dennis j adams

In Matthew 16 Jesus asks a pertinent question of His disciples:

“Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? And they answered, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. ” (Matthew 16:13-17, AMP)

This question fits so appropriately for this post-modern time; As the Church moves outside the walls to reach the “now” generation who are full of questions and scrambling for identity. I truly trust and rely on the fact that one can never find their true identity till they find Christ. I am not talking about the address on their driver’s license or the picture that it also contains. Nor am I referring to any university ID that may describe gender and placement. I am speaking to the effect of the identity that should mirror their inner relations with God.

I like the response: Some say…, however, The Lord drilled this down to what needed to be spoken and heard by the speaker: Who do you say that I am? You see, in this moment of Church existence we must stop saying he said or she said or this is what I heard about who you are! The question is pointed right at the church also! Who do you say that I am? Now in this time of an emergent Church, the remnant, that is being drawn out to declare Him, the communities must have a descriptive answer not just a hear say!

The answer: The Christ, that consciousness of oneness with God (John 17) and the oneness with creation! The Son of the Living God, Jehovah, Yah, King of kings and the Lord of Glory! He can identify with us can we identify with Him in this institutionalized religion that we a re forced to perceive as His entrance into the kingdom!

I trust that you will find the answer to your own identity when you submit to the cost of discipleship found in Matthew 16:24-26. Remember your identity you carry in your wallet is not who you are spiritually!

My Heart To Yours

Dennis

All scriptures used in this blog article are The Amplified Bible, containing the Amplified Old Testament and the Amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.