Is Jesus the Head of the Church as Messiah and Saviour? After Jesus had ministered extensively in the regions of Judea, Samaria, and Galilee, the Jewish populace still could not see that He was their promised Messiah. They merely classed Him together with the great prophets of old like John, Elijah, and Jeremiah. When Jesus asked the twelve, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter gave an A+ answer, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:16). Jesus commended Peter for identifying Him as the Messiah who is the living and true God Himself. The OT describes the Messiah in clear terms of deity (eg, Isa 7:14, 9:6). Peter understood his Bible, and identified Jesus accurately. How was it that Peter was able to see Jesus for who He truly was when others could not? Jesus said that this could only happen  by  divine  revelation.Human intelligence by itself is blind towards spiritual matters. Unless God opens our eyes, we cannot see Him (Matt 11:25-27, 1 Cor 2:7-14). Just as the naked eye cannot see micro-organisms without the help of a microscope, sinful man is likewise blind towards spiritual matters without the Holy Spirit.

Jesus then said these powerful words to Peter, “Thou art Peter (petros), and upon this rock (petra) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” There is a play on words here. Petros means “stone,” and petra means “rock,” or “bedrock.”Peter’s name means “a stone.” But Jesus will build His church upon “this rock?” Who is “this rock” to which Jesus referred? Was Jesus referring to Peter or to Himself?

The Roman Catholic Church sees Peter as the rock. Citing Matthew 16:18-19, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the ‘rock’ of his Church. … The Pope … [as] Peter’s successor … has full, supreme and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered” (#881-2). Such a claim of papal infallibility and authority is unbiblical and erroneous. The Scriptures never called Peter Petra—a rock. As Jesus said, Peter was but a petros—a stone or pebble. Christ, according to the apostle Paul, is the Petra—the “Rock (Petra) was Christ” (1 Cor 10:4). Peter never referred to himself as petra, always petros. What is more is that Peter himself identified Jesus as the Petra— the Rock (Petra) of offence (1 Pet 2:8). This shows that Peter heard Jesus well and understood what He meant by the words, “upon this Petra I will build my Church.”

What is also significant is the fact that Jesus said those words in Caesarea Philippi which has the majestic snow-covered Mount Hermon (9200 ft) looming at a distance. It is quite possible that Jesus could be pointing to that mountain when He said “upon this rock.” In other words, just as Mount Hermon is unmoveable, so is the Messianic Rock on which Jesus will build His Church. Peter had to be reminded that He was just a pebble lest he became conceited. But he would find his strength from what he knew about His Lord who is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Christ is that Bedrock on which the Church will stand. Peter as a pebble could be kicked here and there, but not Christ the Rock who is indestructible (Dan 2:44-45, Luke 20:17- 18). Christ is the Church’s Solid Rock and Firm Foundation. “For other foundation can no  man  lay  than  that  is  laid,  which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11). The foundation Rock of the Church is surely not Simon Peter, but Jesus Christ—the Messianic Prophet, Priest, and King.

What then was Peter’s place in God’s kingdom? Peter was granted the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt 16:19). These keys of the kingdom were gospel keys. Keys are meant to open doors. Christ was going to build His Church, and He would use Peter to open the gospel door not only in Jerusalem and Judea, but also in Samaria, and then to the uttermost part of the world (Acts 1:8). Peter was at the scene each time the gospel broke new ground as recorded in Acts 2:14-40 when he preached to the Jews, in Acts 8:14-17 to the Samarians, and in Acts 10:1-48 to the Gentiles. JK

Eight Blessed Years with the Young People

(A Testimony by Dn Philip Goh)

We have so much to give thanks to our Lord for. As an appointed advisor to the Young People’s Fellowship (YPF), I am happy to share this testimony for the eight years that I have been associated with them.

I thank and praise God chiefly for His Word of Truth. It has sanctified this ministry and its leadership from the sinful ways of this world and from all errors of human teachings and reasoning. Truly the love for God’s

Word has brought spiritual and godly joy to its leadership. As a result, the good Lord has blessed this ministry in many ways. The fear of God and His Word is truly instilled into the hearts of the young people.

YPF Leaders Taking Dean Burgon Oath

I am deeply thankful to God that His Word has guided the leadership committee to walk in the paths of righteousness. Constrained by the love of Christ, they have worked tirelessly in doing their best for their Lord and Saviour especially in painstakingly coming up with the many programmes and messages that would help the young people grow in the grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. During committee meetings, I have observed that their hearts were knitted together in brainstorming and coming up with ideas that are agreeable to all. In all their discussions, prayer was their focal point and I can see the Holy Spirit working in their midst. The Holy Spirit is their teacher and they confessed their faults and weaknesses to one another. They wept together and rejoiced together. They shared and gave thanks to God for intervening in their lives at the close of each week in even small things. They prayed for one another and for those who have strayed. They made it a point to know the young people in the church and encourage them to join the fellowship and grow spiritually. Truly this ministry has brought great joy and fellowship to the young people. To see their happy and joyful faces causes me to have this inner joy that is almost indescribable. So, please come and taste the goodness and blessings of the Lord. Over the years, those who have attended the fellowship regularly have grown up to be better Christians, godly and prayerful, and serving the Lord.

May the YPF leadership and all the young people in True Life remember to apply God’s Word in their lives. Let me share with you these important verses from Titus 2:6-8, “Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.”

May we realise that we are now living in perilous and momentous times. Our main adversary is the devil himself and his army of demons. Please pray every day. Please pray for Pastor, Elder and the Session, and those in positions of leadership in the various ministries of the Church who are standing in the forefront in teaching and defending Christ and His Truth. They are his main targets. Please pray also for yourself that you may not fall into Satan’s trap. Be careful of his old tricks of questioning and undermining God’s Word, “Yea, hath God said …?” (Gen 3:1).

I plead with all parents to pray and encourage their children to come to the YPF. Our children will grow in their spiritual life when they know and love God’s Word. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17). “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:6).

Young People’s Fellowship’s 8th Anniversary, March 3, 2012