On This Rock

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world! 


As I write this I am overwhelmed but not surprised by the response from all over the world of the last message posted:  I proclaim you innocent! 


 http://thegracezone.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-proclaim-you-innocent.html


The need for people to hear the truth about their innocence and God’s love has gone untold for to long.  Over the past week with what has happened in Japan my heart goes out to the people of Japan and I am amazed to say that the majority of hits when it came to this message were made from Japan before the tragedy struck and has continued since.  God’s timing of letting them know of their innocence and His love for them is right on time!  For those all over who read the message take time to share it either in your own words or directing people to this link so all will know the truth that they are innocent and God loves them and is not angry with them.  That God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus 2000 years ago so they would never have to experience His wrath and condemnation but instead His Grace and Love is all you will ever experience in the new covenant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!     


My study for the past few weeks fell on how did the church today get in such a mess in the first place and I was brought to this passage in Matthew where I have come to look at a rock in a completely different way.  If you have your Bible let’s turn now or if not read along with me to;


Matthew 16:14-19 (The Message)


 14 They replied, "Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
 15 He pressed them, "And how about you? Who do you say I am?"
 16 Simon Peter said, "You're the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God."
 17-18 Jesus came back, "God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn't get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I'm going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
 19 "And that's not all. You will have complete and free access to God's kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven."


I could actually bring out more than one message from this passage but for today I want to dwell on the words of Jesus when it pertains to the revelation that Peter had when asked, “Who do you say I am?”  


“You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”  


Then with the words of Jesus saying, “This is the rock on which I will put together my church,”  


These words for so long have been taught to reflect Peter not Jesus, which has been wrong, even the Catholic Church is built on St. Peter being the “Rock” on which it is built on.


When it comes to this passage the rock that Jesus is speaking of is the revelation that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  In other words the Gospel of Jesus is the “Rock” on which His church is built and the promise of free access to God, (relationship) and His kingdom, (all that you will ever need), Glory to God,  the keys to open any every door are ours!  You might be saying I have always been taught this which in some cases are true the only problem is that in the church today has tried to mix the “Rock” with stones, also known as mixing the Gospel of Grace with the Law.  


Jesus spoke of this earlier in Matthew,


Matthew 7:24-25 (The Message) 


"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.”


When it comes to the Grace message, (The Gospel of Jesus), rest in knowing that you do not have to justify your beliefs like those built in mixture or religion, because of Grace you are fixed to the “Rock” Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God!


Paul speaks of the rock again in 1 Corinthians… 


1 Corinthians 10:1-5 (The Message)


Remember our history, friends, and be warned. All our ancestors were led by the providential Cloud and taken miraculously through the Sea. They went through the waters, in a baptism like ours, as Moses led them from enslaving death to salvation life. They all ate and drank identical food and drink, meals provided daily by God. They drank from the Rock, God's fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were. And the Rock was Christ. But just experiencing God's wonder and grace didn't seem to mean much - most of them were defeated by temptation during the hard times in the desert, and God was not pleased.


They drank from the Rock, God’s fountain for them that stayed with them wherever they were, and the rock was Jesus… I ask you today what Rock do you want to drink from? The rock mixed with stones that condemns, steals, frustrates, kills and destroys life or the Rock that is love, the Rock that paid the ransom for us all, the Rock that declares you innocent, the Rock that says “drink and you will never be thirsty again!”


 John 4:14 (The Message)


Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life."


My prayer for you today is not to dwell on what has happened in the past when it comes to the lies and beliefs you were taught in most cases by good people who were just mislead themselves by teachings of mixture a foundation mixed with the lies of satan in an attempt to keep people in bondage.  Jesus said it this way; 


John 10:10 (The Message)


Jesus told this simple story, but they had no idea what he was talking about. So he tried again. "I'll be explicit, then. I am the Gate for the sheep. All those others are up to no good—sheep stealers, every one of them. But the sheep didn't listen to them. I am the Gate. Anyone who goes through me will be cared for—will freely go in and out, and find pasture. A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.  


I am going to end with this, for you to understand and rest in knowing the Grace, Peace, and Love of God you must first know the “Rock” the One who came to declare you innocent, the One who shed His Blood on the Mercy seat, the One who is now sitting at the right hand of the Father and no matter what happens to you all you have to do is point to Jesus the reason we are now Son’s and Daughter’s of the Living God!  


John 14:6 (The Message)


Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You've even seen him!"


Live life knowing that Jesus is the “Rock” and because you believe in all that He represents nothing more, nothing less you can truly say; “I know my Father”!


God Loves You! You are Blessed!