First the Question: The joint Body of Christ, was a Mystery UNTIL the revelation was sent down from Heaven by the RISEN Christ to and through the Apostle to the Gentiles, Paul. True or False?
Take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day
And now the answer to the LLM Question of 3-6-2012
Question: Simon, (the Apostle Peter), was introduced to Jesus by Philip. True or False?
Answer: FALSE! Simon (Peter) was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. John 1:41-42, “And he (Andrew) brought him (Simon) to Jesus.” That was a full day’s work for Andrew. And, it was more than that for Simon. So, out of the 771 responses we received to this question, only 64.3% of you got it right! WHY, only 64.3%? Therefore, NOW, let us take a look at,
The Apostle Peter and the KEYS of the Kingdom of Heaven, part 1 of 3
Doubtless you have heard of the Apostle Peter; but you must not believe all that you have heard about him. He is not here to defend himself against all these false reports, so it seems unfair to take advantage of him during his absence. He is still living and he is coming back to earth some day. Now this is not a false report. This is the truth.
It is safe to estimate that 450 million people have heard something about Simon Peter during the last 100 years, and far more than one billion people have heard of him since that day about 2000 years ago when Andrew introduced him to Messiah the Christ. The story of his life is today printed in more than 900 languages.
Peter has been accused of being the first pope of Rome. He has been written up as the Fisherman Philosopher. By millions bearing the name of Christ he has been worshipped as a great saint who stands guard at the door of Heaven. Millions of jokes have been told by the ungodly concerning those who have gone up to Saint Peter for reward in Heaven or judgment in hell. To many of these he is in the class with Santa Claus. To the superstitious, religious multitudes it is very difficult to make the true Simon Peter known; for they do not want him stripped of his mythical ecclesiastical priestly garments. They will take no chance of losing their Rome-ish fiction and superstition, which are so precious to them. They will not even read what Simon Peter writes about himself in their own Bible.
For anyone who really desires to rid the story of Simon Peter of falsehood and fiction, there is first hand information, and it will do your soul good to get acquainted with this intensely human character; not a myth, but a natural man, just like the rest of us, who came in contact with the Supernatural Power that transformed his life.
You will not read the story of an intellectual star. Simon was not a leading scholar of his day. He was not a politician of influence. He was not an outstanding business man. He was in no way classed with the wise, mighty, noble, or rich. On the contrary; he was just a plain ordinary, unlettered man of his day. By nature he may have been a bit unusual in some respects, but yet he was not what the world would call a strong character. He might have been described as a vacillating, impetuous blunderer, with plenty of zeal and self-confidence. There was in him the mixture of courage and fear. As already stated, he was intensely human; but withal an interesting personality.
As an old man, Peter, in writing of God, mentioned Him as the “God of all Grace.” 1 Peter 5:10. He needed just such a God. As do we! The Apostle Peter had not forgotten that moment when, recognizing that God of all Grace in human form, he had cried out, “Depart from me; for I am a sinful man.” But instead of complying with Simon’s demand, that Savior said, “Come unto me and I will give you rest.”
This sinful man did become the Apostle Peter, Saint Peter; for every sinner who obeys this gracious call immediately becomes a Saint. But when Peter wrote his last word, he called himself Simon Peter and addressed his epistle, “to them that have obtained like precious faith”. 2 Peter 1:1.
So let's begin by gathering a few facts from the Bible concerning Simon, who was surnamed Peter. Acts 10:5.
We have already learned that Simon was introduced to Jesus by his brother Andrew. John 1:41-42. “And he brought him to Jesus.” That was a full day’s work for Andrew. And, it was more than that for Simon.
In addition to the Scriptures we have quoted above, quite often we find this expression; “Peter said”...Sometimes Peter said some very wise things. At other times it seems it was difficult for him to obey James 1:19, “Wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.” But when we read his epistles we receive messages from a gentle, loving, servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, faithful unto death. “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me.” 2 Peter 1:13-14.
As we read in Acts 3 and Acts 4, we learn that Peter and John remained partners...fishing together...for the Lord. They were pillars of the church at Jerusalem. Galatians 2:9. Peter and John were Galilean Jews, who had the unique experience of living in TWO DIFFERENT Dispensations. They lived under the Old Testament, or “Law” Age: and then under the New Testament Dispensation of Grace, as well as during those several years of transition during the earthly ministry of Jesus of Nazareth and after, whom Peter declared was a man, approved of God, in the midst of Israel. Acts 2:22-23.
Some years after Simon Peter had seen the Lord Jesus ascend through the clouds, he made this confession, “Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation.” Acts 10:28. And at a later date, the Apostle Paul said to the Apostle Peter, “If thou being a Jew.” Galatians 2:14.
So Simon Bar-jona son of Jonas was a Jew. He was brought to Jesus by his brother Andrew, John 1:41. Andrew introduced Jesus as Israel’s long looked for Messiah. This Messiah was to bring national redemption to Israel, and take the throne of David as King of the Jews. But instead, He was put to death on a cross and went back to Heaven in a glorified body.
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In Ephesians 1:13 the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and BELIEVING the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation. Therefore, here, now, is declared unto you the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your Salvation: "that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. BELIEVE today. The time is short.
So There You Have it!
Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide.
Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.
In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry
Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)
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