2:18-22) “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” Ars.
