Hmm
In a Sunday school class last weekend the teacher posed an interesting question. It has occupied a lot of my thinking for the past couple of days.
The Question
When did Peter become a Christian?
Your Assignment
Play with that a while. Respond in the comments here I will share my thoughts in a day or so…
In a Sunday school class last weekend the teacher posed an interesting question. It has occupied a lot of my thinking for the past couple of days.
When did Peter become a Christian?
Your Assignment
Play with that a while. Respond in the comments here I will share my thoughts in a day or so…
It seems that by Matt 6:15-16, he was saved, though not filled w/ the Spirit... still chewin´ on it...
ReplyDeleteKeep chewin' I am interested in what you come up with.
DeleteIs that your daughter in the picture. She looks to be the age of one of my granddaughters.
DeleteI will give you two answers. The first is based on John 1 where Peter andrew introduces him to Jesus. This is confirmed or at least proven when one comes to John 13 and Jesus makes a distinction between a one time bath and repeated foot washing . Peter had already been bathed(a metaphor for salvation)
DeleteMy second answer is a bit more complex. The content for faith during that time was what ever had been revealed to the disciples . Whe see in John 1 that at least John the baptist understood that Jesus was the lamb of God . But one does not have to know who Jesus was back then to be saved, and one did not have to know what all we know now to be saved. Yes the basis of salvation is the death of Christ but the content changes according to progressive revelation. Many of the people Jesus answered may have been saved becasue they believed in God and that he would send a Messiah. Their faith and expectation of the provision of God saved them, not their knowledge that Jesus was the Messiah. However as things progressed some people got such a deep revealtion of who Jesus was that he could say to them unless you believe that I am you will die in your sins . Salvation has always been the same > Faith in God who provided the substitutionary sacrifice . The difference now is we know that God himseld is the substitutionary sacrifice. The people Jesus encountered were still ofeering sacrifices at the temples and some christisn did this after the church began. So their belief in God and subsitution saved them. Jesus then may have had a primariliy sanctification ministry in the sense that he is calling the nation from covenant violation to repent. There are more issues related to this but I hope I have been clear.
To me there is a difference between a proffession of faith and a true disciple. In Jn. 6:69 Peter says that he has come to believe and know that Jesus is the Holy One of God, and in Matt. 16:16 Peter says Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. I believe many people make proffessions of faith but never follow The Lord, I know in Peter's case he did he was committed to the point of death so I'm not sure when the light came on and Peter went from a head knowledge to a heart felt committment. But I know your going to make us ponder this a few more days so I agree with Michael still thinking...
ReplyDeleteGood stuff keep at it
DeleteAh, what a road filled with land mines and lined with spirituals IED's! I think it is intriguing that apparently the Scriptures don't tell us; if they did we wouldn't be asking the question.
ReplyDeleteAt this time in my thinking I'm wondering if any of us can say with eternal conviction when we came to Christ and "became a Christian." I could point to two times in my life that are likely possibilities. I'll find out when I get to heaven. But the reality according to the Apostle Paul in Eph. 1:4 is that God chose me in Christ before the foundation of the world. I could say that's when I became a Christian. God just had to lead me the point of understanding, which I see in myriad aspects of my life.
Since I'm in this deep, I might as well raise another question. Why do I want to know for sure when? In 2 Cor. 13:5 Paul exhorted his readers to examine themselves to see whether they are "in" the faith. You Greek scholars may need to unpack this a little more, but it implies at least, that too solid a conviction that I even am a true believer could cause me to become complacent or a little too smug in my relationship with God. Self-examination in matters of faith is vital for the cruse.
So, my head is out of the foxhole; fire away.
When I saw your post yesterday I laughed out loud. I should have known you would nail this one. You tipped my hand a bit. There is more that I want to develop but as always your depth in the Word is revealed. Good stuff.
DeleteI hope it doesn't stop you from continuing to interact on this. I think it is a vital question, perhaps even foundational as we help people deepen in their walk with Christ. And as I get older and learn more about myself I find it is also vital that I have a solid answer for myself, or I think I would despair. "Examining myself" these days is a very painful process for which I am grateful, which I see as absolutely vital but which I can't control. I certainly couldn't endure it on my own. His grace is unlimited, sweet - and essential.
DeleteIt won't
DeleteWell according to Luk 22:31-34 KJVR And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (32) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (33) And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. (34) And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
ReplyDeleteAt this point he was not as of yet converted or born again.
This had to happen after the resurrection since it was then that salvation was really brought forth.
You make a good point.
DeleteYeah that happens sometimes brother lol - is funny how so many today forget to test our Tradition of thoughts with actual sound scripture searching. Good article by the way
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