Who Do You Say That I Am?
--- title: "Who Do You Say That I Am?" date: series: "" text: "Matthew 16:16–20" speaker: Ed Rangel location: Waupaca Church of Christ bibleversion: NASB 1995 type: Expository status: draft tags:
sermon
cssclasses:
tpt-sermon
tpt-sermon-manuscript
tpt-mode-manuscript
---
Who Do You Say That I Am?
Learning Objectives
Explain why Peter’s confession identifies Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Show that the church is built on the truth of Christ, not on the personal supremacy of Peter.
Explain why death cannot defeat Christ’s church because Christ conquered death.
Understand the “keys of the kingdom” as authorized proclamation, not personal papal authority.
Recognize how Matthew 16 refutes false teaching while keeping the focus on Christ.
Answer Jesus’ question personally: “Who do you say that I am?”
Thesis
Matthew 16 teaches that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and His church stands on that divine truth, conquers death through His victory, and is entered only through the gospel He authorized.
Introduction.
Some passages are so often abused that people start avoiding them.
Matthew 16 is one of those texts.
Religious systems have used it to build offices, hierarchies, claims of supremacy, and doctrines Jesus never built.
But false teachers do not get to steal the text from the church.
Jesus asked His disciples what men were saying about Him.
Some said John the Baptist.
Some said Elijah.
Some said Jeremiah or one of the prophets.
Their answers were respectful, but wrong.
Jesus then pressed the question closer.
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
That confession stands at the heart of the passage.
The passage does not exalt Peter above Christ.
It does not make Peter the head of the church.
It does not create a continuing office of universal bishop.
It does not place the church under Roman authority.
It places everything under Christ.
I. Peter’s Confession Was Revealed by the Father.
Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:16 records Peter’s answer.
“You are the Christ.”
“The Son of the living God.”
This is not a vague religious compliment.
Jesus blessed Peter because this truth did not come from flesh and blood.
It was not a lucky guess.
It was not human cleverness.
It was not popular opinion.
The Father had revealed the truth concerning His Son.
The Father had revealed Christ through testimony and evidence.
John the Baptist testified that Jesus is the Son of God.
Andrew told Peter, “We have found the Messiah.”
Nathanael confessed Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel.
The disciples worshiped Him after He walked on the water.
Jesus Himself appealed to divine testimony.
John 5:31–47 shows the evidence surrounding Jesus.
John bore witness.
The works of Christ bore witness.
The Father bore witness.
The Scriptures bore witness.
Peter’s confession was not blind impulse.
God had made the truth known.
Peter was not echoing the crowd.
Peter was confessing what God had revealed.
Faith in Christ is not built on human tradition.
It rests on God’s testimony.
It rests on the words and works of Christ.
It rests on Scripture.
The confession centers on Jesus, not Peter.
Peter did not say, “I am the rock.”
He did not claim supremacy.
He did not claim headship.
He did not present himself as the foundation.
Peter confessed Christ.
Jesus is the Christ.
Jesus is the Son of the living God.
Jesus is the subject of the passage.
Every soul must answer the same question.
If Jesus is only a good man, He may be admired and ignored.
If He is only a prophet, He may be ranked with others.
If He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, He must be heard, believed, obeyed, confessed, and followed.
II. The Church Is Built on the Truth of Christ.
Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build My church.”
Matthew 16:18 has been badly twisted.
Some claim Peter is the supreme ruler over the church.
Some claim this creates papal authority.
The rest of the New Testament will not allow that conclusion.
The early church continued in the apostles’ teaching.
Acts 2:42 does not say they continued in Peter’s private doctrine.
The teaching was apostolic.
The church was not built on one man’s supremacy.
Acts 15 does not show Peter ruling as pope.
Peter spoke.
James also spoke.
The decision was not Peter’s unilateral decree.
Peter was not treated as an unquestionable head.
Paul rebuked Peter publicly in Galatians 2:11–14.
Peter stood condemned in his conduct.
Paul did not submit to Peter as supreme head.
That scene destroys the idea of Peter as an unquestionable pope.
Paul refused apostolic inferiority.
Second Corinthians 11:5 says Paul was not inferior to the most eminent apostles.
He did not place himself under Peter’s personal supremacy.
Apostolic authority belonged to the message of Christ, not to papal hierarchy.
Paul identifies Christ as the foundation.
First Corinthians 3:11 says no foundation can be laid except Jesus Christ.
The church stands on Christ.
No man can take that place.
The rock is the truth Peter confessed.
Peter confessed the bedrock truth.
Jesus is the Christ.
Jesus is the Son of the living God.
The church stands on that divine truth.
Peter himself pointed to Christ as the stone.
First Peter 2:4–8 calls Christ the living stone.
Christ is the chosen and precious cornerstone.
Peter did not preach himself as the foundation.
Jesus said, “My church.”
He did not say Peter’s church.
He did not say Rome’s church.
He did not say a denomination.
Christ builds it, owns it, rules it, and saves it.
III. Death Cannot Defeat the Church Because Christ Conquered Death.
Jesus said the gates of Hades would not overpower His church.
Hades refers to the realm of the dead.
Jesus is not saying eternal punishment will attack the church and fail.
He is saying death itself will not overpower what He builds.
The church stands because Christ lives.
Death could not hold Christ.
Mark 16:6 says, “He has risen; He is not here.”
Romans 6:9 says death is no longer master over Him.
The gates of Hades could not hold the Head of the church.
Death cannot finally overpower the body that belongs to Him.
Congregations may drift if they abandon Christ.
Local churches may die if they forsake the Lord.
But the church Christ built will not be destroyed by death.
Christ gives His people victory over death.
First Corinthians 15:56–57 gives the victory.
The sting of death is sin.
The power of sin is the law.
God gives victory through Jesus Christ.
Second Timothy 1:10 says Christ abolished death.
He brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
The gospel is not mere moral improvement.
It announces victory over sin and death through the risen Christ.
The church is not a human society destined for extinction.
It is the redeemed people of the risen Lord.
Its hope is not numbers, buildings, money, tradition, or public approval.
Its hope is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The church’s hope is tied to resurrection.
Hebrews 2:14–15 shows what Christ accomplished.
Through death He rendered powerless the one who had the power of death.
He freed those enslaved by fear of death.
Christ broke the power that held men in slavery.
Christians must not live as though death is stronger than obedience.
Fear must not rule the people of God.
Persecution must not silence the gospel.
Death does not have the last word over those in Christ.
Christ’s victory gives the church courage.
The grave could not hold Him.
Satan could not overthrow Him.
Death cannot defeat what Christ has redeemed.
IV. The Keys of the Kingdom Are the Authorized Gospel, Not Human Supremacy.
Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom.
Keys do not make a man the owner of the house.
Keys give authorized access.
The owner determines the terms.
Peter was entrusted with proclamation, not enthroned over the church.
Peter used the keys in Acts 2.
He preached Jesus as Lord and Christ.
He commanded repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
The door was opened to the Jews through the authorized gospel.
Peter used the keys in Acts 10.
He preached to Cornelius and his household.
The door was opened to the Gentiles.
Peter did not invent the message; he preached what God revealed.
The apostles shared authorized teaching authority.
John 20:23 gives similar authority to the apostles.
This was not personal whim.
It was Spirit-guided proclamation.
Apostolic authority declared Christ’s will.
Binding and loosing must be understood under heaven’s authority.
The apostles did not create doctrine.
They declared what heaven had authorized.
The church continues in apostolic teaching, not human tradition.
The church has no authority to revise the gospel.
Councils cannot change it.
Denominations cannot improve it.
Traditions cannot replace it.
Entrance into the kingdom is through obedient response to the gospel.
Matthew 16 connects the church and kingdom.
Jesus says, “I will build My church.”
Then He speaks of “the keys of the kingdom.”
The church and kingdom are not two unrelated future programs.
Colossians 1:13–14 says Christians have been transferred into the kingdom.
The kingdom is present.
Christ reigns now.
The redeemed are in His kingdom now.
The gospel calls men to obey Christ.
Mark 16:16 says the one who believes and is baptized shall be saved.
Acts 2:38 commands repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
If Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, His terms stand.
Application.
For every hearer.
You must answer Jesus’ question honestly.
It is not enough to respect Him.
If He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, you owe Him faith, repentance, confession, baptism, worship, obedience, and loyalty.
For the church.
We must keep Christ at the center.
A church built on human personality, preacher loyalty, family tradition, denominational identity, emotional preference, or inherited custom is not standing where Jesus placed the foundation.
The church belongs to Christ, and His word governs it.
For parents and teachers.
Teach the next generation what this passage actually says.
Do not let them inherit shallow answers to Catholic error or denominational confusion.
Teach them the positive truth: Christ is the foundation, builder, owner, and King.
For those confused by false doctrine.
Do not let religious misuse of a passage make you afraid of the passage.
Matthew 16 belongs to Christ, not to Rome, not to denominational tradition, and not to any man who wants authority Jesus never gave him.
Read the text, follow the argument, and let the Lord define His own church.
Conclusion.
Jesus asked what men were saying about Him.
The crowd had answers.
The crowd was wrong.
Respectful error is still error.
Jesus asked His disciples directly.
“But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
That confession still divides truth from error.
Jesus promised to build His church.
Not Peter’s church.
Not Rome’s church.
Not a denomination.
His church.
The church stands because Christ lives.
Death could not stop Him.
The grave could not hold Him.
Satan could not overthrow Him.
Human tradition cannot improve Him.
Plan of Salvation
Hear the word.
Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
A person cannot obey a gospel he has not heard.
Believe Christ.
John 8:24 warns that unless we believe Jesus is who He claimed to be, we will die in our sins.
Peter’s confession must become our confession: Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Repent.
Acts 17:30 says God commands all people everywhere to repent.
Repentance turns from sin and submits to the authority of Christ.
Confess Christ.
Romans 10:9–10 teaches confession with the mouth and belief in the heart.
Christ must be confessed, not hidden.
Be baptized for the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38 commands repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
Galatians 3:27 says all who were baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with Christ.
Baptism is not a denominational ceremony or a symbol after salvation. It is the point at which Scripture places entrance into Christ.
Live faithfully.
Revelation 2:10 calls Christians to be faithful until death.
The Christ who saves also rules.
He calls His people to continue in obedient faith.
If you are outside of Christ, do not stay there. The question has been asked: “Who do you say that I am?” If Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, then obey Him today.
Word Study.
| Word | Original | Meaning | Use in Text |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christ | χριστός / christos | Anointed One, Messiah. | Identifies Jesus as the promised King and Savior. |
| Son | υἱός / huios | Son. | Confesses Jesus’ divine relationship with the Father. |
| Living God | θεὸς ζῶν / theos zōn | Living God. | Contrasts the true God with dead idols and empty religion. |
| Confess | ὁμολογέω / homologeō | To confess, openly acknowledge. | Calls the hearer to openly acknowledge Christ. |
| Church | ἐκκλησία / ekklēsia | Called-out assembly. | Connects Christ’s identity with His people. |
| Keys | κλεῖς / kleis | Keys, authority to open. | Points to kingdom authority revealed through the apostles. |
|---|---|---|---| | Christ | χριστός / christos | Anointed One, Messiah. | Identifies Jesus as the promised King and Savior. | | Son | υἱός / huios | Son. | Confesses Jesus’ divine relationship with the Father. | | Living God | θεὸς ζῶν / theos zōn | Living God. | Contrasts the true God with dead idols and empty religion. | | Confess | ὁμολογέω / homologeō | To confess, openly acknowledge. | Calls the hearer to openly acknowledge Christ. | | Church | ἐκκλησία / ekklēsia | Called-out assembly. | Connects Christ’s identity with His people. | | Keys | κλεῖς / kleis | Keys, authority to open. | Points to kingdom authority revealed through the apostles. |
Scripture Interlock Table.
| Testament | Reference | Original Context | Connection to Main Text | Doctrinal Use | Sermon / Teaching Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Old Testament | Isaiah 28:16 | God promises a tested and precious cornerstone in Zion. | Points toward Christ as the true foundation. | Supports Christ as the foundation, not Peter. | Supports Point II. |
| Old Testament | Daniel 2:44 | God promises a kingdom that will never be destroyed. | Connects to the kingdom language of Matthew 16. | Shows God’s kingdom is divine and enduring. | Supports Point IV. |
| New Testament | Matthew 16:16–20 | Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, and Jesus promises to build His church. | Main text of the sermon. | Establishes Christ’s identity, church, victory over death, and kingdom authority. | Controls the sermon. |
| New Testament | John 20:30–31 | John writes signs so readers may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. | Matches Peter’s confession. | Shows saving faith rests on revealed evidence. | Supports Point I. |
| New Testament | Acts 2:36–38 | Peter preaches Jesus as Lord and Christ and commands repentance and baptism. | Shows the keys used in gospel proclamation. | Supports entrance into Christ through obedient faith. | Supports Point IV and Plan of Salvation. |
| New Testament | Acts 2:42 | The early church continues in the apostles’ teaching. | Shows doctrine was apostolic, not Petrine supremacy. | Refutes papal authority. | Supports Point II. |
| New Testament | 1 Corinthians 3:11 | Paul says no foundation can be laid except Jesus Christ. | Directly supports Christ as the foundation. | Refutes making Peter the foundation in supremacy. | Supports Point II. |
| New Testament | Ephesians 2:20 | The household of God is built on the apostles and prophets, Christ being the cornerstone. | Shows apostolic foundation under Christ’s headship. | Keeps Christ supreme over the church. | Supports Point II. |
| New Testament | 1 Peter 2:4–8 | Peter identifies Christ as the living stone and cornerstone. | Peter himself points to Christ, not himself. | Refutes Peter-centered interpretation. | Supports Point II. |
| New Testament | Romans 6:9 | Christ, raised from the dead, never dies again. | Explains why Hades cannot overpower the church. | Grounds victory in resurrection. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | 1 Corinthians 15:56–57 | God gives victory over death through Christ. | Shows Christ’s people share His victory. | Supports resurrection hope. | Supports Point III. |
| New Testament | Colossians 1:13–14 | Christians have been transferred into the kingdom of Christ. | Shows the kingdom is present, not postponed. | Refutes future-only kingdom doctrine. | Supports Point IV. |
| New Testament | Galatians 2:11–14 | Paul rebukes Peter publicly for hypocrisy. | Shows Peter was not an unquestionable supreme head. | Refutes papal supremacy. | Supports Point II. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Old Testament | Isaiah 28:16 | God promises a tested and precious cornerstone in Zion. | Points toward Christ as the true foundation. | Supports Christ as the foundation, not Peter. | Supports Point II. | | Old Testament | Daniel 2:44 | God promises a kingdom that will never be destroyed. | Connects to the kingdom language of Matthew 16. | Shows God’s kingdom is divine and enduring. | Supports Point IV. | | New Testament | Matthew 16:16–20 | Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, and Jesus promises to build His church. | Main text of the sermon. | Establishes Christ’s identity, church, victory over death, and kingdom authority. | Controls the sermon. | | New Testament | John 20:30–31 | John writes signs so readers may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. | Matches Peter’s confession. | Shows saving faith rests on revealed evidence. | Supports Point I. | | New Testament | Acts 2:36–38 | Peter preaches Jesus as Lord and Christ and commands repentance and baptism. | Shows the keys used in gospel proclamation. | Supports entrance into Christ through obedient faith. | Supports Point IV and Plan of Salvation. | | New Testament | Acts 2:42 | The early church continues in the apostles’ teaching. | Shows doctrine was apostolic, not Petrine supremacy. | Refutes papal authority. | Supports Point II. | | New Testament | 1 Corinthians 3:11 | Paul says no foundation can be laid except Jesus Christ. | Directly supports Christ as the foundation. | Refutes making Peter the foundation in supremacy. | Supports Point II. | | New Testament | Ephesians 2:20 | The household of God is built on the apostles and prophets, Christ being the cornerstone. | Shows apostolic foundation under Christ’s headship. | Keeps Christ supreme over the church. | Supports Point II. | | New Testament | 1 Peter 2:4–8 | Peter identifies Christ as the living stone and cornerstone. | Peter himself points to Christ, not himself. | Refutes Peter-centered interpretation. | Supports Point II. | | New Testament | Romans 6:9 | Christ, raised from the dead, never dies again. | Explains why Hades cannot overpower the church. | Grounds victory in resurrection. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | 1 Corinthians 15:56–57 | God gives victory over death through Christ. | Shows Christ’s people share His victory. | Supports resurrection hope. | Supports Point III. | | New Testament | Colossians 1:13–14 | Christians have been transferred into the kingdom of Christ. | Shows the kingdom is present, not postponed. | Refutes future-only kingdom doctrine. | Supports Point IV. | | New Testament | Galatians 2:11–14 | Paul rebukes Peter publicly for hypocrisy. | Shows Peter was not an unquestionable supreme head. | Refutes papal supremacy. | Supports Point II. |
Invitation.
Hear the word.
Romans 10:17 says faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Believe Christ.
John 8:24 warns that unless you believe that Jesus is He, you will die in your sins.
Repent.
Acts 17:30 says God commands all people everywhere to repent.
Confess Christ.
Romans 10:9–10 teaches confession with the mouth and belief in the heart.
Be baptized for the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38 commands repentance and baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.
Live faithfully.
Revelation 2:10 calls the Christian to be faithful until death.
