We Are Christ-Ones

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

When Jesus renamed Simon as Peter, it wasn't a random choice.

Peter means "the rock".

But it took a while for Simon to live up to his new name.

The account of Simon's life reveals him as a fisherman known for his rash ways.

Simon was a shifting-sand kind of guy.

Simon disagreed with the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 16:22-23), struck a man with a sword (John 18:10-11), and even denied knowing the Lord Jesus Christ (John 18:15-27).

But in the Book of Acts, we read that God worked in and through Peter to establish His church.

Peter truly became a rock.

Like Peter, we have a new identity.

We are Christians.

The name "Christians" means "Christ-ones".

We are now one of the Christ-ones.

This title lifts up who we are and calls us to become what we are not yet.

God is faithful. He will complete His good work in us.

Talking about Simon Peter

Out of fear, Simon Peter denied the Lord Jesus Christ 3 times. (Luke 22:57, 58, 60)

Simon Peter was broken by his spiritual failure. He went out from the courtyard, into the darkness, and wept bitterly.

But God loved Simon Peter despite his failures.

God restored Simon Peter and placed his focus back on the ministry to His sheep.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Even when we fail, God continues to come to us in mercy and compassion! God’s mercies never fail; our God is overflowing with compassion!

We may be imperfect but our God is perfect! Great is His faithfulness!